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Today we are featuring a talented rising bass producer by the name of TOFA. I came across TOFA a few weeks ago by way of his Waxy Needle track. The song is a wonky adventure through a galaxy of wubs with an incredibly bouncy rhythm and flow. Chris Tofa is behind the project and he is from Airdrie, Alberta Canada. Chris has a gang of FIRE tracks on his Soundcloud that are worthy of a festival stage. He is also a part of DoYu Digital, a Calgary label that is all about inspiring people to pursue their passions. Chris produces bass music with a specialty in the wonky extraterrestrial side of things. He also has a few Drum n Bass tracks which are ridiculously spicy as well. Chris just released a new track Friday titled Virtual Tryptamine which sounds as trippy as it should with Dr. Dre samples woven through a space bass galaxy of alien sounds. I linked up with Chris to chat about his musical journey, his production process, DoYu Digital, and what’s ahead. Check out my favorite tracks and the interview below and hit the follow!
Where are you from, and how did your musical journey begin? When did you begin producing electronic
I am from Airdrie, Alberta and I have had a love for music my entire life. Through the influence of a family member by the age of 8, I was able to navigate a computer quite well and ended up learning how to download music and burn CDs (pretty sure the first song I downloaded was Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar. I had been making mixtapes since the age of 8, going through hundreds of blank CDs. From this, I explored many different genres, and also picked up guitar and drums while growing up. I was introduced to DJing and began playing weddings and parties through my later teens, which is how I developed my love for Electronic music. Through all this, I was playing guitar and wanted to make music but couldn’t sing, so I thought Electronic music would give me the ability to complete a track minus vocals. The first electronic show I attended was Zeds Dead, but at this point, I hadn’t started producing. I began exploring music production in 2016 on and off but started taking it seriously after last year’s Alberta Electronic Music Conference. At the feedback session of this conference, I met a few talented producers, one of which was Smol, who had already been an inspiration but now has become a good friend. My first big inspiration came from Slug Wife artists including Kursa, Seppa, and Keota. I began exploring the endless creative freedom of half time drum and bass, but I have lowered the tempo lately to produce more wonky dubstep with influences from hip hop beats and the alien vibes.
You have a distinctive sound with a special bounce to it. What DAW do you use to produce? What’s your process like in your DAW?
Thank you! I learned using Logic Pro and transitioned to Ableton Live 10 in December. My creative process is more trial and error than I’d like it to be, but I do enjoy being experimental. I am constantly thinking of new song ideas, and I try to sit down and write music any chance I get. I usually start with a drum beat, then I’ll either make a sound or find a sample that I draw inspiration from. The idea pops in my head, then I try to get it down as fast as possible, which typically results in a track that sounds a bit different than what I heard in my mind. I start with a drum beat, then the rest just kinda happens. Sometimes I feel as though I’m overcome by some sort of creative entity who writes all my music for me, while other times, I just stare at my DAW with a blank face feeling like I don’t even know what I’m doing. I really enjoy Ableton stock plug-ins, they are extremely powerful, and I’m still exploring its full capabilities. The only VST that I carried over from Logic to Ableton was Serum, which I use in every one of my tracks.
You just released a creative new track in “Represent” And before that a few tracks every month. What inspires you, how do you stay inspired??
I am inspired by many people that I surround myself with, but I have also always felt a desire to create. I draw inspiration from other artists, in both audio and visual arts, to keep me inspired, and then I’m just fueled by my drive to create. My advice for other artists struggling to feel inspired would be to keep trying at it, but also look at your music and ask yourself if you’re putting meaning into it. I think too many people get caught up in making a banger, rather than going back to their roots and using music as a form of emotional expression.
You’re a part of DoYu Digital, can you talk about this creative label and the mission behind it? I noticed you released a sample pack along with Ableton project files which is a great resource for aspiring producers.
I joined DoYu Digital as a content creator, and I am extremely excited to be a part of this wonderful family. DoYu is a lifestyle brand that is all about manifesting sustainable happiness by inspiring our fans to pursue their passions, and essentially to just allow them to “do you”. We spread this message through art, inspiration, and food. Before COVID, DoYu launched a monthly residency at the HiFi Club in Calgary, Alberta. We plan on continuing to grow this after things open up again, but in the meantime, we are focusing on creating art and generating content for our audience. We have also launched monthly sample packs, which are a part of monthly cypher competitions that we host.
What producers do you think are pushing the boundaries at the moment and are inspiring you the most?
Smol inspires me with his rapid output of beautifully crafted music. The Spicy Bois label has been showcasing some awesome new sounds and has created a tight-knit culture surrounding the sound. CharlestheFirst has a very unique sound with lots of emotion coming out of his tracks. I have been a fan of Shlump for 3-4 years, and I am really excited with where he has taken his sound. Also Chmura is an upcoming producer from Vermont; he has a beautiful, unique melodic style with wonky bass drops.
Any upcoming collabs you are excited about/future releases you can speak of?
I have a collab with Smol coming out on Future Roots this summer, and a collab with Pilks, who is a close friend of mine. The collab with Pilks will be released through DoYu on the Spring compilation; this track slightly strays from what I typically write, but I am very impressed with how it turned out. I also plan to collab with a few Spicy Bois artists in the near future, including Just John, Litty Kitter and ION.
Thanks for your time Chris!
Thank you as well!
