Say Cheese! Tollef On Ultimate ‘Club Killing Moments’ (Part 4)

Tollef has been bringing smiles with his Say Cheese EP and the newest release, ‘Kill The Club’ (a collab with CLMD featuring vocals from Moonshine) continues that trend. To get to know the Norwegian up-and-coming producer a bit more, this interview series dives into Tollef’s artistic and personal journey, exploring the themes of collaboration, friendship, and creativity that define his sound.

If you want to absolutely kill the club in Norway (in the best sense) which track do you play?
From all of my tracks, I think my song “The Party” with RetroVision is a great candidate. However, there is another track that’s not mine that I really enjoy playing because it takes the audience by a bit of a surprise. It’s an Ellis rework of Fredagain’s “VICTORY LAP”. It’s such a great and vibey tune with punch and groove. Love it!

What is your best DJ set you ever played and why?
So far, nothing can beat the Heldeep 10 Year Anniversary show at Melkweg during this year’s Amsterdam Dance Event. It’s the biggest show I’ve played, and apart from sharing stage with Oliver Heldens, Tchami, Don Diablo, Chocolate Puma and Lee Foss, the audience was really passionate and enthusiastic even though they had no prior knowledge of who I was. A bucket list experience for sure!

Can you name a song that instantly gets people dancing when played in a club?
One song that instantly makes people dance when played in a club? Easy. It’s an older Armand Van Helden remix of Uffie & Pharrell Williams’ “ADD SUV”. It’s so groovy that no one will be able to stand still. The older funk house/french house tracks have a special mojo to them that I think people resonate with as well.

Can you name a track that became a club killer years after its initial release?
I think songs like “Lady, Hear Me Tonight” by Modjo, even though popular when released back in 2001, didn’t really reach the club until recently. Now, it’s being reworked all the time; most recently by Heldeep’s very own Oliver Heldens. A great track that I am really happy about has become so popular again.

Which song do you think is the ultimate club killer of the decade?
If we’re talking from 2020 till now, I would say one of the more upcoming acts holds the trophy. His name is Atura, and his song “LIKE THIS” is a true club killer. Incredibly energetic and a perfect blend between modern and old school sounds.

What made you smile most while making this track?
The fact that CLMD and I were able to make this together definitely made me smile the most. After a few ideas being scrapped, CLMD added a bit of filtering to one of my ideas, and I was hooked instantly. I normally struggle to finish tracks, but this one was no problem. Great process, great song!