Toner -  Ambient / Experimental

Toner was first introduced to underground music while studying abroad in Taiwan, where he was awakened by modern techno.

After returning to Japan, he became captivated by Tokyo’s club and rave scene, and naturally progressed to become involved with numerous events as both a supporter and music journalist.

Together with Toss and Kaana, he now runs "LIMINAL DREAMS”. A community of enthusiasts, deeply focused on electronic, ambient and experimental music. "LIMINAL DREAMS" pays homage to the psychedelic chill-out culture that has been prevalent since the 60’s.
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“Uneven Beauty”

“Recently, I had the opportunity to be surrounded by the beautiful port city of Keelung, Taiwan. It was a very calming and tranquil experience.

During this time, I reflected on a variety of musical experiences in recent years, to explore various sounds for this mix. I wanted to capture the beauty and tranquility of an outdoor music festival and combine it with the beauty of an intimate smoky venue.

I often find beauty in the ephemeral and feel a strong connection between music and the natural world. I hope you can enjoy this mix as a session that transcends time and space between great musicians.

I pay my respects to all of the artists.”

Mix mastered by Holosuite Mastering
Design by Clayton Ciolac
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Tracklist:

Kruispunt - Kyrie [self-released, 2023]
Steve Good - Another Wave [self-released, 2022]
Aiôn Lazura - Solstice [LIMINAL SPACES, 2023]
Lewi Boome - Brooklyn [Warning, 2022]
Current 93 - The Magical Bird in the Magical Woods [Durtro, 2000]
Quiet Places - Track 2 [A Strangely Isolated Place, 2020]
Pavel Milyakov - Unreleased (Available via Pavel’s Patreon page)
Jo Johnson - The wave ahead of the wave ahead [Mysteries of the Deep, 2023]
Grand River - Human [Editions Mego, 2023]
Deep Glistening 1 - Beta Whisper [Indole Records, 2016]
Seltene Erden - Rising Core [Kassem Mosse, 2020]
KMRU - U9 [Euphonic Rhythms, 2020]
Brian Eno - We Let It In [Opal Records, 2022]

The Observatory - Toner

Toner [ LIMINAL DREAMS ]

Toner grew up heavily influenced by movies, and was baptized into modern techno in the alternative underground music scene he encountered while living in Taiwan. After returning to Japan, he became a captive of the club and rave scene around Tokyo.  Before starting his DJ career, he has been involved in many events as a supporter and reporter, diving deep into the hot spots that continue to expand the boundaries of dance musics. 

Since 2022, he launched the community called "LIMINAL DREAMS" focusing on electronic ambient music with Toss and Kaana, and he has been directed the events in Tokyo. "LIMINAL DREAMS" is homage to the psychedelic chill-out culture that has been around since the 60's, and its community is for music enthusiasts of quirky contemporary electronic music. The event series are currently based in Tokyo and Vietnam, and recognized as a bridge between the ambient scene in the West to Asia.

Toner as a DJ has a strong minimalism approach to his musics. He is a humorous player and can weave a various story beyond the beat.

Toner - Eerawai Ambient Series for BAIHUI 2024/03/18

“Just as some animals begin to prepare for hibernation, cities and people are preparing for winter. It's the season when I miss my bed in the morning, but getting out of your comfort zone is the beginning of finding a new self,” Toner @Yutaroy reflects on Minor Snow while presenting the 6th mix for Orbitinging series.

He mentioned that he was conscious of using tracks with a cold feeling, as well as those that deeply affect the spirit, recreating a groove different from dance music—chilly yet serious, but still heartwarming. Toner added, “Please listen to it at home while you chill out, meditate, and when you are feeling peace and comfort.”

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Toner first encountered the alternative underground music scene while living in Taiwan. After returning to Japan, he continued to expand the boundaries of dance music. He is a lover of hidden gems and uncategorizable experimental music. Since 2022, he has started the deep listening-focused chill-out community “LIMINAL DREAMS” with Toss and Kaana, and is responsible for directing events in Tokyo.

He has performed at well-known outdoor festivals such as “rural” and “Transcendence” in Japan, “Organik Festival” in Taiwan, and “Wonderfruit” in Thailand.

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“‘67-Oph’ by Strange Antiquark,” which Toner specially selected to share with us, captures the feeling he tried to infuse throughout the entire recording—“unique and has contemporary structure, not too serious, but sounds still fun,” he said.

Toner is always happy to share his music library whenever the opportunity arises, whether at outdoor festivals, clubs or radio shows. He will be presenting an ambient set consisting entirely of Japanese ambient artists at an upcoming festival in December, with more information to be updated on his page. “I am a firm believer that DJs are artists. As a selector, it will be a very challenging and exciting experience,” he added.

