Tom Trago

• tomtrago.com

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• Laetitia Descouens

Tom Trago (Amsterdam, b.1983) is part of the new school Amsterdam producers. He is also an accomplished dj and is the Trago in Yuro Trago. Raised on a steady diet of hip-hop and jazz, Trago studied contemporary music when he entered his twenties. Around this time he was also mentored his way into the Dutch club scene by a well-known local dj. Trago learned fast and his own DJ career kicked off in no time. Over the past five years he has played at many clubs and parties both locally as internationally. His diverse music taste has made him appreciated in different scenes; from a block party to a rave... people get down to his sound. He is / has been resident for Rushhour parties, Dekmantel parties, Parra Soundsystem and Kindred Spirits. He also initiated 08Bar (www.08bar.nl ), a project where producers get linked up to each other and jam live to an audience. Trago debuted with his 2006 single 'Live With The BBQ', which made it to Bob Sinclair's 'Playboy Mansion' CD. Since then he has released a few singles and remixes which are as diverse as his dj sets (watch out for his Phillipe Zdar remix on Cassius Records and the 'Can't Stop Feeling' remix of Franz Ferdinand, both are about to be released).

With his studies finished and with ending some of his DJ residencies, Trago has made way for himself to focus on his production. He spent most of last year in his studio to shape his sound. The first outcome of this since 'Primary Roots' (2008) - as Yuro Trago - is his debut album 'Voyage Direct' (2009), which is an ode to his love for disco and house. The album was very well received by both press and fans. This year has seen him promoting his new album as well as working on more productions, both solo as well as collaborations. A very interesting collaboration is the 'Strings of Life' project featuring the Kindred Spirits Ensemble. The KS Ensemble (or Orchestra, it contains a string section, percussionists, a horn section, bass, drums and a lot more 'real' instruments) plays new arrangements of old techno and house classics. The arrangements were made by Carl Craig and Theo Parrish with Tom Trago, who's also the conductor/producer/mixer on stage. For next year Tom is working on a more techno bassed solo-album, a disco project with San Proper, a visit to the Carl Craig studios in Detroit to work on his second Voyage Direct-album (due for 2011) and remixing other peoples material.