Hailing from the North of France, Tomska is DJ-producer and the co-founder of Vibes & Pepper Records, a techno and house imprint which has signed notable names as Norm Talley, Claude Young, Terrence Parker. In 2015, he launched his own label Abstract Cuts. As a real gear collector from the 1980's to the 1990’s, he also opened Abstract Lab a few months ago, a recording studio. Tomska looks back at his beginnings, shares with us his values and his vision of the house music and messages he would like to convey to next generations.

. Hello, a glass of?

Hello, a glass of wine please!

. Where are you from?

I come from the north of France, more precisely from the south of this region at the foot of the coal mines. I grew up in the 80’s listening to what was aired-on the radio but also listening to my father's vinyl. He had a collection composed of Funk, Disco, contemporary Jazz, Synth-pop, Ambient, Experimental music…

. Do you remember how you discovered electronic music?

It was in the late 80s. House and Hip-Hop started flooding the airwaves with Inner City's "Big Fun", Lil Louis' "French Kiss", Royal House's "Can You Party", De La Soul's "Say No Go" playing non stop... but it was also the early clubbing years of my older brothers. They used to go out to The Boccaccio Life, Fifty Five (55) and later to At The Villa and Rêve d'Ô in Belgium. Too young to go out clubbing at the time, I luckily inherited their cassettes that they brought back from parties, which I then listened to on repeat in my bedroom. This is how my electro music culture began.

. Your first approach to Djing?

It happened when I saw for the first time a close friend of my brothers, who would become my mentor, playing vinyl on 2 turntables with a DJ mixer in the center, whose operation he explained to me. I think it was during the summer of 1994, they had a basement below their house in which they held parties before or after their outings. Fascinated by what I had seen, a few months later Olivier (O.D) introduced me to mixing and that's how it all began.

. Your main influences?

John Ciafone (Mood II Swing), Kenny Dope (MAW), Sandy Rivera (K.O.T), Point G, Herbert, GAS (Woflgang Voigt), Zack Toms, Rob Mello, Mike Delgado, Nicky P, Pépé Bradock...

. What does the vinyl represent for you?

Many things... It's first and foremost my main medium, but also a means of communication. Even if today it's no longer the basic medium most DJs turn to, I sincerely believe there will always be enthusiasts and a resistance to keep vinyl alive. For many, vinyl is also a collector's item that has reinvented itself over the years. There's a whole process before a vinyl record is produced and to acknowledge this process is important as a producer. You have to have lived the vinyl era to know what it’s all about, the oldest jocks will get it if I talk about the special smell of it when you entered a record store, the physical approach to it, reading every single word on the labels and etchings trying to get the most informations out of it: producer's name, gear used, end everything in between. I really miss those days of euphoria. I think you understand I'm not ready to leave it! Although it's still my main medium, with the exception of a few digital remixes I did, I try to stick to releasing my music exclusively on vinyl. My label is also vinyl only and the sound engineer I work with now uses the same method as in the 90’s.

. How many vinyls do you have in your private collection?

Approximately 3.300 in 2016, which was the last time I did an inventory. Mainly House and Techno.

. Do you remember the first vinyl you bought?

Not sure maybe Ron Trent "The Afterlife" or Todd Terry through his alias CLS "Can You Feel It"

. Your 5 favorite record shops?

Back in the 90’s: Music Line in Lille, Diki Records in Mouscron, Belgium, Music Man in Gent, Belgium, USA Import in Antwerp, Belgium. Now: some various European record stores such as Hard Wax in Berlin, HHV Records in Berlin, Elevate in Berlin, Syncrophone Records in Paris…

. Your 5 favorite labels?

Hard to choose. Cajual Records from Chicago, SOM Underground from New Jersey, Cross Section Records from London, Henry Street Music from New-York, DNH Records from Toronto to name a few…

. For you, what are the main values of house music?

It means the world to me. I got into the house in my early childhood and at almost 44 I still listen to it every day... For me it’s a universal medium. No matter where you go in the world, house music makes people happy and makes you dance, no matter your differences are. It's the sound of unity, all of us under one roof raving no matter what color creed sex or background, no matter of language or age or nationality, House music is the sonic embodiment of human connection, peace and freedom.

. A good track in 3 words?

First of all, I attach a lot of importance to beats. It's not all about having swing, you also need a combination of complex drums that stand out from what we're used to hearing. Then simple pads, sometimes hypnotic, sometimes emotional and finally a good bassline so to resume in 3 words: beat / pad / bassline.

