DJ and Producer Tokimonsta On Music After Brain Surgery

Summary

Podcast Summary: All Of It – Episode: DJ and Producer Tokimonsta On Music After Brain Surgery

Host: Alison Stewart
Guest: Tokimonsta (DJ and Producer)
Release Date: March 28, 2025
Podcast: All Of It by WNYC
Series: Equalizers, Women in Music Production

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1. Introduction

In this compelling episode of All Of It, host Alison Stewart engages in an intimate conversation with Tokimonsta, a trailblazing DJ and producer renowned for her contributions to electronic music and hip hop. The discussion delves into Tokimonsta's remarkable journey, including her life-altering brain surgery, her groundbreaking Grammy nomination, and the creation of her latest album, Eternal Reverie.

2. Early Career and Entry into Music

Tokimonsta shares her initial foray into the music industry, highlighting the passion-driven path that led her to a full-time career.

Tokimonsta [02:31]: "I was passionate about music, but I knew it wouldn't be realistic as a career initially. I immersed myself in the LA music scene, connecting with others who loved music just as much as I did. This unintentional journey turned my passion into a profession."

She reflects on her early days, emphasizing creative exploration over commercial aspirations.

3. Evolution of Musical Style and Identity

Over 15 years, Tokimonsta has evolved from a "fully unfocused, creative, wild child" to a refined artist with a distinct musical identity.

Tokimonsta [06:08]: "I started by making anything that felt good to me. Over the years, I've honed my signature sound, ensuring that my creativity remains at the forefront rather than following a set formula."

This maturation has allowed her to maintain artistic integrity while navigating the complexities of the music industry.

4. Eternal Reverie Album – Creation and Themes

Tokimonsta's latest album, Eternal Reverie, serves as a personal journal, capturing a spectrum of emotions from youth and experimentation to profound loss and healing.

Tokimonsta [07:50]: "Eternal Reverie is a celebration of youth and dreaming, but it's also intertwined with the loss of my best friend, Regina Biondo. This album represents my journey through grief and healing, hoping to offer listeners a narrative of overcoming hardship."

The album was meticulously crafted in early 2024, with Tokimonsta dedicating over a year to refining her ideas and bringing them to fruition.

5. The Impact of Brain Surgery on Music and Life

A pivotal moment in Tokimonsta's life occurred in 2016 when she underwent brain surgery that resulted in aphasia, severely affecting her ability to process language and music.

Tokimonsta [12:15]: "Waking up and not being able to speak or understand music was terrifying. Music is my world, and losing that connection forced me to focus solely on recuperation."

Despite these challenges, Tokimonsta navigated her recovery with resilience, eventually regaining her ability to engage with music, albeit with newfound perspectives.

Tokimonsta [15:16]: "Now, I can hear music the same as before, and I'm grateful to be alive and continue creating."

6. Grammy Nomination and Industry Influence

Breaking barriers, Tokimonsta became the first Asian American woman nominated for a Grammy in the Best Electronic Dance Album category. This achievement not only affirmed her artistic excellence but also served as an inspiration for underrepresented groups in the industry.

Tokimonsta [17:15]: "Being nominated felt like earning the respect of my peers. I hope it paves the way for more diverse voices in music production."

Her nomination underscores the importance of representation and the impact of her work on aspiring musicians.

7. Young Art Records – Mission and Future Goals

Founded in 2014, Tokimonsta's label, Young Art Records, is a testament to her commitment to uplifting talented musicians. The label is not driven by profit but by a passion for sharing and nurturing creativity.

Tokimonsta [18:57]: "Young Art Records allows me to mentor artists and share the music I love. It's a platform to support musicians navigating the tough music industry landscape."

Looking ahead, Tokimonsta aims to continue fostering a vibrant community of artists, providing them with the resources and guidance needed to thrive.

8. Conclusion

Tokimonsta's story is one of passion, resilience, and unwavering dedication to her craft. From overcoming the physical challenges of brain surgery to achieving significant milestones like her Grammy nomination, she exemplifies the spirit of a true artist. Her latest work, Eternal Reverie, not only showcases her musical prowess but also serves as a beacon of healing and inspiration for her audience.

