For this single, Tomaka’s challenge was to play each instrument and mix it by all himself. Not easy for a songwriter who is far from mastering any of the instruments he had planned to record. Is this perhaps why the artist was tempted? After he had crafted a demo, Tomaka re-recorded the final version of each track. The cello was entrusted to an eager London-based professional, Sophie Shackleton. With the help of fellow singers, extra vocals were added to thicken the choruses. 
	
The melodic line of this song is guided by a vintage Gaveau piano which has a sound somewhere between a piano and a village church bell: sonorous and resounding, leading you down a steep country lane through the woods. An unexpected piece of music whose structure is somewhat uncommon. There's no verse-chorus, but a more linear narrative that invites you into a more intimate setting, namely the childhood of our singer- storyteller, peopled with colourful characters. A deep, double low voice rises from beyond the grave. With a slightly melancholy tone, the song is poetic and tongue-in-cheek, transporting you back in time and featuring superheroes straight out of a British comic strip: Billie Whizz, Banana Man... The narrator whispers to your ear the incredible story of finding yourself locked up inside your own superpower. But what if your superpower was in fact a curse?

These characters attempt to free themselves with a new and improved superpower underpinned by a burning desire to change: Bananaman is craving for a mango ! » and « Billy whizz is taking it slow now ». Happy in the Sun is a tune that urges you to enjoy the light and to stretch it as long as possible before the autumn season begins. It evokes the cheerful, soothing memories of long-gone sunny days.

Bananaman, Propolis Records (2023)

Happy in the Sun

Happy In The Sun

Time to Go(single*)
Words & Music by Tomaka
Release date: 24.07.2020
*You can buy the single to support the artist.

Time to Go

Back on My Feet(single*) 
Words & Music by Tomaka
Release date: 01.01.2021
*You can buy the single to support the artist.

Back on my Feet

***FRESH NEWS***
Pre-Save it here: https://snd.click/qjtu

⮕ SONGWRITER TOMAKA ANNOUNCES NEW SINGLE ‘LIKE A WAVE’ OUT MAY 3, 2024

Tomaka is about to share a new track from his debut album. Listening to Like a Wave, one easily imagines a stern and determined looking assembly-line worker raising his head and singing straight to a camera. Through natural bass and synths galore, Tomaka has decided to mold pieces of audio clay - both analogue and digital - that generate the industrial sounds which serve his deep voice.

Beyond such a seemingly sombre and industrial approach, Tomaka's aesthetic choices almost clash with lyrics that, while lucid, turn out to be radiant. These words encourage listeners to hold on tight and not sink into the abyss where they could have otherwise dug their own graves; they help us find the true waves of happiness that emerge from creating with one's own human hands.

Tomaka is accompanied by Brice Chandler on bass and Yann Forleo on drums.

Like a Wave comes out on May 3 2024.

Propolis Records.

CREDITS

Title: Like a Wave
Release date: May 3, 2024
Length: 3:25
Genre: Alternative Rock, Indie Rock, Electronica
Music by Tomaka
Tomaka: vocals, synths, violins, programming
Yann Forleo: drums
Brice Chandler: bass
Production: Propolis Records 
Mixing: Félix Rémy at Studio Pigalle 
Mastering: Alex Gopher 
Publishing: Sentric Music Publishing
Graphic design: Kevin Armeni-Ripari
Press: propolisrecords@gmail.com
Official website: https://tomaka.fr/

BIOGRAPHY

Tomaka is songwriter based in Paris, France. By embracing both synthesisers and acoustic instruments, Tomaka has found his mojo. His songs’unique palette has deep roots in pop, rock and electronic music. Time to Go is Tomaka's first single. It was released in the summer of 2020 along with a music video. Back on my Feet is Tomaka's second single. It was released on January 1st, 2021. Back on my Feet has been played on a number of international radios including Eirewave in Dublin, Belgique FM, Niky/iHeartRadio in Canada and it was reviewed by music blogs such as York Calling (UK) and United Rock Nations (FR). 

DISCOGRAPHY

Like a Wave: upcoming: May 3, 2024.
Happy in the Sun (single) 22.09.2023
What you meant to be (single) 18.11.2022
Back on my Feet (single) 01.01.2021
Time to Go (single) 24.07.2020

PRESS RELEASES

York Calling (Music Blog, UK) on 04.01.2021
https://yorkcalling.co.uk/2021/01/04/discovery-tomaka/

Graffiti Vibe (Music Blog, UK)
https://www.graffitivibe.co.uk/post/pop-singer-tomaka-announces-new-single-back-on-my-feet

Eirewave (Radio Dublin, Ireland)
https://www.eirewave.co.uk/music/artists/tomaka

Official website: https://tomaka.fr/

Tomaka

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