We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Toto Blu a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Toto Blu, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
I think there’s a lot going on around that question. People always want to know, “What is my purpose?”. Up until maybe one year ago, I was very much driven by this question and the infinite search for an answer. Most people who know me, nowadays, would say that music is my purpose because it’s the thing that I’ve always naturally bounced back to no matter what else I did in life. But honestly, if I would think like that, I would probably be miserable and my music would be lacking a certain element of freedom. Today, I have a very different approach. Many people may consider it as a negative approach but to me, it is the most liberating and beautiful thing: I don’t have a purpose! “Wow, how boring!” someone might say, but isn’t it boring to actually think you know what you’re about to do and why?
Of course, I know that your readers would also like a more specific answer. What I just said is a broader perspective, but to narrow it down to the essential aspect of why I am making music, all I can say, is that I’ve always had a natural tendency towards creative expression like music or poetry. When I first picked up a guitar, it kind of became a part of me and that hasn’t changed ever since. I don’t think that it is something I chose to do, even though it may appear so from a surface level. I think, what people call a purpose, I would just refer to as a natural inclination toward something. And for me, it just happened to be being a musician, songwriter, playing the guitar, and singing.
This may be not the most interesting story, but it is an honest one.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
Toto Blu is both an angel and a vampire. It is an expression of love, pain, joy, and tears. That’s why I also like to say Goth Angel Toto Blu. I know that I’m using the third person, and that is because Toto Blu is a musical and artistic alter ego.
Within less than a year, I’ve released three EPs, two singles, lots of instrumentals, and a few remixes. Every EP so far bears the name “Love Letter Anarchy” and sits in the musical landscape somewhere between alternative, post-punk, emo, and trap. I’ve recently experimented with a harder sound, and uploaded two tracks on SoundCloud that are much heavier and darker than what people were used to get from Toto Blu. I don’t know whether this will be the direction for future projects, but I can say that I’ve got quite some stuff on my computer that’s ready to be released and I’m just waiting to feel in the right space to do so!
All I can say is that my next EP will have a different name and does not continue the “Love Letter Anarchy”-series.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
Being a songwriter, I find it very helpful to be autonomous, know how to produce and record yourself, and play an instrument.
Personally, I’m a fan of doing things on my own. I generally don’t enjoy waiting for people because everyone is caught up in their own projects, and that’s okay. That’s why I learned early on to produce my own music. It’s really not that difficult and there are many user-friendly DAWs that help you turn your inspiration into audio files. Just get a cheap midi keyboard and learn it just as much to be able to make songs. That’s what I did. And if you play an instrument, that’s even better, but not necessary, because you can program everything on your computer.
What do you do when you feel overwhelmed? Any advice or strategies?
When I feel overwhelmed by what I’m doing, whether it is music or something else, then I just know that I’ve become too caught up in it. Honestly, why do people think you need to suffer for your ambitions?
To help me step back and disidentify from the whole process, I usually go in nature. Having long walks or swimming usually recalibrates myself. Sometimes, a longer break is necessary, and sometimes you don’t even know if you’ll get back to it. However, I’ve come to prioritize being at peace, because I don’t need the illusionary gratification of being well seen by others. Often, it is a kind of internal capitalism that prevents us from enjoying what we do. Too many times, I’ve seen passion turn into pain in myself and others, and I think I really learned from this.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.linktr.ee/totoblu
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toto.blu
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totobluofficial
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@totoblu
- Soundcloud: https://www.soundcloud.com/totoblu
- Other: https://www.genius.com/artists/Toto-blu
Image Credits
Key Doh
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