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Notable Tracks Featured:

• Let Me Trick You (04:19)
• Enjoy Your Life (09:33)
• Death by Disco Part Two (15:36)

Upcoming Performances: Tokimonsta is set to perform in New York on May 22nd and May 24th as part of the Women's History Month series.

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All Of It continues to celebrate and explore the diverse tapestry of culture in New York City, highlighting the stories of those who shape and consume it. Tokimonsta's episode is a profound exploration of personal and artistic growth, offering listeners a deep dive into the life of a pioneering musician.

Transcript

[Progressive Insurance]

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[WNYC Studios]

Listener Supported WNYC Studios.

[Tiffany Hansen]

This is all of it on WNYC. I'm Tiffany Hansen filling in for Alison Stewart. In 2016, the DJ and producer Tokimonsta underwent surgery that left her unable to hear music as more than harsh metallic sounds. A few years later, she became the first Asian American woman to be nominated for a Grammy for Best Electronic Dance Album album. This month she released a new album called Eternal Reverie. Here's a song. Switch it from Tokimonsta Toki Monsta has been a leader in electronic music and hip hop for the last decade and a half. She was the first woman signed to the music label Brain Feeder, founded by influential producer Flying Lotus. Tokimonsta has also produced for a number of other artists and runs her own label, Young Art Records, for our series Equalizers, Women in Music Production. Here's Alison's conversation with tokimonsta.

[Alison Stewart]

So you've talked about going back to a time before music became sort of your job. It was a necessary thing, something you enjoy, but that was necessary, a time back to when you just really enjoyed it. Tell me about that time. How did you find your way into music?

[WNYC Studios]

You know, I think from a practical sense, I knew that it wouldn't be. It wouldn't be realistic to have music as a career. So being passionate about it, I was like, what could I do? And that really was just go out in LA and go in the scene and hang out with other people who also love music. And that's really what brought me to this career unintentionally, is by going into it with absolutely no desire to make it a career, just to keep it something as passionate and creatively driven as possible.

[Tokimonsta]

Let's go back to a really early track of yours. Let me trick you. When was this released?

[WNYC Studios]

Oh my goodness, 2010 or 11 perhaps.

[Tokimonsta]

Okay, tell us about your career at that time.

[WNYC Studios]

I didn't really have one. Or I guess, you know, I think, I think at the point that that album came out, I might have made the decision to pursue music. And truly at that time I was like, there's just no way. I can't see myself making it. I see all my peers trying to do music full time and they're definitely not making it or living like a quality life without also building some more level of resentment towards music. Right? And for me, at that time, it was still just about creative expression and trying out music as a career. Like, I told myself, if I didn't make it, I would just go, I don't know, try to go back to school, get a new job, you know, all those things. But at the time that that particular song came out, I took the leap of faith. Sorry. Took the leap of faith and was like, you know what? Let's just try this out. Let's see if I can do music full time.

[Tokimonsta]

Let's take a listen. This is Let me trick you.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm speaking to DJ and producer Toki Monster. Her new album is Eternal Reverie, and she's joining me as part of our Women's History Month series, Equalizers. She'll be performing in New York on May 22nd and May 24th. So, Toki, that song has a very different vibe than your latest album. How has your style or your approach to music production changed over the last 15 years?

[WNYC Studios]

I think at that time, when I first started making music, I was just this fully unfocused, creative, wild child. You know, I wanted to see what music I could make, and I truly was just making anything that felt good to me. And I think this many years later, I have grown to sort of refine my identity as a musician. And it's important for me to have, like, I guess, a voice in that way. I mean, I'm a producer. I don't really sing or anything, but whatever that signature is, that is me, I've really worked on over the years. And as an art, as the artist I am today, I still look back at that wild sort of untamed musician and use that to shape where I am, just to make sure that I'm always being creative and not trying to follow a formula. But I do think that it's for me that I found somewhat of an identity at this point.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's talk about Eternal Reverie. It dropped on March 7. When did you start working on that album?

