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 Ever since he burst onto the Trance scene back in 2007 Tom Colontonio continues to impress with each release and has made quite a name for himself. We caught up to see how he's doing...
Recently being dubbed as “the man of the moment” by Armin Van Buuren, a name like Tom Colontonio does not go unnoticed, but his music, is simply unforgettable. Tom Colontonio belongs to a successful new breed of DJ/Producers who have taken the scene by storm, and are giving the established globally acclaimed artists a run for their money.
Tom is now on the pinnacle of breaking through to super-stardom.
Tom has released a number of tracks on a variety of labels such as Discover, Vandit, Conspiracy and Armada along with a number of other labels, which has kept him very busy over the past few years. He has also had appearances on most major radio shows such as PVD’s VONYC Sessions, Tiesto’s Club Life, Armin’s A State of Trance, and many others.
As releases, remixes, collaborations and support from some of the biggest names in the electronic music industry continue to mount up, Tom Colontonio is beginning to see the world through the eyes of an international DJ.
The future looks bright for this up and coming player, so be on the lookout for Tom Colontonio, his name will not be the only thing you'll remember.
Make sure to catch Tom every month on his exclusive “Omega” show on Afterhours.FM, once a month on Slinky.FM and his “Omega Podcast”, which can be subscribed via I-Tunes.
i:Vibes: Hi Tom, thanks for taking some time to talk to www.ivibes.nu. After years of listening to your music, I just noticed that you’re an American. I always thought you were from the UK, just from your sound. Do you ever get that from people? Your sound seems very European.
Tom: Yes, I have been asked that alot to be honest! I think I would be in a better position living in the UK though and flights seem to be an issue at this point. Maybe a move in the future?
i:Vibes: Your from Cherry Hill, New Jersey. What was your childhood like and when and how did you get interested with trance?
Tom: Well I had a good childhood I would say. I went to church and a private school until all hell broke loose when I hit public school in 7th
grade.
I got into playing guitar when I was about 13 yrs old.. I was in various bands and recording demos etc. I would do poorly in school, because I was doing studio musican work all night then trying to stay awake in class all day. Eventually I was introduced to house when I was 18 and hitting local Philadelphia clubs which lead to me hearing trance from a few people that were into overtime. I was hooked the first time I heard it!
i:Vibes: How do you get a long with the New York trance posse with acts like Filo & Peri, Sean Tyas, Thomas Datt, Mike Saint Jules ?
Tom: I get along with mostly everyone... NYC def has some great talent!
i:Vibes: Who were your early musical inspirations as you were growing up?
Tom: Steve Vai , Joe Satriani when I was playing guitar. I was also into classical guitar and music for many years. As for EDM I would say Armin, PVD and Corsten the most when I was starting out.
i:Vibes: I am sure that you went clubbing a lot in New York in the past. What was your first clubbing experience like and what DJ did you see?
Tom: Robbie Tronco record release @ The Tunnel in like 1996 or 97 I think? I have seen many DJs there though over the years.. Including Armin, Tiesto, PVD, Ferry etc.. I Remember the days of PVD @ Roxy were always a blast!
i:Vibes: What trance DJ has inspired you the most in the last years while you were developing your sound as a DJ and producer.
Tom: PVD, Armin and Ferry were the guys I really listened to the most when I got into trance. Tyas and JOC were big influences when I started producing.
i:Vibes: What was the deciding moment in your life where you knew that you wanted to be involved with trance music?
Tom: Well, I remember I was watching Discovery channel a little over 4 years ago sitting on my ass and being bored. I was thinking "Man I really need to learn how to make records" but I was always being lazy and getting boozed etc..lol. I basically went out to the guitar center and had a credit card which I maxed out and bought an Apple computer, Logic , speakers, Midi controller and a M-Audio interface. I brought it all home and I thought I was going to make some amazing masterpieces ..lol. Took me a long time and a lot of sitting there trying to figure things out though.
i:Vibes: You have released under big labels like Vandit, Armada and Discover, but how did you get your foot into the dance scene? Did you go the traditional route of sending demos to labels or did someone help you and mentor you or did you get in another way?
Tom: Well I was sending so many tracks to labels and getting denied for a long time. It was tough, because sometimes the rejection was hard to accept when I worked weeks on a track. I had been sending tracks to JOC for a while and he took notice of a few of them and we started conversing over emails. It was around that time when I also became friends with Activa and we did our collaberation "Enlighten". Eventually John Askew took notice of me too and signed me to Discover as an artist and I began making better tracks overall. Sean Tyas was always there to give me some advice as well which really helped me out. It all just kind of came together for me in 2007. The rest is history!
i:Vibes: You have been getting more and more known through your fantastic music. How have you seen the development of your sound in the last three years?
Tom: I have learned to take my time with making tracks now. I really have been rethinking the way I do stuff overall.... better mastering, better EQ'ing etc... If you take your time and step away for a few days you can usually find a few things to really make a track stand out
i:Vibes: How would you describe the Tom Colontonio sound of 2009?
