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Hi Ton, welcome to VENTS! How have you been?
Hey! Thank you for having me! I’ve been great! How about yourself?
Can you talk to us more about your latest single “Look Around You”?
Of course I can! The song is mainly about utilizing what you have in order to attain what you desire in life and not to be distracted by certain things that give no substance to your wellbeing.
Did any event in particular inspire you to write this song?
A couple of events in particular, actually. I gravitate toward the idea of making my younger self proud of the present-day Tōn. By doing so, sometimes I make songs similar to’ Look Around You’ because I feel like that would make him feel inspired. Also, based on what’s going on in the world right now as well as what’s happened in the past, I feel like its an obligation of mine to let the younger generation, especially the ones that look like me, know that they can be the big difference that shifts the world into being a much better place to inhabit.
How was the filming process and experience behind the video?
When it comes to filming videos, I like to take a verse or however many bars of a few songs from said project and combine them into one because filming for just one song seems tedious to me. For instance, with my latest video, I took some bars from ‘Hale Bopp’, a verse from ‘Look Around You’, and a verse from ‘Please Talk to Me’ to fuse them together, making ‘HaleAroundMe’.
The single comes off your new album The Divine Epithet – what’s the story behind the title?
Figuring out the title of the album was the last part of the process, because for a while I had no idea what I wanted to name it. After vigorously brainstorming, I realized that the album has a powerful emanation. That’s when the word divine entered my brain. Then I realized how descriptive and meaningful the album is. Like an epithet.
How was the recording and writing process?
Well, for every project, I like to take it one step at a time. First, I make sure I have all of the beats I need. Then, I write everything. I like to listen to music when I write. The genre I listen to changes depending on my mood, but I mainly listen to R&B/Soul, preferably Sade or Alex Isley. Next, I record, in my closet usually haha. And last, I mix and master everything.
As someone who dares to experiment – does this come easier or at times you feel it difficult to do it?
It’s easier at times because some things just click or fall into place at the right moment, but it can also be difficult because I can have all sorts of ideas and not be too sure how to manifest them cohesively. It’s like a puzzle, but with music.
What aspect of the 2020 did you get to explore on this record?
The aspect of optimism, to simply put it.
Where else did you find the inspiration for the songs and lyrics?
So it all started when I was watching one of my favorite shows that used to air on the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) called Look Around You. I really love that show’s aesthetic! And not too long after, while listening to music, I stumbled upon a beat produced by a cool kid named Eric Melton. It reminded me of the show and I instantly fell in love with the sound. So I bought it from him and everything fell into place after that.
What else is happening next in Ton’s world?
I’m always working on a few projects at a time. That’s all I have to say concerning that question hahaha.
