Tom Trago

{{Short description|Dutch electronic musician and DJ}} {{Infobox musical artist | name = Tom Trago | image = | caption = | landscape = yes | birth_name = Tom Trago | alias = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1983|1|28}} | birth_place = Amsterdam | genre = {{hlist|House|techno|electronic}} | occupation = {{hlist|DJ|producer}} | years_active = 2006–present | label = Rush Hour Recordings | associated_acts = Bok Bok | website = {{URL|http://tomtrago.com/}} }}

'''Tom Trago''' (born 28 January 1983), is a Dutch electronic musician and DJ.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mixmag.net/videos/series/100vinyl-tom-trago|title=100% Vinyl: Tom Trago|publisher=mixmag|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dummymag.com/mixes/dummy-mix-219-tom-trago|title=Dummy Mix 219 // Tom Trago|publisher=Dummy Magazine|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.factmag.com/2014/08/07/bok-bok-and-tom-trago-reunite-for-second-volume-of-night-voyage-tool-kit/|title=BOK BOK AND TOM TRAGO REUNITE FOR SECOND VOLUME OF NIGHT VOYAGE TOOL KIT|publisher=Fact Magazine|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://breaksmag.com/2014/08/tom-trago-interview/|title=TOM TRAGO INTERVIEW|publisher=Breaks Mag|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref>

==Early life== Tom Trago was born in Amsterdam on 28 January 1983. He grew up in an artistic household. During his teens, he entertained himself by listening to albums from his parents’ record collection and making his own radio shows. At the age of 15, he decided he would dedicate his life to music.<ref name="Advisor">{{Cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/dj/tomtrago/biography|title=RA: Tom Trago|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> On his 18th birthday, he received the gift of a piano from his mother.<ref name=":0">{{Cite news|url=https://www.juno.co.uk/reviews/2011/04/26/interview-tom-trago/|title=Interview: Tom Trago {{!}} Juno Plus|work=Juno Plus|access-date=2018-07-18|language=en}}</ref>

==Career== At the age of 15, Tom began to DJ at coffee shops in Amsterdam. Early in his career, he was offered encouragement and support from older Dutch DJs and producers including Aardvarck and Awanto 3.<ref name="Advisor"/> Through the city's music scene, Trago met the members of production collective Rednose Distrikt. According to a 2011 interview with Juno Plus,<ref name=":0" /> it was their use of the Akai MPC2000 workstation that inspired Tom to make music.

Trago was first drawn to hip-hop, soul and jazz, but later discovered house and techno through a combination of the 1990s Amsterdam club scene and regular trips to the Rush Hour record shop.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.speakertv.com/news/tours-events/tom-trago-talks-exclusive-invite-only-dinners-with-the-worlds-best-djs-and-critiquing-his-music-while-in-nature/|title=Tom Trago Talks Invite Only Dinners With The Worlds Best DJ's And Critiquing His Music While In Nature|work=speakertv|access-date=2018-07-18|language=en-US}}</ref> He was aware that Rednose Distrikt had been signed to the store's record label, also called Rush Hour, so submitted a demo CD. This was signed and Rush Hour released his first single, ''Live With The BBQ'', in 2006.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tom-Trago-Live-With-The-BBQ/release/645819|title=Tom Trago - Live With The BBQ|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

In 2009, he released his debut album ''Voyage Direct''. A year later, Trago established a record label of the same name, in order to showcase music by Dutch electronic musicians.<ref name="About - Voyage Direct">{{Cite news|url=https://www.voyagedirect.net/about/|title=About - Voyage Direct|work=Voyage Direct|access-date=2018-07-18|language=en-GB}}</ref> As of 2018, the label has released music from Dexter, Legowelt, Awanto3, Maxi Mill, Overlast, Interstellar Funk, San Proper, Magnesii, Elias Mazian, Boris Werner, Simon Weiss, Darling, Efde, Tracey, Sterac Electronics and Trago himself.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/label/1035541-Voyage-Direct|title=Voyage Direct|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> In 2015, the label established a DJ agency, Voyage Select,<ref name="About - Voyage Direct"/> in order to manage the interests of Dutch DJs and producers.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.voyage-select.com/|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070623141428/http://www.voyage-select.com/|url-status=usurped|archive-date=June 23, 2007|title=Artists - Voyage Select|website=Voyage Select|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

In 2011, Trago released his second album ''Iris''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15648-two-together/|title=Iris Review Review|publisher=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref> The album drew on a wider palette of influences, including hip-hop, soul and R&B.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=13632|title=Tom Trago preps second album, Iris|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> In a review for the Irish Times, journalist Jim Carroll described Trago as “a producer for the future”, adding that it was “far broader in scope than its predecessor",<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.irishtimes.com/culture/music/album-reviews/tom-trago-1.577361|title=Tom Trago|newspaper=The Irish Times|access-date=2018-07-18|language=en-US}}</ref> a view echoed by other reviews published around the album's release.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/albums/15512-iris/|title=Tom Trago: Iris Album Review {{!}} Pitchfork|website=pitchfork.com|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

In 2013, he released his third album ''The Light Fantastic''.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.vibe.com/photo-gallery/phone-jack-tom-tragos-private-cell-phone-photos-exposed|title=Phone Jack: Tom Trago's Private Cell Phone Photos Exposed|publisher=Vibe|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref> During the recording process, Trago spent a month living in a cabin in the countryside.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.deephouseamsterdam.com/exclusive-interview-with-tom-trago/|title=Exclusive Interview with Tom Trago {{!}} Festivals, Interviews {{!}} Deep House Amsterdam|date=2013-07-18|work=Deep House Amsterdam|access-date=2018-07-18|language=en-US}}</ref> Resident Advisor reviewed the album favourably, saying that it “wears its influences proudly, but fashions them into undeniably Dutch forms.” Reviewer Tom Barham also suggested that Trago was a leading figure in the Netherlands rising house scene.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/reviews/13869|title=Review: Tom Trago - The Light Fantastic|work=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref>

