In Conversation With Tobias Dray
Photo by Martin Klapperbein
Toronto-based French artist Tobias Dray has never been one to settle for one thing. From living in three different cities including Paris, London, and soon New York, to making music that doesn’t box itself into a single genre, to being inspired by a range of music influences, the artist has become known for following his inclinations, wherever they might lead. His new single “Espada Primo” is no different, showcasing his love not only for watching movies like Ocean’s 12 and creating the soundtrack for his perfect heist scene but also for invoking anime in the song’s unique, captivating visuals and his overall brand.
We caught up over Zoom to chat about how he was first inspired to make music, how his style has changed over time, and what else he hopes to make this year.
[UNPUBLISHED]: You’ve been making music for over a decade! What initially drew you to the medium?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: Kanye West’s album called Late Orchestration. I was 13, 14, and listening to this album, I was like, “Damn, I want to make something in music.” I didn’t know what I wanted to make, I just wanted to try because it’s a good feeling and it fascinates me. I don’t know what I’m gonna do in five or ten years but making music is fun for me.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How have you found that your sound and style have changed over time?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: I’ve had many phases. At first, I was only making hip-hop, trap beats, then deep house. Then future bass, then back to house. Now I’m trying to mix rock, German bass, electronic, R&B as well.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Who would you name as musical influences?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: I really like James Blake, Freezing Point, Kanye West.
[UNPUBLISHED]: How do you incorporate your influences into your own music?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: Subconsciously. Whatever goes inside my brain, I’ll take it out and I don’t know the root of it. But whatever I experience musically or visually speaking, it’s all those influences on me when I try to make music. Right now, it’s a lot of anime and Japanese pop-punk.
[UNPUBLISHED]: What do you enjoy about invoking anime and its distinctive style into your visuals?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: My generation grew up watching anime and reading manga so it’s been a huge influence on me since I was a kid. There’s no limit. In drawing, you can do whatever you want, you’re only limited by the wield of the wand. The imagination is on the roof. I like when people go fully crazy into something, that’s why I like anime.
[UNPUBLISHED]: So far, you’ve lived in Paris, London, and Toronto. What do you love about each place you’ve lived in?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: Each place is different case by case. In Paris, I really like the beauty of the city, it’s amazing. I think Paris is the most beautiful city. London, I really like how cosmopolitan and diverse it is. You can like any niche of music and find it in London, there’s gonna be a scene there. I don’t know about Toronto. I’ve been living here since COVID so I don’t have a good perspective on it. But maybe once COVID goes away, I’ll have a better perspective.
[UNPUBLISHED]: You’ve also visited Los Angeles recently. How did you like it there?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: I like the weather. It was a really fast week, mainly for work so I don’t have a good perspective on it. For the free time I had, I like how big it is and the small neighborhoods, which are really different. It’s almost like it’s a bunch of small cities inside Los Angeles, which is nice. But I think I prefer New York for the food.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Going back to your music, how do you generally approach the creation process? How does it compare with the process behind your new single, “Espada Primo”?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: I make music in my room so I don’t need to go to a studio. A sound can catch me, say it’s a drum or guitar sample, or a vibe, and then I try to explore that. For instance, [for “Espada Primo”] I was like, “Oh shit, this thing reminds me of a heist vibe and this cymbal reminds me of the movie Ocean’s 12. Let me try to capture this vibe and atmosphere, and explore this idea as much as I can.” Then I added my own sounds.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Turning now to your new single, what’s the story behind naming it “Espada Primo”? What does it mean for you and how does it capture the feeling of the song?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: Espada Primo is a character from the anime Bleach, so Espada is a category of fighting and it’s ranked from ten, and number one is the strongest. So I was like, “Let me try to do a punchline. ‘I’m a killer like Espada Primo.’” It sounded catchy to my ear so I named it “Espada Primo” because it sounds nice.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Following this single, what’s next for you?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: There’s gonna be another song called, “Maybe Fuck It,” I’m probably gonna drop it. Then there’ll be a break to building a whole album. I wanna make a whole album this year or beginning of next year.
[UNPUBLISHED]: Given how many genres you’ve explored, do you have an idea of what music you’ll make next?
[TOBIAS DRAY]: I have no idea what I’m gonna make in a year or two. I never thought I was gonna make this kind of music even a year ago. I’m just going with whatever my ears are triggered by so I cannot predict what I will like or make in the future. My style of music can change so I’m going with the flow, whatever I like at this point I try to make. The trick is to make whatever music you want to make on the day that you make it, fully into it. Your mind and tastes will change over time, and then you try to lead with that music idea you have on that day. At the end of the day, I just make music for fun.
