Tokimonsta Interview

For our latest interview we have Tokimonsta. LA based producer of amazing beats. Heading to these shores next month she is definitely worth getting acquainted with beforehand and we aim to give you that opportunity. Read on

Firstly tell us a little bit about yourself:
My real name is Jennifer Lee.  I was born and raised in Torrance, CA in Los Angeles County.  I’m Korean-American–though I’m very often mistaken as Japanese, by Koreans as well.  I was formally trained in the piano and clarinet, and later taught myself the guitar and drums.  Of course, I was never quite spectacular at any of these instruments, but I gained a good ear and musical sensibility.  When I was in college, a friend suggested that I try making beats and it’s all history from there 
 
So you are very much unofficially dubbed the ‘first lady of Brainfeeder’. How did you hook up with those guys?
Flying Lotus called me that on the BF site and I find it really nuts how that title has stuck ever since.  As far as how I hooked up with them, I guess it was just the course of nature bringing like-minded people together.  We all knew each other before I was even a part of the crew–the LA beat scene is an intimate community.  I was actually taken by surprise when Flylo asked if I wanted to do something with BF because I never once bugged him to put me on or anything.  All in all, I’m very thankful for that moment and everyone who has been supportive of me since.

I am really into the various mixes of yours I have found online. A real good mix of old and new and a real connectivity between the two. Who are your big influences past and present and who should we all be looking out for in the future?
Wow, I’m terrible at listing these things off the top of my head, but I’m just going to avoid being overly obscure and list the obvious ones: Marvin Gaye, João Gilberto, Sunra, Althea and Donna, traditional Korean music, J Dilla, Wutang, Dj Shadow, Smashing Pumpkins, Kings of Convenience, Junior Boys, Miho Hatori, Deftones, Radiohead.  As far as the future, stay keen on the All City Los Angeles 10×10 series.  It will feature 20 of LA’s best producers on ten 10″ vinyls,2 per.  Also, Brainfeeder has a buttload of DOPE releases coming out soon–it’s going to be amazing.
 
What are your feelings on the current state of hip-hop? I was losing faith a bit until I heard cuban links 2 and I love hip-hop like a sister.
Ahh, yes.  You have to hand it to the Chef for being dope regardless of how wack everyone else is.  Generally, I don’t have any particular feelings about the state of hip hop.  Changing times also means changing tastes and styles, which means that hip hop was never destined to stay the same as it was in ’93.  However, with any genre, growth is important, but so is maintaining the integrity of your craft.  Perhaps the general quality of hip hop isn’t as great now, but the direction it has taken isn’t a bad thing at all–it’s been a natural progression
 
I see on your myspace that you are coming to the UK what sort of live setup can we expect?
Yup, I am heading over.  Be expecting fun time, but also progressive musical experience.  I go through my set inconspicuously moving from one feeling to another.  I may start playing light hearted tunes, but end on something really grimey/obscure—you won’t even realized it got to that point, but you will know you enjoyed the ride.   Of course, I’ll be harboring my musical devices–I should have some new toys by then.
 
As well as clearly being pretty handy with a drum machine and other gadgetry you are classically trained in the piano and you have started to use traditional Korean instruments on your tunes. Have you had to tear up the rulebook you were taught and start anew or do you find yourself regularly referring back to your training?
I think my former training has given me my sense of musicality, but I have learned to throw out the structural rules in order to embrace a borderless musical realm.  If I thought like how I was trained, I doubt I would have thought to combine Korean percussion the way I did.  I have adopted a mindset that strives to mix new with old/obscure with conventional/light with dark.  I guess that’s why “toki” (which means rabbit in Korean) and “monsta” fits me.  It’s the idea of yin and yang–opposites behaving in complete harmony.

Apart from the music how do you like to spend your time?
I love baking and cooking for others.  (If there’s no one to share my cooking with, I’d end up eating massive quantities of food myself.)  I’m a sucker for watching film documentaries of any subject–historical, science, cultural, medical, natural, societal, you name it. 

Also, I always have to watch my toons–one of many ways I’m a huge dweeb.  My mother’s been perplexed by my attachment to the Simpsons (or as she says, “Simpson”) since I was in elementary school.

I’m an avid fan of fashion and art.  I paint and sketch every time I hit a producer’s block and I work on clothes when I find no inspiration for art.
 
What have you got lined up for the future?
I have an EP coming out on Ramp Recordings in late November, early December.  Next, I have a shared 10″ with Nghtprwl coming out on the All City LA 10×10 project.  I have a project with Suzi Analog that we’re avidly working on.  Lastly, I have my Brainfeeder release–it’s going to be very personal, so I’m taking my time on it. 

Any final words?
It’s 5 in the morn and I’m super disoriented.  I really hope I answered everything coherently because my brain feels like bubble gum.  O, but I should mention that I look forward to seeing everyone at my gigs and I really plan to bring my all in order to make it a dope experience. 

Listen to the amazing Functional Dysfunction for Musique Large,  mix here

http://musiquelarge.blogspot.com/

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