Amsterdam's Toman Is Set To Release His First Ep On Cécille Records!

Dutch producer and DJ Toman, based in the country's capital, Amsterdam, has been steadily rising up the ranks of underground house music in recent years. He has released tracks on labels such as Eastenderz, Cuttin' Headz, and NO ART. As a rising star in the Netherlands, Toman tours the globe, bringing his raw, stripped-back style to many of the hottest locations, including reputed clubs and festivals across multiple continents.

Congratulations on your new EP on Cécille Records. It’s been 18 months since your last release. What was the reason for the break?

Thank you. I am very excited for this one. It’s been 18 months since my last release because I was traveling a lot and discovering new sounds. I like to get inspired by the places I visit, people I meet and cultures I get to know. I made a lot of music but was looking for the right music to share. I feel like this EP shows where I am at right now.

How did the collaboration with Cécille Records come about? What motivated you to release with Cécille?

I have always been a huge fan of the label. I discovered their music years ago and Cecille has always inspired me and had a huge influence on my musical journey. In every DJ set I play at least one track of the label.

We heard you used your own vocals for the first time in the track "Courtyard." How did that idea come to you?

For a period I was listening to a lot of R&B and Hiphop classic from the beginning of the 2000’s (mainly tracks by Justin Timberlake and Pharrell). Somehow I got to the idea to sing a sentence like they do. I don’t remember how I got to the lyrics but it got stuck in my head and I recorded it.

How do you see the current development of the electronic music scene?

Because of social media the scene is growing and changing much faster then before. As a producer and DJ it is sometimes hard to follow but on the other hand very interesting and inspiring. I also see a lot of genres blending together. In my DJ sets I don’t just stick to one type of sound. I like to tell a story and mix any music I like.

Many successful and upcoming artists in your genre are from the Netherlands. How do you explain this trend?

We have many festivals, clubs and events in the Netherlands (especially in Amsterdam). There are lots of public universities with courses focused on Music Production and a well organized Event industry. I think this inspires kids to get into the music industry. My first ever festival was Welcome To The Future in Amsterdam. I saw dj’s like Marco Carola, Secret Cinema and Julian Chaptal playing and knew that this was what I wanted to do. There is also a strong dutch house scene and people help each other grow.

Which artist or emerging producer do you think we should keep an eye on?

Rooleh, a young Dutch producer. He has been sending me music for over a year now and it never disappoints. Almost every track I play is going off. I recently did a remix for one of his releases.

How would you describe your sound both as a DJ and as a producer?

I don’t think there is a big difference between my productions and my dj sets. My sound has changed over the years in both ways from minimal to rolling tech house (preferably old records). I like to produce tracks and be able to play/test them when I play.

What is your preferred studio setup? Do you have any favorite tools or hardware?

This always changes but for this ep I mainly used the prophet 5. I am pretty much an inside-the-box producer but sometimes record some stuff with my TB-03, Prophet 5 or Digitakt. I also have a midi drumset which I use to record live drums or percussion.

You tour a lot. How has it been for you, and what have been your most memorable moments this year?

Touring has its ups and downs but I am very grateful to be able to travel the world, meet new people and share my music and passion with others. I love to travel and discover new places and have conversations with people that grew up in a very different way. It teaches you a lot about life.

One of the most memorable moments of this year might be the No Art world tour. About 5/6 years ago we started with small parties in Amsterdam for around 400 people. This year the festival was sold out with over 15.000 tickets and it is amazing to be able to play with the brand in countries like Spain, Italy, Uruguay, USA, Brazil, Chile, UK, Romania and many to come.

Which upcoming event are you most excited about playing?

My next South America tour in October. It will be 3 events in Santiago, Buenos Aires and Lima together with my good friend Chris Stussy and Hot Since 82. South America has a special place in my heart. I really connect with the people and culture and have many friends over there.

What kind of music do you like to listen to in your free time?

In my free time it could be anything. I really like instrumental music. Jazz, hiphop, ambient. But on somedays it could be just a simple pop song. I get inspired by all types of music.

Our readers are curious about your future releases. What do you have planned?

After my Cecille EP I dont have any release planned. I am working on my own label which will hopefully online by the end of the year. More info on that soon!

What does a perfect day off look like for you?

A day off will be an offline day. No phones, disconnect from everything and enjoy the moment with my girlfriend, friends and/or family. My favorite place to do this would be on an empty Cala (small beach) in Ibiza. I really get to rest at the sea.

What is one of your all-time favourite releases?

That must be Underworld - Cups. This track always comes back to me. I often listen to it when I travel and I discover new details every few years. I first listened to this track when I was about 10 years old and I have lots of memories with it.

Get 'Dolce Far Neinte' On Beatport Now