Trago is known for his willingness to collaborate with other DJs and producers.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theransomnote.com/music/interviews/tom-trago-talks/|title=Tom TRago Talks|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> To date, he has produced records alongside San Proper,<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|url=https://www.fabriclondon.com/blog/view/in-depth-tom-trago-discusses-friendship-and-working-with-san-proper|title=In Depth: Tom Trago Discusses Friendship and Working With San Proper - fabric blog|website=fabric london|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> Romathony, Steffi, Breach, William Kouam Djoko, Tyree Cooper,<ref name=":0" /> Young Marco, Awanto 3,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tom-Trago-Young-Marco-Awanto-3-Physical-Thrill/master/372796|title=Tom Trago & Young Marco & Awanto 3 - Physical Thrill|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> Bok Bok<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Bok-Bok-Tom-Trago-Night-Voyage-Tool-Kit/master/392541|title=Bok Bok & Tom Trago - Night Voyage Tool Kit|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> and Seth Troxler.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Seth-Troxler-Tom-Trago-Presents-TT-Music-Factory-De-Natte-Cel-DJ-Kicks/master/1038429|title=Seth Troxler & Tom Trago Presents T&T Music Factory - De Natte Cel|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> In 2015, Trago undertook a DJ tour in which he played sets with other high-profile DJs including Ben UFO, Tama Sumo, Jus Ed, Jackmaster and Young Marco.<ref name=":1" />

In 2017, Trago contributed a track to Dekmantel's 10th anniversary series of 12” singles.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=39538|title=Dekmantel announce next three EPs in tenth anniversary series|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> The following year, he released his fourth album, ''Bergen'', on the same label. The album's title refers to the Northern Dutch town where he recorded it.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.residentadvisor.net/news.aspx?id=40991|title=Tom Trago's fourth album, Bergen, coming on Dekmantel|website=Resident Advisor|access-date=2018-07-18}}</ref> Trago said he was inspired by his natural surroundings and that he thought it was his “most accomplished and honest” album to date.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.xlr8r.com/news/dekmantel-to-release-new-tom-trago-album|title=Tom Trago Connects Legacy, Family, and Commitment to Dance Music on New Dekmantel LP|work=XLR8R|access-date=2018-07-18|language=en-us}}</ref>

==Discography== Discography adapted from ''Discogs'' & ''Rate Your Music'' <ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.discogs.com/artist/472936-Tom-Trago?limit=50&type=Releases |title=Tom Trago Discography|publisher=Discogs|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=http://rateyourmusic.com/artist/tom_trago|title=Tom Trago Discography|publisher=rateyourmusic|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref>

===Albums=== * ''Voyage Direct'' (2009) * ''Iris'' (2011) * ''The Light Fantastic'' (2013) *''Bergen'' (2018)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Tom-Trago-Bergen/master/1355892|title=Tom Trago - Bergen|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-17}}</ref>

===EPs=== * ''Proper's A'dam Family Series Part 2'' (w/ San Proper) (2007) * ''Compressed Roots'' (w/ Yuro) (2007) * ''The Fluor Green EP'' (2007) * ''Primary Roots'' (w/ Yuro) (2008) * ''Passion'' (Single) (2008) * ''Voyage Direct Remixes'' (2009) * ''Voyage Direct - Live Takes'' (2010) * ''Voyage Direct - Out Takes'' (2010) * ''Voyage Direct Remixes Part 2 - Amsterdam Revisited'' (2010) * ''Voyage Direct - FS Green Remixes'' (2010) * ''Physical Thrill'' (w/ Young Marco & Awanto 3) (2011) * ''Night Voyage Tool Kit'' (w/ Bok Bok) * ''Iris In Dub'' (2011) * ''Iris Album Sampler'' (2011) * ''Shutters'' (2011) * ''Iris (Remixes)'' (2012) * ''Tracks From The Vault Vol. 2'' (w/ Terrence Dixon) (2012) * ''The Light Fantastic Album Sampler'' (2013) * ''Give Me What You Want'' (w/ Bok Bok) (2013) * ''Hidden Heart Of Gold'' (2014) * ''Need This'' (w/ Bok Bok) (2014) * ''Pussy Trak'' (w/ Bok Bok) (2014) *''Serene Waters'' (2017)

===Singles=== * "Live with the BBQ/The Handclapping Song" (2006) * "Use Me Again (And Again)" (2010) * "Rise Up" (2012) * "Two Together" (2013)<ref>{{cite web|url=http://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/15648-two-together/|title=Tom Trago - Two Together Review|publisher=Pitchfork Media|accessdate=December 13, 2014}}</ref> * "De Natte Cel" (with Seth Troxler) (2015)<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.discogs.com/Seth-Troxler-Tom-Trago-Presents-TT-Music-Factory-De-Natte-Cel/release/8486190|title=Seth Troxler & Tom Trago Presents T&T Music Factory - De Natte Cel|website=Discogs|language=en|access-date=2018-07-17}}</ref> * "Brutal Romance" (2016)

==References== {{Reflist|30em}}

==External links== *[http://tomtrago.com/ Official website] *{{Twitter}} *{{Facebook|pages/Tom-Trago/199542043398540}} *{{SoundCloud}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Trago, Tom}} Category:Living people Category:Dutch electronic musicians Category:Dutch record producers Category:Musicians from Amsterdam Category:Dutch electronic dance music DJs Category:1983 births