Interview with Toola

1. What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

I wanna say around middle school and that whole SoundCloud era. I’d probably be in culinary or maybe even architecture.

2. What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

I really like getting normal daily tasks done when I’m not making music. So stuff like studying, cleaning, cooking, and even doing this Q&A. It helps me have a clear mind for when I actually sit down and make music, this way I’m not worried something else and just focus on the music.  

3. How long have you been making music?

I’ve been making some beats and experimenting with sounds ever since I was 18. I was 22 for when I actually started finishing tracks and putting it out and stuff.

4. Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

I’m originally from Egypt. I feel like it influenced me in just having a very diverse taste in music. People over there literally listen to everything and that forsure affected me.

5. Tell me about your most memorable shows, if you haven’t played live what is your vision for a live show?

My most memorable show was probably in October 2021 in LA. I specifically remember that show because for literally 4 hours straight, I was just playing new music and people were just really vibing and grooving with the music. The crowd loved the fact that it was music they didn’t know, and I could literally feel their excitement of just waiting for another new song they didn’t know.

My vision for a live show is probably something very similar to Justice. Which is a laid out drum track in the background, and I’d be playing the main element of the track from an analog hardware and then using effects pedals to create tension and builds up.

6. What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

My favorite venue to play at is honestly at a random person’s house. I know it sounds really dumb, but just that feeling of not knowing when the party is gonna end, and everyone is just there to actually have a good time is the reason why I love it. Plus it’s the best place to actually play new music and meet other DJs.  

I really want to play at Sound in LA. I feel like it’s one, if not the only venue in LA that actually plays music that I like and actually gets the right crowd for it. Plus their sound system and chandelier set up is just insane.  

7. If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

Seth Troxler, Louie Vega, Ameme  

8. What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into making music and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

Just figure out what kinda of music you like to make and just keep making it, and after a certain amount of time you’ll eventually be good at it. Plus keep your mind open to new ideas and new sounds because that’s how you build your “own sound”. To my younger self, probably stop overthinking on the small things and just look at the bigger picture in terms of the entire track.

9. Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

I made this song with a friend of mine called “Trees”. Even though it’s definitely   not my favorite song that I made, it does mean the most because it was my first time writing lyrics and actually try to say something from that perspective.

10. Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

In Egypt, I get requested “Peekeh” the most and in LA its probably “Sunshine” or “Need To Know”.

My favorite songs to play are “Twisted” by Ultra Nate but the Louie Vega remix, and “It’s All Right (Introspective 1988)” by Pet Shop Boys.

11. What is your creative process, and what inspires you to write your music?

My creative process is just sitting down and playing around with sounds, grooves, samples, and chord progressions until I find something that I like and that starts the “spark” for the track. What inspires is me is the entire process, how a small idea made an entire track, and that made the artwork, and that made this Q&A, and just how it grows and grows.

12. Do you have messages that you like to get across in your music, if so please tell me about them?

Not really, I honestly wish that my music had a really deep meaning by behind it. Maybe it will one day, but for now it’s just music that I make from my bedroom and that I’d like to share with the world.

13. What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

For now I’m finishing a couple other tracks for this year and I’m hosting my own party in DTLA on the 19th of November.

14. How can your fans best keep up to date with you, any socials you want people to check out?

Definitely on Instagram or Spotify. You’ll always find me posting about shows or new music on there.