Tom Trago
Biografie
Tom Trago’s relationship with music is particularly intense. “I couldn’t imagine life without music,” he says. “I feel this physical need to make music every day. It’s like my body needs it as much as it needs food, water or sunshine.”
Right now, Trago’s immersion in music is almost total. An internationally renowned DJ, producer, live performer and label owner with three critically acclaimed albums to his name, the Dutchman divides his time between all-day studio sessions, DJ gigs and live shows all over the world, and a steady stream of musical collaborations with friends from Amsterdam and beyond. You sometimes wonder how he finds any time for sleep.
His dedication to the cause has been unflinching since his earliest years. He grew up in a free-spirited, artistic household, surrounded by music and encouraged to make his own. Due to suffering from juvenile chronic arthritis, he couldn’t get out of the house much, so entertained himself by recording his own home-made radio shows using the weird and wonderful albums he found in his parents’ record collection.
At the age of 15, he decided that he would devote his life to music. “I just had this realization that life is so short, you have to pursue your dreams,” he says. “My dream was music. That’s all I ever wanted to do – to listen to it, discover it, make it and play it.”
Ever since, he’s been living that dream. Success wasn’t instant, and in his early years in Amsterdam he barely eked a living DJing in coffee shops, earning just enough to afford to feed his vinyl addiction. “As long as I had enough to live and buy records, I was happy,” he recalls. “It also gave me more time to make music.”
As he still does now, Tom poured his heart and soul into making music. Early experiments with blends of experimental hip-hop, jazz, Latin influences, Afrobeat sounds and soul-flecked broken beat caught the ear of local labels and producers, before he began to apply his composition and production skills to house music.
By the time local label Rush Hour snapped up his debut single, “Live With The BBQ”, in 2006, he’d already developed a trademark style that blended the best of three decades of dance music – disco, boogie, synth funk, Detroit techno and more – with insatiable house rhythms and an intrinsic grasp of what makes dancefloors tick.
It’s this blend, no to mention his love of collaborating with musicians, vocalists and producers from Amsterdam and beyond (think Romanthony, San Proper, Awanto 3, Cinnaman, Tyree Cooper and Bok Bok), which makes his music so irresistible. Given his impressive track record, it’s perhaps unsurprising that several of his tracks – not least the rush-inducing “Use Me Again” – continue to receive club plays years after their release.
Fast forward to 2013, and Tom is a man in demand. Aside from preparing for an extended live tour in support of his new album The Light Fantastic, he continues to run his Voyage Direct label and parties (a showcase for Dutch house music, named after his 2009 debut album) and still pours his heart and soul into making new tracks. He excitedly talks about ideas for musical projects – from film soundtracks to audiovisual performances and straight-up club tracks – while preparing for DJ sets in Ibiza, London or New York.