Tom: "Diverse" hahaha... To be honest I have some stuff coming out that's going throw people a curve ball I think ;) I'm very excited about it all though!
i:Vibes: You produced “Through the light” with Irish trance god John O Callaghan. What was it like making this trance gem with him? Did you guys actually find time to make it in a studio or were you sending files back and fourth? How did the producing duties look like between the two of you?
Tom: It was great... We came up with some ideas when he was here in October last year for a week. We just worked on those and built up the track to what it became. It was very exciting for me to work with John as he has such great talent. After he left we were file swapping until the track was done. The same way me and Sean Tyas did the Intertia rmx for the System.
i:Vibes: You also seem to have a special connection with Giuseppi Ottaviani. You remix his tracks and he remixes your tracks. What would a Colontonio/Ottaviani production sound like?
Tom: Its going to sound great in 2009..hahah
We have started a collab this year which I am ecstatic about. I met Giuseppe in 2003 when he was with NU-NRG and we became friends after that. I wasn't even producing then but I loved their music. It was a pinnacle in my career to work with him, he is an amazing producer!
i:Vibes: What surprises can we await from you in the next months in terms of productions?
What was your reaction as you found out that you would release on Paul Van Dyk..s label Vandit? Did you do a special dance or take the news calmly?
Tom: Well I have just finished remixing a new Sean Tyas track which I am very excited about. Tyas's new one has an amazing melody which I couldn't get out of my head. I was very happy to have the chance to remix it. Also a new EP W/ a tyas remix on Monster tunes which is due out around July (I think) and another EP I have just finished up last week with a surprise remix ;). Some great things in the works for 09!
I was very happy to get the chance to release on Vandit. It was an honour to be Vandit Digi 001 with Modern day madness. It was a defining moment in my career.
i:Vibes: It is a privilege to release an album on Vandit. Last year it was John O Bir and this year guys like Giuseppe Ottaviani and Alex Morph will be releasing albums on Vandit. Are there any plans for a Tom Colontonio album on Vandit?
Tom: Well there is definitely a plan for an album for me. I have been throwing around ideas recently and I hope I can get it done by late 2009!
i:Vibes: Your also a DJ. What can we expect from a three hour Tom Colontonio DJ set?
Tom: I play pretty banging id say. I will always play quite a few of my tracks and also a lot of tracks I like, Current etc.. I have def been know to throw in a classic or two in my sets as well.
i:Vibes: How is your radio show Omega running? What is special about your show?
Tom: Omega is going good.. I will be syndicating it on a few new stations for 2009. I also have finally got the podcast online in the i-tunes store which I'm excited about. I had many requests for a podcast... it just took me a while to get it going.
i:Vibes: Any plans of coming to Germany to DJ? Talla 2XLC..s Technoclub in Frankfurt is a place that would love to hear your sound?
Tom: I would love to do that! but no plans as of now... Talla if your reading this lets do it!! haha. I met Talla in 2006 when he was playing in Philadelphia. He was a great guy.
i:Vibes: What was the craziest DJ experience that you have ever had?
Tom: BAD: I was playing on my birthday in Philadelphia in like 06 at my Sat night residency. I was so drunk I had this brainstorm idea to mashup 2 records I had done before.. It all went terribly wrong for me to say the least..lololol People were looking at me like wtf man!!
GOOD: Sunrise festival in Poland last year on my Birthday again... I was standing there in front of all those people thinking how far I had come at that very moment. It was a tearjerker for me to be honest .
i:Vibes: With what artist would you like to be locked away with for 24 hours in a studio?
Tom: Jenna Jameson? Shes an artist right?
I cant even answer that one.. theres so many!
i:Vibes: Do you have a special way how you go about producing a track in the studio? Some producers establish an atmosphere or create a bassline first or melody. How do you work in the studio?
Tom: I always start with a kick and get a percussion groove going. Then I will do a bassline and decide a key I want be in and go from there.
i:Vibes: What are your current five favourite tracks?
Tom: JOC - "Broken"
Neal Scarborough - Wiretap
Tom Colontonio - 'Sparkover" (Sean Tyas rmx)
Paul van Dyk - For an angel (Activa rmx)
JOC & Giuseppe Ottaviani - "Liquid Fire"
i:Vibes: What are your alltime favourite tracks?
Tom: The Generator - 'Where are you now" (Moonman rmx)
PVD - For and Angel
JOC & Kearney - 'Exactly"
Akkeson - "Perfect Blue"
Armin Van Buurens 7 Cities rmx
Any Gouryella track
Sean Tyas - "Lift"
Cosmic gate - "Melt to the ocean"
i:Vibes: What are your hobbies?
Tom: I fly radio control helicopters... I have like 5 of them. I crash them all over the place.. even in my kitchen. My wife just loves it!!
i:Vibes: Thanks Tom for the chat. Good luck in the future with your music!!!
Tom: Thank you for having me!
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