[WNYC Studios]

I started working on it early of last year. Wait, what year was that? 2024. So the very top of 2024, I started refining all these ideas because I'm constantly working on music at any given moment. I'm like, I think I want to make a beat right now. I'll just hunker down and open my laptop and see what I could put together. But at the point about, I guess, a little over a year ago, I decided I really wanted to start compiling these ideas and working on them and fleshing them out more.

[Alison Stewart]

You said that you use every album as a journal. What would you say is the important part of your journal for Eternal Reverie?

[WNYC Studios]

I mean, it's like. Or when I say journal, it's this analogy of a specific period of time, right? Like when I put out. Let me trick you. That was a specific point in time. That was me in an era I can remember. That's when I was going out a lot in LA and discovering all these different subcultures. And, you know, you fast forward to Eternal Reverie, and this is sort of this celebration of youth and experimentation and dreaming. It's also very unfortunately intertwined with a lot of loss that I had also experienced last year. So it's. There's a lot of complicated feelings around this album because, you know, I lost my best friend last year. I had to not cancel. I pushed this album until now so I could take time off to take care of my friend during her last month of life, you know, And.

[Alison Stewart]

And that was your friend Regina?

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah, this is my friend, Regina Biondo. So it's. It's mixed, right? But I'm hoping that this album also represents healing and the journey through grief. And at the end of this album cycle that I would have perspective because the kind of experiences I. I had last year, those befall everyone, loss and grieving, that is something that humans are not immune to. And I think in putting out this album, I really hope that this can be some level of a hero's journey, you know, some level of, like, seeing the other side of difficulty and hardship.

[Alison Stewart]

I want to play another track from Eternal Reverie. This is Enjoy youy Life is a really joyful music video, Toki, full of people dancing in everyday places on the bus while vacuuming. What message did you want to come.

[WNYC Studios]

From this song, really, that. I mean, it might sound like, really cliche because it is in the title. Just. Just taking a moment to savor and enjoy your life. You know, there's a lot of hardship and negativity, and we are constantly exposed to this, but, you know, it's nice to pause and smell the flowers and also take count of all the things that are wonderful about life. And sometimes it's just about going out on the street, you know, enjoying a sunny day and being with your friends and being kind of present in life.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's take a listen. This is Enjoy youy Life.

[WNYC Studios]

Try to.

[Tokimonsta]

That's a song. Enjoy your life. I'm speaking to DJ and producer Toki Monster. So, Toki, that will be a nice segue to what happened to you 10 years ago. You were diagnosed with a disease that affects blood flow to the brain, and you underwent two brain surgeries in 2016 which affected how you both process language and music. They probably told you, but I had to undergo brain surgery a year ago. So I know what it's like to wake up and not be able to talk. Exactly. What was the snow? Please go ahead.

[WNYC Studios]

No, I was just saying it's like a weird club to be in but not knowing how to talk anymore. Club.

[Tokimonsta]

What was the exact effect on. On you and your. Your. The disease you had?

[WNYC Studios]

I mean, it was interesting because the aphasia, the lack of speech was the result of the surgery that I had to undergo to save my life. So you are warned in advance that that's a very likely thing to happen. You will have aphasia. You may lose your ability to speak, but it varies on people from person to person, and you don't know exactly the level of permanence. So when you're afflicted with aphasia, you just wake up one day and you're like, wow, I cannot speak anymore and I can't understand anyone. You really don't know how long you're going to be in that position. And for me, it was alarming. And it's. It's very. You know, I'm sure you felt the same way. You're like, how am I going to navigate this? Because even though you can't speak, you're still cognizant. You know, you can't at least unless in my. In my situation. So all I could do is just focus on recuperating. And I'm sure, too, with, you know, any person who's had their brain tinkered with, it's not just speech. There's all these other things that happen. Like suddenly you can't use your left hand, or it's hard to walk, or I can't put my sweater on, you know, drop things.

[Tokimonsta]

You drop things all the time. I find myself dropped Me.