His immersion in music may be total, but Tom Trago’s musical journey is far from complete. In fact, it’s only just begun.
Evenementen in het verleden
- 31-12-2015 Stekker in de Tunnel NYE - Utrecht
- 03-12-2015 Jackmaster x Tom Trago - Amsterdam
- 30-10-2015 Catch - Utrecht
- 24-10-2015 Fabric 24.10 Soul Clap, No Reg - London
- 18-10-2015 ZeeZout - Voyage Direct - Amsterdam
- 26-09-2015 Welcome To The Warehouse - Manchester
- 19-09-2015 BASIS // VOYAGE DIRECT TOUR / - Utrecht
- 05-09-2015 Zeezout Festival 2015 - Diemen
- 05-09-2015 Valtifest 2015 - Amsterdam
- 22-08-2015 TOM TRAGO ? ALL NIGHT LONG - Amsterdam
- 22-08-2015 STRAF_WERK Festival 2015 - Amsterdam
- 15-08-2015 DGTL Festival Barcelona - Day - Barcelona
- 15-08-2015 BLIJDORP FESTIVAL 2015 - Rotterdam
- 14-08-2015 DGTL Festival Barcelona - Day - Barcelona
- 07-08-2015 George Fitzgerald, Tom Trago, - Paris
- 01-08-2015 Dekmantel Festival 2015 - Day - Amstelveen
- 30-07-2015 Dekmantel Festival 2015 - Day - Amstelveen
- 27-06-2015 Awakenings Festival 2015 - Day - Spaarnwoude
- 20-06-2015 We Are Electric - Day 2 - Eersel
- 18-06-2015 This Is Hardcore: Heidi presen - Barcelona
- 15-06-2015 CIRCOLOCO - Ibiza
- 13-06-2015 Stattnacht - Berlin
- 06-06-2015 Amsterdam Open Air - Day 1 - Amsterdam
- 09-05-2015 Voyage Direct Label Night - Rotterdam
- 09-05-2015 V-land Festival - Biddinghuizen
- 05-05-2015 Het Amsterdams Verbond - Bevri - Amsterdam
- 01-05-2015 BASIS // VOYAGE DIRECT TOUR // - Utrecht
- 27-04-2015 NDSM Vrijhaven 2015 - VOLTT x - Amsterdam
- 27-04-2015 Kingsday Houthavens - Amsterdam
- 26-04-2015 AIR 5 YRS - AIR Invites The Ma - Amsterdam
- 24-04-2015 Voyage Direct - Berlin
- 18-04-2015 Voyage Direct w/ Tom Trago, Aw - Barcelona
- 10-04-2015 Superstition presents Voyage D - London
- 05-04-2015 DGTL Festival 2015 - Day 2 - Amsterdam
- 20-03-2015 KULT. /// TOM TRAGO and WILLIA - Brussels
- 31-12-2014 Apenkooi NYE - The Final Gym - Amsterdam
- 22-02-2014 Setfest Freeze - Utrecht
- 16-11-2013 We Are Electric - Eindhoven
- 18-10-2013 Clone x Delsin x Rush Hour ADE - Amsterdam
- 12-10-2013 Modular - Rotterdam
- 06-10-2013 Kantor: A Music, Performance & - Amsterdam
- 24-09-2013 Carl Cox Closing Party - Ibiza
- 21-09-2013 Kletskoek - Best
- 20-09-2013 Voyage Direct & Audio Culture - Amsterdam
- 23-08-2013 Dekmantel Festival - Amsterdam
- 17-08-2013 Ohm Festival - Delft
- 11-08-2013 Straf_Werk Festival - Amsterdam
- 20-07-2013 Buiten westen 2013 - Amsterdam
- 09-06-2013 Amsterdam Open Air The Weekend - Amsterdam
- 01-06-2013 Lente Kabinet - Oostzaan
- 19-05-2013 7th Sunday Festival - Erp
- 30-04-2013 Kingsday Festival - Amsterdam
- 30-04-2013 Club Night XXL - Amsterdam
- 29-04-2013 WareHouse - Amsterdam
- 29-04-2013 WareHouse with Marc "MK" Kinch - Amsterdam
- 29-04-2013 Nachtduik Koninginnenacht 2013 - Rotterdam
- 19-04-2013 Voyage Direct & Rush Hour Base - Amsterdam
- 23-02-2013 Symphonica Elektronica Freeze - Utrecht
- 22-02-2013 Tom Trago & Cinnaman (6hr B2b) - Rotterdam
- 25-01-2013 Future Disco - Amsterdam
- 19-01-2013 Voyage Direct - Amsterdam
- 01-01-2013 Awakenings - New Year Special - Amsterdam
- 31-12-2012 TweeduizendTrouw - Amsterdam
- 27-12-2012 I ♥ Festo - Amsterdam
- 22-12-2012 Studio Sonsbeek - Arnhem