. One track that best represents you today?

Rob Mello “I Like It Fucked”

. What kind of gear do you like to use for production?

Mainly SP1200 and MPC3000. I also use rack-mount samplers. As for synthesizers, I prefer classics from the 80’s and 90’s. Apart from a few details, my way of working is similar to that of the 90’s. Collecting audio equipment is one of my main passions.

. What comes to your mind first when I mention Terrence Parker?

Detroit, a city that has a majority of artists who have influenced me, but also by it’s history and it’s industrial atmosphere, it’s different and close at the same time to that of my region. There would still be so much to say about this city. Detroit, Chicago and New York had a significant impact on my musical education, but also on my career. Then Paris in 2011, where we shared the decks together, and also my beginnings at Vibes & Pepper agency which lead to the launch of the label.

. What about Vibes & Pepper Records?

Before Vibes & Pepper Records was a label, it was mainly a Parisian booking agency run by Bryan. It turns out that before joining the agency in 2011, I was still a resident DJ in a Belgian club at the time but also in the process of creating my own label. So we decided to join our forces and we merged by taking over my main projects with Cisco as artistic assistant - he had previous experience with his own label Needlight Records - and Bryan as communication manager. The label gradually deteriorated due to artistic disagreements and following Bryan's move to Brazil as he was supposed to hand over the label management to Cisco but nothing happened and finally the label simply faded away. We learned by chance that Bryan had relaunched the label without even talking to us and without any consent from us.

. Regarding Abstract Cuts, will you be releasing "Enter The Abstract Theory Vol. 2" soon?

Of course! I'm currently looking for a new distributor to release some new tracks.

. Any advice for the next generation of DJs?

Before diving headfirst into DJing, it's crucial to immerse yourself in different musical genres. From the 70’s Disco legacy to Hip-hop, Techno, House and many more. Be passionate about music! Get to know the producers, DJs, singers, engineers, instrumentalists, remixers, studios, labels, A&Rs, etc. who created the genre's seminal songs. Observe the innovators and legends of your genre and listen to their stories. Spend hours rummaging through record stores, Discogs, old cassettes, YouTube interviews, vintage magazines, etc. This is essential before making a career out of it. Then, learn the art of mixing without sync and, for the bravest, on vinyl. Also, be original, don't overuse effects, and finally, be respectful of older DJs and those who played before you! 

. A few words about Abstract Lab please?

Located in the North of France just outside Lille, Abstract Lab is a private recording studio. Beatcreator since 2000, I’ve never been more inspired to help artists and producers during the beats process. Over the past eight years, this place is the culmination of all my learnings to create something truly unique and I'm grateful to everyone who supported me along the way. Because I'm a gear collector, especially of samplers and vintage digital, all the beats are mixed with an analog console and hardware compressors/processors only. The studio is fully loaded with a collection of vintage digital and analog gear from the 80's to the 90’s, it hosts a 32-channel mixing console to meet the requirements of producers who like sounds of the 90's area…

. Your favorite music magazines?

Muzik, Eternity, Jockey Slut, Keyboards Magazine, Home Studio Recordings, Trax, Coda, Out Soon, Groove Japan and recently Faith.

. If you could teleport…

Without hesitation, the 90's! I experienced many wonderful things after 2000, but the 90's are the ones I miss the most.

. Without music life would be…

Sad! Music is one of the few things that I never get tired of, so without it I would almost never be interested in anything. I think the music is also much more important than mere entertainment or diversion. Music unites all qualities, it can exalt us, divert us, cheer us up… But it’s principal task is to lead our thoughts to higher things

. Your top 5 new releases?

- DJ Romain “Here We Go”

- Head High “2nd-Hand Bassline”

- Masters At Work “MAW Apes Groove”

- Point G “Balea”

- George Fields “She's Between”

. Your top 5 old releases?

- Point G “Chicken Coma”

- Sandy Rivera “Liquide Interlude”

- Global Communication “The Way”

- Mood II Swing “Move Me” (Alternative Mix)

- KenLou “Moonshine”

. Your projects?

Some new collaboration are coming up and, above all, having more time to dedicate to Abstract Cuts development.

. Finally, TOMSKA in 3 words?

Ambitious, humble, nostalgic

Interviewed by Sabrina Bouzidi