[WNYC Studios]

Yeah. And. And then there's good days and bad days, you know, where some days I feel like I can pick up on what people are saying better. And then I have another day where I lose it again, and I go back to not being understand. Not being able to understand people is through that process of healing that I also discovered I couldn't understand music anymore. Not sure if that was something that you also discovered, but for me, that was very odd. You know, no one warns you that, hey, you can't listen to music anymore. They do warn you about all these other things. So as I kind of sat there in this speechless bubble, I also didn't have any music to turn to. And, you know, music is our world, and I'm sure for you, too, with speech, it is also your entire world. Speaking is so important and being able to communicate, and music as a language, to me was so important, and I didn't have that anymore.

[Tokimonsta]

What process did you go through to understand what. What music was like?

[WNYC Studios]

Again, in my particular case, I like to use the analogy of a bridge. And I think whatever bridge that sort of linked that part of my brain to the rest of my brain, it maybe got a little too messed with during my surgery. But eventually that bridge was rebuilt, and I was able to be at the same cognitive level that I was prior to surgery. So fortunately for me, I didn't have to relearn anything in my case, I just had to let the swelling and the healing happen for those bridges to connect again.

[Tokimonsta]

So you're able to hear music the same as you were before your surgery?

[WNYC Studios]

Yes. Now with much less headaches, which is great, for sure. It'd be nice to think that after brain surgery, you'd be superhuman. But I'm just happy to be where I was and to be alive and to be able to speak to you and make music and continue living.

[Tokimonsta]

Let's play another track from your album. This is Death by Disco part two. What do you want us to know about this song?

[WNYC Studios]

This song was made from a sample I found in Sao Paulo, Brazil. And the only reason I found this record was through my best friend who had passed away last year. She was the one that led us to find this record dealer on the streets of Sao Paulo, Brazil.

[Alison Stewart]

Let's hear Corazon, Death by Disco part two.

[WNYC Studios]

SA.

[Alison Stewart]

I'm speaking to DJ and producer tokimonster. Her new album is called Eternal Reverie. You were the first woman signed the label brain feeder in 2019. You became the first female Asian American producer to get a nomination for Best Electronic Dance album. What effect did that have on how you felt being part of the industry?

[WNYC Studios]

You know, things like a Grammy nomination. It's like an accolade I never asked for, would have ever expected. Like, if you told me when I started making music that I would be nominated for a Grammy, I would have just been like, there is just no way, you know, I would have. I'm more likely that I would win the lottery, to be honest. And so when I got that nomination, it felt like the cherry on top. It felt like I had earned the respect of my peers because it is your peers that nominate you for Grammy. So it felt good to be recognized. Obviously, it's not something I sought out or made a goal in life. It's like, I need to get a Grammy. That's not it for me. It's being able to make music and be joyful. But when your peers are like, toki, you're doing a good job. Let's get you nominated for Grammy, it's like, wow, that feels great. I feel nice and warm inside. I know that I've been doing the best I could as a creative individual. And you know, me getting nominated for Grammy just opens the door for people to surpass me and do better. So I hope there's another female producer, you know, Asian American or whoever, any kind of person that is at that is, you know, not included in a diverse environment, like, you know, like awards or like electronic music or hip hop or all those things. I hope that they can see someone like me and be like, well, if she could do it, I could definitely do it. Great. That's what I want. You know, I hope people think that I am the bar and that they can surpass me.

[Alison Stewart]

You launched your label, Young Art Records, about a decade ago in 2014. What are your goals for it for the next decade?

[WNYC Studios]

Honestly, to continue doing what we've been doing, which is to uplift amazing, talented musicians. This label is not a money making venture for me at all. I'm just happy that it's self sustaining that I can continue to use this platform to share music I love because, you know, I make music because I love music. So the label allows me to exercise that creative muscle of mine as well as mentor and allow these musicians to be heard by a wider audience. And, you know, it's really hard to be in the music industry. So whatever I've learned, any shortcuts or ways that I can uplift these artists, I'm so happy to do so through this label.

[Tiffany Hansen]

That was Alison's conversation with Toki Monsta, the DJ and producer for our Women's History Month series, Women in Music Production. Coming up, a conversation with the third woman nominated for Grammy for producer of the year in the 21st century and the only one nominated this year. That's next. Don't go anywhere.

[WNYC Studios]

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