Synthesizer

How ‘Dance Monkey’ took Toni Watson on a ‘roller-coaster’ ride

 Nick Krewen Special to the Star Toronto, Toni Watson feels your pain. The Australian native professionally known as Tones And I, the originator of the impossibly irresistible chart-topping smash “Dance Monkey,” was really looking forward to entertaining you at the Queen Elizabeth Theatre in April when COVID-19 interrupted her plans. “Toronto was meant to be my biggest show of the whole tour, so that was really exciting,” said Watson last…

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Oh Wonder catching breaks with catchy tunes

The duo behind Oh Wonder — playing the Danforth Music Hall for three nights — are quick to say they’ve been lucky. Nick Krewen Music, Sun., Sept. 17, 2017   What’s that old saying? One makes plans and God laughs? Not that there are any religious connotations surrounding the generally low-key, dual-vocal pop created by London-based electronic pop duo Oh Wonder, but record deals and world tours weren’t something that…


Jean-Michel Jarre finally plays Canada, after 40 years of electronic music

Pioneering work with synthesizers and spectacle finally brings him to Toronto’s Sony Centre on May 9. Nick Krewen Music, Wed., May 3, 2017 Despite the fact he’s sold millions of albums around the world with such instrumental epics as Oxygène and Zoolook, synthesizer and electronic music pioneer Jean-Michel Jarre has never played Canada. Until now. After releasing 22 studio albums and six live ones, Jarre, 68, will finally plant his…


Electronic musician Sohn switches things up — and catches a movie star’s ear

Creator on the move’s career takes him to the Danforth Music Hall on Saturday, helped a bit by Milla Jovovich. Nick Krewen Thurs., March 30, 2017 Want to know how to get the face of the Resident Evil film franchise to star in, and direct, your music video? For Christopher Taylor, who records under the name of Sohn (pronounced “sawn”) — and appears at the Danforth Music Hall on Saturday…


Trentemøller says no remixes for now as he concentrates on solo music

Electronic creator leaves working on others’ tunes behind as his band heads for Toronto. Nick Krewen Music, Wed. March 15, 2017 Don’t expect to be hearing any new Trentemøller remixes anytime soon. Anders Trentemøller, the electronic production wizard who built much of his reputation conducting high-profile remixes for Moby, Depeche Mode, Franz Ferdinand, Royskopp, Robyn and others, has curtailed that aspect of his career . . . at least for…