Sounds Like: Amy Winehouse, Lily Allen, Joesef
Toby Corton is a queer creative based in East London who is making some seriously sexy music right now. He’s been making music since 2017 and his love of the creative process has led him to taking photos of drag queens such as the already legendary Bimini Bon Boulash and London Trans Pride Founder Lucia Blayke. Check out our interview with Toby below ft. an always magical illustration from our Kelly Morrison.
Hey Toby! How are you doing today?
I’m doing pretty well, thanks for asking!
Please briefly describe your sound to our lovely readers:
I’d say it’s warm, a bit jazzy, neo-soul, with a britpop sensibility.
How have you been coping with these continuously mad times? Where were you based during lockdown?
I’ve been pretty productive and as far as the mad times go, mine was relatively ok. I was just holed up in my boyfriend’s flat in Wapping, East London.
You recently released your AA-side single ‘Cherub Child/Boy’s Don’t Cry‘ – why did you decide to pair the two together?
Pairing the two tracks together was never intended but just seemed to fit; they’re two sides of the same coin. One’s about unpacking the nonsense and the other one a message through time to myself when I was trying to navigate it. More than anything I love the rebellious ethos behind the message. After all, what’s more punk than a fully grown man balling his eyes out?
Your previous single ’You Know Me So Well‘ is also stunning – can you tell us a bit about the story behind the release?
Its a track I penned a while back and performed on my Colors Session, back at the very very very beginning of my musical journey. The track is about coming back to something where you feel most at home and most happy, about a compulsion/impulse you can’t ignore, so it seemed like a good way to kick off releasing.
It’s been a while since you’ve released any new tunes before these, what have you been up to?
Working on music, working with lots of different people, focus on developing my sound and my process. It’s been a ride, but necessary.
You’re now just Toby Corton and you’ve dropped ‘& his band by Chance’, what encouraged the change up?
I didn’t think the main dish needed a side hahaha. I’m kidding of course, but I think much of the last couple of years for me has been dialling into the essence of my music and simplifying, and focusing on making the music sound the best it could. The tracks have mostly come from me myself and I and are about my experience, so I just wanted to simplify and put my name on the tin.
You’ve previously worked with Drag Race legend Bimini Bon Boulash on her iconic prehistoric look for the show, how did that connection come about?
My friend Rickielee Drayford, designed and made the look for her and he asked me to shoot it, so we did that a few weeks before the episode aired.
What’s your songwriting process like?
It’s quite fluid, to be honest. I used to write pretty much by myself, just me and a guitar all by ear, and sometimes I’d just be messing around and hear something in my head and then try to find it on the guitar. Then, once I’d found it, I’d get some words and vocals going. Then other times, I might just be humming a tune or write some words out and then in reverse, I’d pick up my guitar and find something to fit the top line I had. Nowadays, it’s really changeable, a lot through lockdown was just my mic, midi keyboard, logic and myself, which was great but since the beginning of the year, I’ve been working on a lot more co-writes, with the collective I’m a part of, ‘(the) State is Flow’ which I’ve really enjoyed. But it always tends to happen fairly quickly, I’m not one for sitting and over analysing each syllable or note – I like to let it flow.
Who would you say are your biggest influences?
I’ll try to keep it simple and just say I’m inspired by idiosyncratic artists, the ones you listen to and you can’t mistake it is them and those that are storytellers, who are able to create worlds for audiences to be submerged in. That’s the creative dream I think. I don’t ever think too much about my influences being people but more so moments and things, so I always find this question tricky.
What advice would you give artists starting out in the music industry?
Don’t rush, find your groove, collaborate, put yourself out there and find people who believe in your voice and what you’re doing. It’s not going to come to you, you gotta go after it and make some noise.
What do you miss the most about performing live?
I missed the buzz, the crowd rapport and the collective experience. I love recording and writing, but shows are THE ONE!
Are there any emerging local artists you’d recommend?
Soooo, you should definitely check out my State is Flow collective family: Lolé Vietro, Jammaz Jamz, Maverick Quest (Sons of the Sun), RJ Belo and Jessica WIlde.
What are your plans for the rest of 2021
Release loads of music, play live and make more music. I’ve got a number of singles out before the end of the year and then maybe a little surprise or two.
Any final pearls of wisdom?
I’ve got pearl earrings? But I dunno about wisdom hahaha.
Thanks so much Toby! We love you xxx
NO, I love you! xxx