Q&A: TOI

A cosmic collision of soul, funk and pop, Wellington's six piece band TOI has shared stages with the likes of Ocean Alley, Tash Sultana, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fat Freddy's Drop, L.A.B and Troy Kingi to name a few!

They chat to us about their latest self-titled EP produced by Neil McLeod as well as Devin Abrams (Pacific Heights, Drax Project) on board as executive producer. Delving into new sonic territories, their latest project showcases not only their out-of-this-world groove but their stellar musicianship as well.

We’d love to know a little bit about your musical journey from when you first started creating music together!

We all met at Jazz School in Wellington. That classic Welly band story haha. The band for us was our way to escape from the practice rooms and to just vibe with each other and create.

Congrats on your latest self-titled EP! What would you say are the main themes of this record?

The main themes are definitely more so in that funk/pop/soul realm. Kinda like if Daft Punk and Jamiroquai had a music baby. We just wanted to create something that made people feel good and want to move in a positive way. 

We’re obsessed with the slow groove of “Thinking Too Much”! Can you tell us a little bit about the meaning behind this track and what the writing process for this song was like?

It’s a reminder to relax and enjoy life with those that you trust and love - don’t let the problems overcome all the good that surrounds you. Love over fear, that sort of thing. The first lyric - “wasting our time on the line” refers to how easy it is to waste time on devices, being switched off and not enjoying the present. We tried to encapsulate the importance of not thinking too much, but in the sense of spending time with people around you instead of online as well.

It was also the first release off this new EP so we treated it as the bridging tune between what we were as Tunes of I and what were to become as TOI.

In terms of writing, this one was one of those real quick tunes that just happened really easily and naturally. Myself (Conway), Makura and Jules wrote it in the space of a few hours and then we sent it to Devin Abrams, and him and Neil MacLeod put their amazing production mahi into it. We’re very happy with how this one turned out.

One of our other faves is “I Want You” - such a funky dance track with splashes of slick horn fills! Can you tell us a little bit about what inspired you to write this track?

This one was another one of those magic tunes that came together in the space of a day. We actually had the pleasure of writing this one with Neil MacLeod, Louis Baker and Devin Abrams so it was a pretty killer team in the room on the day.

Basically Neil had the foundation of a groove for the tune in place and then we just got to it. The main focus with this one was upbeat and a good energy so we tried to imagine that we had just floated into the most epic party - the vibe’s high and you can’t help but embrace the electric feeling in the room. But then it took a bit of a turn and became more of a love song about meeting someone special in this amazing place and feeling your energies pull towards each other creating a cosmic collision.

What were your main highlights working on the EP?

The learning when it comes to production and writing in that produced space. We’ve always been the kind of band that has written a song in the rehearsal room and then refined it and taken it to the studio where we’ve played it live. Whereas with this EP, it was a more writing and recording in the moment, which was super different to what we’re used to but also really eye opening to that world of music. Also, being able to work with all of the amazing people that we had helping us on this EP, that was the bomb.

Who are your biggest inspirations in music?

I think we all have a very eclectic range of musical inspirations as we’re all from really different backgrounds. But I do think one of the biggest influences that we all share is NZ music. We all grew up listening to the likes of Fat Freddy’s, The Black Seeds, Trinity Roots, Sal Dub, Kora etc. So when we first started writing music it came from a place heavily rooted (ha) in Dub Roots music. But we’ve always enjoyed expanding our palette and love throwing in a good sprinkle of soul and funk and sometimes even getting a bit dark and heavy on it too.

If there’s anything you could change about the current music industry, what would it be and why?

That’s a real hard one … I think one of the hardest things about being a musician is also being able to make a living off your passion. I know that there is heaps of support in NZ for funding and to help musos to fulfill their dreams and do the things that they want to do. (Big ups NZ on Air for supporting us! Xo) But I think it would be amazing if there was some sort of other support system so that it makes muso’s lives easier so that they fully commit themselves to their art. I think there used to be some sort of artist’s benefit back in the day and that helped to pay for your expenses and then artists were able to commit all of their time to creating and performing. Whereas now, shit is so expensive that most of us have to have day jobs to get by, unless you’re in a band that’s killing it. Something like that would have such an amazing impact on the arts in NZ.

Who are some of your favourite NZ artists right now and are there any songs in particular that you especially love or connect with?

NZ is so spoilt for choice when it comes to good music ay. To name a few that are doing some epic stuff at the moment: Troy Kingi, L.A.B, Louis Baker, Unknown Mortal Orchestra, Muroki, LEISURE … it’s hard to say coz NZ just keeps pumping out the goods.

What do you love most about living in New Zealand? Do you have any favourite places to travel to or local spots to visit?

NZ is just the best place in the world. Especially now! We still get to play shows, we get to live a pretty normal life compared to the rest of the world and I feel so lucky to be here.

For me, a favourite part of the country is up North around Leigh. Love the Leigh Sawmill up there, but I’ve got roots from my Māori side tying me to Pakiri Beach. Every time we’re up there, I’ve gotta have a swim there. It can be pretty ruthless sometimes, but it’s a stunning beach. Squeaky white sand and it looks like it goes on forever.

What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learnt in your career so far and what advice do you have for new artists out there?

It’s all about the people. Make good relationships with others and have fun doing what you’re doing with people that you enjoy being around.

Lastly, if you could say one thing to every person in the world, what would it be?

Drink more water haha. Nah shit I don’t know … um ... enjoy everyday and try to always see the positives in everything and anything, even when shit’s hard and not going the way you planned, there’s usually some way to flip it on it’s head and view it in a different way. A positive outlook and changing your perspective can change your life. Don’t get me wrong though, that’s a hard thing to do but if you can remind yourself of that when things aren’t happening, I think it can definitely help.

Thanks so much TOI! Make sure to check them out on Instagram, Facebook, Spotify or Apple Music.