TORO After Fallout Frequencies & His CHKNDRUM Debut

NOLA EDM: For those meeting you for the first time — who is Toro?
Toro: Toro represents my background and who I aspire to be moving forward.

I was adopted when I was two years old, and Villatoro was one of my last names before I immigrated here. I wanted to remember who I am and where I came from. And how to be proud of that.

I always felt like I existed in a space between different worlds and cultures, with one foot in one door, and one foot in another.

Toro is how I am choosing to move forward in this world, no longer looking to belong to any group in particular, but to move forward as my own person and identity that can help build a community of like minded people.

I would consider my sound to be deep and ryhthmic. Whether it be infecations four on the floor house beats or deep 140 dubstep. I am  passionate for deep bass frequencies and creative sound design.

If it’s good music……  and it makes people dance, it’s probablly already on my USB.

NOLA EDM: How did you first get into DJing and producing?
Toro: I have been a techincal DJ for about two years. Although I would say this journey, started much earlier in life. As I have always the person in charge of the music when I organized events and gatherings. Music has always been big part of my life, I just never realized the extent in which I wanted to be involved. I have been experinmenting with producing on and off for about three years but only started taking it seriously in the last year.

I would say for me personally it started when I moved away from my interest in the hip-hop scene. While I love that music, I found myself in a place that didn’t inspire creative action. When i started to enjoy EDM music I finally found the motivation i needed to pursue music. While i would not attriubute my path to one incident in paftiucalr. It comes from a realization for my love for this commmmunity and sound.

NOLA EDM: How would you describe the vibe of a Toro set?
Toro: Toro sets are unpredicatable… If crowd shows me that want techo, they get techno. If it’s baile funk, its baile funk. I promise a wide selection of unique rhythms and sonic landscapes that have to be experienced in person to be understood.

NOLA EDM: You just played your set in Mobile for Fallout Frequencies — how did it feel bringing your sound to a new city?
Toro: Yes. I am super blessed to be a part of this new project. I love the people from the team; they have always brought crazy energy to all the heavy bass shows in NOLA, and you really can’t fake that love of the game.  What I love about this show in particular is that I really feel like the community is being established between NOLA and Mobile, and we get to help solidify that connection with Fallout Frequencies. 

NOLA EDM: What inspires you the most right now?
Toro: Defintely been feeling alot of insipration from the Brazilain Tech House Scene recently…
Beltran, Mochakk both come to mind as artists with a genuine love for both people and music. Both of whom have phenomonal stage presence, who other DJ’s should take note from.

In terms local crews that inspire me, I gotta give a shout out to my homie Gonza and the Bass IRL team and Pooternug and the BASSYARD scene. Both great communities that all local fans are sure to be aware of. 

NOLA EDM: You’re making your CHK N DRUM debut this Friday — what does playing this platform mean to you, and how does it feel stepping into a space that’s become such a cornerstone for New Orleans’ bass community?
Toro: I am extremely excited for CHK N DRUM! It’s a great opportunity to expand my palette and do some crate digging. CHK N DRUM has been blowing up, and I’m blessed to be part of it. I think CHKN DRUM represents originality in the scene, and it’s a refreshing spin on the genre we all know and love. I think CHK N DRUM represents the flexibility of the scene going forward, and we get to help shape the future with what we are doing.

NOLA EDM: For people catching you for the first time at CHK N DRUM, what side of your sound are you most excited to showcase? Is there anything you’re approaching differently for this debut set?
Toro: I can’t wait to pull out some unique sounds in this set. I, of course, will drop some Drum and Bass, but I am looking to explore all sounds adjacent to Drum and Bass. For me, that means UKG, Jungle, and othersounds that come from the UK culture. But the TORO twist on this set will be all things drum/break beat-focused, expect fast-paced tracks and flips of classics that are genre fluid, ranging from baile funk to jersey club and even some afro beats. If there’s dancing and there’s drums, I’m probably going to play it.