Tohm Tronic

DTO4Music spends some time with producer, label owner and DJ Tohm Tronic and speak to him about all the different projects he's involved in and his new label Pure Tone Records.

DTO:  Well how did it all start?  A bit of history please!

TT:  Well it all started way back in 91.  My older brother (Modular) was DJing rave music under the name Stomp.  I remember being totally blown away by not just the music but the scene, the vibe, all of it.  I was already playing around with decks and with this new music I gained focus and started taking it seriously.  A couple of years later we both, along with a couple of friends, bought a studio and had no idea how to use it. Through sheer dedication and love of the music we began to produce our own material.  If you look at the ease of music making now and compare it to using an atari with basic software and lots of hardware it was another world then.  People have got it easy now and how things have changed in just 15 years.  Anyway back to the story.  We were DJing more and more and had a regular spot at the pleasuredome, which was probably the biggest club in the east mids.  Through meeting Surreal we released our first track on Rebellion Records.  From that we started our own label called Lablogic, which we released numerous tracks on.  We had releases on Flex records, Hardleaders, Wide Open Music to name a few, with plenty of DJ support and radio coverage.  Overtime though I started to lose the motivation to create D & B and looked for new projects.

DTO:  Word is that you're producing all sorts of different genres now is that the case, and if so tell us about some key projects.

TT:  Well the first main project I did outside the D & B scene was to co-write and produce a Hip Hop album under the name of Swampfoot (available on DTO), which was a great experience and we gigged all over the country working alongside the likes of Blade, Skinnyman and Taskforce to name a few.  The whole process was very enlightening.  Making music with vocals and lots more live instruments was very enjoyable.  Respect to all decent instrumental producers as using verse chorus etc with vocals is a lot less strain on the ideas and prodcution aspect of making music.  To release the the album I set up an indie label called Drain Records, which is still going strong, now though, as an anything goes electronica label.  We have just released DR003 here on DTO which is an awesome Minimal/Deep house EP from our new signing [sic].

DTO:  Aren't you also involved in a new Drum and Bass Label?  What's that all about?

TT:  Well after the Swampfoot project my other brother Resonate was at me to make some D & B again, which having 5 years out really interested me.  So we hit the studio and knocked out the Changes EP.  After lots of great feedback and DJ support (Outrage, Double O, Sub, Alt-Motive) we decided to set up a little digital label to put a few bits out there, thus the birth of Digi-Lab Records.  We have since had releases from [sub], Double O and Modular (all available on DTO) with some big names onboard for the rest of the year.  Watch this space.  Initially we we're going under the name of Collective Intelligence but found the name a little similar to other producers out there. When we released our vinyl EP on Backlash Records we decided to change our name to Secret Society.  Check our MYSPACE for details and get subscribed to thepodcast!

DTO:  Wow how do you fit it all in?  And now you have just set up another label Pure Tone Recordings.  Tell us about this label and what 2009 has in store?

TT:  Well I'll just read the info of the MYSPACE as it gives a clear overview of the label.

Pure Tone is a new Jungle Tekno label owned and ran by Tohm Tronic, one half of Secret Society!

J-Tek or should we say Jungle Tekno is making a big resurgence of late. Modular, Outrage, Secret Society along with Digital, Ratty & Tango and the legendary Randall are all making and playing this new(ish) form of dance. People like myself who were in the scene in the early 90's may remember some of the tracks? Stuff like Top Buzzes "Living in Darkness" or Ratty & Tangos "Final Conflict". These tunes along with others like "Champion Sound" and "Renegade" blended together giving a hard edge mix between what is now D & B and Techno.

The main focus of this push is to bring back that mixed vibe, that variation and to get something new going in UK clubs and Radio shows. Don't get me wrong I still love my D & B  but I also like Dubstep, decent house music etc. Creating this music around the 140 bpm marker lets us mix these genres together and in Pure Tones opinion goes toward getting that rave vibe back.

DTO:  With DTO being the number one place for the new Jungle Tekno sound we can only look forward to Pure Tones influence on this.  What is your first release and when is it out.

TT:  Well I'm really excited about this first release.  The return of Stomp and Weaver!  Me and Modular banging out a beat for the first time in 10 years.  BIG!  The Round Up Ep is an upfront, new take on Jungle Tekno.  The title tracks has that thumping sound, with big breaks, sub bass and dark synths.  The flip is a deep roller that works more on the break beat side with melodic intros and two tearing drops.  

Both tracks available now on DTO!

DTO:  Well thanks for taking time to talk to us.  Is there any shouts or info you want to put across?

TT:  Big shouts to all the supporters and the haters, you are my motivation.  Big ups to my family and huge respect to DTO!

Check out my MYSPACE for more info and discography!