Culture
May 15, 2024

"Whoa - ToaStar!"

interview

BYM.de: VroniK, since when are you a member of "ToaStar"? Since when does the band exist?

VroniK: The band came together in the summer of 2004, but our front man Mistah Bomsh and DJ Grandmo Flash have already toured the country as a "sound show". When in the spring of 2005 our then drummer Lars met Steph and me at the Popkurs in Hamburg, he brought us to it.

BYM.de: How did you come up with the really extraordinary name "ToaStar"? Are you intentionally playing with the sound of the word "toaster"?

VroniK: The name actually occurred to me when I lay in bed at night and could not sleep! I got up quickly and wrote it down. The others agreed immediately, because the name is funny and stays in the ear - so we also play with the fact that you first think of the toaster. At the same time, however, the name says something about what we do: "toasting" is the vocal style in dancehall music.

Steph and VroniK from "ToaStar"

BYM.de: How would you describe the style of your music?

VroniK: How about: just good! OK, now seriously: reggae and dancehall lay the foundation for our music. But we are also noticeably influenced by soul, pop and hip hop. I would say we combine the best of all these styles of music into something new.

Steph: That's the special thing about ToaStar: here, musicians from the most different genres of music come together: from rock to jazz, funk and hip hop to reggae / dance hall, everything is represented - and that's what you hear!

BYM.de: Are you comparable to other bands, "Seed" for example? What makes you special?

VroniK: Comparable: yes. But not right now! Seeed make good music and definitely inspire us. But Steph's and my vocals make our sound even more soulful and very melodious. Yes, this female component may not exist in other bands.

Steph: Sure, people are trying to assign us to a style of music or a band that represents that style of music, that's quite normal. But just because we do not just stick to reggae and dancehall, categorization becomes a bit more difficult when listening carefully.

BYM.de: How is that as a woman in a band that consists mostly of men? And how are you taking in two female band members from the environment?

VroniK: The band is great! Together with the boys we make nonsense without end and also have our standing as girls. Otherwise that is already more difficult in the music world: As a woman you sometimes are not taken seriously and have to "prove" first. That can really annoy you! I hope that in the future it will be better for women overall.

Steph: Especially when it comes to sound-technical questions, we are often stupidly looked at, according to the motto: that is "only" singer, who can not have a clue ....!

BYM.de: What could happen to make it better?

VroniK: If more women and girls would make music, for example! If more girls dare not only to be a pretty singer, but also to play an instrument. For example, Steph and I play well enough to compose our own songs. It would also be great if more women were represented in more technical professions such as sound engineer or producer. After all, there's no reason today why that's still mostly done by men. Women as musicians, this has to become normal and not the exception. So girls: Ran there, dare!

BYM.de: What topics are your songs about? Especially with the opener "St. P.A.U.L.I", the impression arises that you are proud to be a hamburger and play with this northern light theme. After all, bands like "Fettes Brot" have already made it into the charts.

VroniK: Of course we are proud of that! Because although for two of our band members Berlin has become the adopted country, we are all native northern lights and feel comfortable in the fresh north wind. But we are not about to break a Nordic link, but to tell songs from our lives. And there belongs "St.P.A.U.L.I." Simply because the Reeperbahn is just a stone's throw away.

Steph: Hamburg is our hometown - its atmosphere, the way you live here, has of course also influenced us. The song simply tells of this flair.

BYM.de: Every musician dreams of living off his hobby - are you similar? Do you have a goal that you would like to achieve as a band? To be the # 1 chart, maybe?

VroniK: No, landing a number 1 is less important to me personally. But living from what one passionately does - that would be something! To make music professional, you have to invest all your time, even without earning money. The pressure to finance your life can sometimes tear you apart.

BYM.de: What about "Toastar", where can you see, where can you get your record?

VroniK: We will play, play, play! And at the same time, we are working on new songs. In any case, on our website you will always find out where you can see us. And you can also order the EP and ToaStar shirts there.