- 22-12-2012 Valhalla - Electronic Parade - Amsterdam
- 14-12-2012 Diep - Tilburg
- 06-12-2012 James Murphy - Amsterdam
- 02-11-2012 Drukpers - Amsterdam
- 27-10-2012 Amsterdam Halloween - The End - Amsterdam
- 19-10-2012 ADE - Clone x Delsin x Rush Ho - Amsterdam
- 15-09-2012 Welcome To My House - Rotterdam
- 15-09-2012 Costa del Soul - Amsterdam
- 15-09-2012 Tom Trago - Rotterdam
- 01-09-2012 Valtifest - Amsterdam
- 25-08-2012 Dikke Vette Funky Festival - Utrecht
- 04-08-2012 Solar Weekend 2012 - Roermond
- 29-07-2012 Summer closing weekend - Trouw - Amsterdam
- 27-07-2012 Soda - Rotterdam
- 22-07-2012 Milkshake Festival - Amsterdam
- 21-07-2012 HENK op de HELLING - Amsterdam
- 13-07-2012 Late Night Society - Amsterdam
- 06-07-2012 8Bahn Area Festival - Non stop - Ede
- 27-05-2012 Amsterdam Open AIR Weekender D - Amsterdam
- 26-05-2012 Amsterdam Open AIR Weekender D - Amsterdam
- 30-04-2012 Qday Festival - Amsterdam
- 30-04-2012 RoodWitTrouw - Amsterdam
- 26-04-2012 AIR 2 YRS - CookieClub - Amsterdam
- 06-04-2012 Jägerland Tour Amsterdam - Amsterdam
- 31-03-2012 Sssst! - It’s Curious Behavi - Amsterdam
- 25-02-2012 Soda - Rotterdam
- 11-02-2012 Night Voyage - Amsterdam
- 21-01-2012 Voyage Direct - Amsterdam
- 13-01-2012 Studio 80 presents Solomun - Amsterdam
- 01-01-2012 Trouwens - Amsterdam
- 30-12-2011 Night Voyage - Amsterdam
- 23-12-2011 The End of the World Tour - Utrecht
- 23-12-2011 Supertoys - Amsterdam
- 16-12-2011 One night only with jeugd - Eindhoven
- 16-12-2011 One Night Only With Jeugd - Eindhoven
- 09-12-2011 Italo Editie - Amsterdam
- 25-11-2011 Het Kabinet - Day 2 - Amsterdam
- 24-11-2011 The End Of The World Tour - Tilburg
- 19-11-2011 The End Of The World Tour - Den Haag
- 11-11-2011 Italo Editie - Amsterdam
- 05-11-2011 Jägerland Tour - Groningen
- 22-10-2011 ADE - Objektivity Theo Parrish - Amsterdam
- 01-10-2011 Sssst - It's Off Centre - Amsterdam
- 23-09-2011 Rush Hour - Amsterdam
- 17-09-2011 Foxes & Wolves @ Klinch - Amsterdam
- 09-09-2011 Italo Elite - Amsterdam
- 29-08-2011 Unitas - Amsterdam
- 27-08-2011 Mysteryland - Haarlemmermeer
- 27-08-2011 Mysteryland - Haarlemmermeer
- 23-08-2011 Dolle Dancedag - Amsterdam
- 20-08-2011 Foxes & Wolves @ klinch - Amsterdam
- 13-08-2011 Loveland Festival 2011 - Amsterdam
- 07-08-2011 Gem Sessions - On The Beach - Scheveningen
- 06-08-2011 Welcome to the Future Festival - Amsterdam
- 06-08-2011 Italo Elite - Homogenic - Amsterdam
- 30-07-2011 Rockit Open Air - Maarssen
- 29-07-2011 Secret Cinema All Night - Amsterdam
- 16-07-2011 Foxes & Wolves @ klinch - Amsterdam
- 14-07-2011 Djb50 - A 24 Hour Celebration - Amsterdam
- 01-07-2011 Lorre Festival - Delft
- 26-06-2011 Dekmantel - Scheveningen
- 18-06-2011 Nachtspelen-Zomer Editie - Amsterdam
- 17-06-2011 United Groove - Leiden
- 04-06-2011 Amsterdam Open Air - Amsterdam
- 04-06-2011 Italo Elite - Amsterdam
- 04-06-2011 Nachtstroom - Heerlen
- 21-05-2011 Foxes & Wolves @ Klinch - Amsterdam
- 20-05-2011 Bowery - Rotterdam
- 23-04-2011 Paaspop 2011 - Schijndel
- 19-02-2011 FOXES & WOLVES - Amsterdam
- 15-01-2011 FOXES & WOLVES @ KLINCH - Amsterdam
- 27-11-2010 Het Kabinet - Amsterdam
- 12-11-2010 Funkyart - Amsterdam
- 05-11-2010 White Pony - Utrecht
- 09-09-2010 Curious Behaviour - Amsterdam