Instagram: www.instagram.com/toner.jp/

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「如同某些動物準備冬眠，城市和人們也在為冬天做準備。這個季節讓我早晨特別想念床，但走出舒適圈也是尋找新自我的開始。」Toner為小雪下了註解，也為Orbitinging系列帶來第6發混音作品。

他提到，有特別挑選符合這個季節的曲目，並加入了一些深層的靈性聲響，重新創造了一種別於舞曲的律動——帶有寒意卻暖心而不嚴肅。他並建議可在家中放鬆、冥想，或感受到平靜的時候聆聽。

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來自日本的Toner，在台灣生活時首次接觸到地下音樂場景，並於回到日本後持續探索舞曲文化。他熱愛那些隱藏的瑰寶、以及無法被歸類的實驗音樂。從2022年開始，他與Toss和Kaana共同創立了專注在深度聆聽的chill-out社群「LIMINAL DREAMS」，也在東京負責策畫活動。

他並曾在知名的戶外音樂祭如：日本的「rural」、「Transcendence」、台灣的「Organik Festival」和泰國的「Wonderfruit」演出。

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Toner特別挑選了由Strange Antiquark所創作的「67-Oph」與我們分享，說這首曲子呈現了他試圖融入整個混音中的感覺——「獨特、具當代結構、不會太嚴肅，且聽起來充滿趣味」，他說。

他總是期待任何能分享自己的音樂收藏的機會，不論是在音樂祭、club或radio show。談到12月受邀的音樂祭，Toner正為其準備一個完全由日本藝術家的作品所組成的ambient set，「我堅信DJ也是藝術家，作為一名selector，這將會是一個非常具挑戰性且令人興奮的體驗。」更多資訊也將公布在他的個人頁面。

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Track List:
1. Paperclip Minimiser - B4
2. Ø (Mika Vainio) - Oleva
3. sv1 - 20231214_140
4. Lamin Fofana - Measure of Memory / I Stagger and Remember
5. Premis - Odonata
6. Chie Otomi - Floating Things
7. Frank Bretschneider - Dichte 9
8. o.utlier - Antarika
9. Steve Good - Vortex
10. SUGAI KEN - 坂東太郎のりうきょう / Flow Of The Tone River
11. mu tate - sweat
12. Perko - Grace
13. OISATSANA - Previous Form
14. a-souvenir - twentyeight.six.twenty
15. Ancestral Voices - Arun
16. Strange Antiquark - 67-Oph

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Minor Snow 小雪 (XiaoXue)

As the weather grows colder, rain in some regions turns to snow, and the climate becomes more unpredictable. It is important to protect yourself from the cold and nourish your kidneys, while also keeping the lungs warm and intestines hydrated. Moderate exposure to sunlight can help stimulate the body's yang energy and warm the meridians.

氣候漸冷，部分地區的雨水形成雪花，天氣多變，宜防寒養腎、溫肺潤腸。適當地曬陽光能助人體陽氣升發，有溫經脈的作用。

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Orbitinging is an inging ambient mix series, blending the flow of music with the rhythm of seasonal changes. Released in sync with the 24 solar terms, it captures the unique atmosphere of each moment.

The 24 solar terms originated from ancient astronomers dividing the solar year into 24 equal parts, marking the Earth's journey around the Sun. Orbitinging resonates with nature’s breath, deepening our connection to Earth's rhythms.

Orbitinging 06 - Toner

Recorded at 428 stage at Wonderfruit Festival in 2024. The work consist entirely of the tracks by producers who related to Japan. 

Toner: Heavily influenced by film and the fictional world, Toner firstly encountered the alternative underground music scene while living in Taiwan. After returning to Japan, Toner has been diving deep into the hotspots that continue to expand the boundaries of dance music as a reporter and supporter of outdoor events. Since 2022, he has started the deep listening focused chill-out community “LIMINAL DREAMS” with Toss and Kaana, and is responsible for directing events in Tokyo.

Toner is a lover of forgotten masterpieces, hidden gems that have never seen the light, and uncategorizable experimental music, and is known for his ability to take the dance floor from a smoke-filled, dimly lit club to an otherworldly dance floor in the most secluded corners of Japan. He has taken to the stage at outdoor festivals such as “rural” and “Transcendence” in Japan, as well as at “Organik Festival” in Taiwan and “Wonderfruit” in Thailand.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toner.jp/

Toner -Experimental Set- at 428 Wonderfruit 2024

Salvaged Tapes w/ Toner  - 14/05/2025

Toner, who found Liminal Dreams, a one-of-a-kind collective in the current Tokyo scene, has honed his sensibility through his activities, and his ambient-based set, which he performed from early morning to the finale of the four-day event, was a perfect opportunity to fully demonstrate his worldview. The set was full of tenderness that embraced those who were tired of dancing and those who were ready for a new day in the morning. We hope you will listen to his selections once again as he takes on his new residency at rural.

現在の東京のシーンにおいて唯一無二と言えるコレクティブ〈Liminal Dreams〉の創設に携わり、その活動を通して感性を磨いてきたToner。彼の世界観を存分に発揮できる4日間の早朝からフィナーレへと繋がるタイミングで演奏したアンビエントを基調としたセットは、踊り疲れた人々、また朝を迎えて新しい1日を迎える人々を包み込む優しさに溢れていました。新たに rural のレジデンシーも担うことになった彼のセレクションに今一度耳を傾けてみてください。