Tomonori: "I strive to write something worthy of being reinterpreted in a live setting"

Photo Credit: Alex Del Chill

Tomonori is an Irish-based artist and producer known for blending pop, art rock, afropop, indie-pop, and electronic music into emotive and intimate sounds. Inspired by artists like Björk and James Blake, he expanded his style through collaboration with French producer YDTHXGRT after his debut album "Immense Dwelling". His latest album, "Hypernonchalant", and its single "Lantern" have been praised for their originality, creative soundscapes, and thoughtful lyrics, establishing Tomonori as a contemporary artist with a unique and ambitious musical voice.

"Lantern" has been described as an immersive and dualistic journey. Can you share what inspired you to create this track and what message you hope to convey through it?

I approached dualism not as a simple thematic device, but as a mechanism to push beyond it—to explore a view of transcendence, perhaps. While I don't write songs to carry a specific, prescribed message, I think of them more like a sculpture: I allow it to exist, giving it a body with boundaries, to be perceived. Any message, if one exists, emerges from that interaction, and it is totally valid if no message is perceived at all.

"Lantern" was chosen as the single because, despite the relative complexity of the album, I felt it was the most immediately accessible through the senses. Within the album's context, it specifically depicts a person experiencing insomnia, transitioning between the familiar state of a bedroom and the vastness of the conceptualized deep sea. I tend to let seemingly contradictory things co-exist; in this sense, the meta-message is the recognition of their existence, rather than their dismissal.

You draw from a wide range of influences, from Björk and Wayne Shorter to St. Vincent and James Blake. How do you manage to blend these diverse sounds into a coherent and personal musical identity?

It really comes down to my natural, personal preference. I name those artists because their music irreversibly hit me. I don't consciously try to curate a wide range of influences, though I certainly listen for educational purposes and references. Honestly, I'm aware there's a lifetime of music I don't know, so I simply follow what deeply interests me, knowing that my tastes are always growing and changing as I age.

How this translates to the end product, I'm genuinely curious! Do you, as a listener, actually hear those traces or undertones seeping through the Afro-fusion inspired outfits, which is the direct outcome of collaborating with YDTHXGRT?

I believe the key is that this is a solo project. I take sole responsibility, which allows me to be incredibly meticulous about who I work with and what decisions I make. When I'm in a group, I seek balance and try to fit in (which is necessary in that context), but this solo format naturally gives me the final say in all aspects. As an artist, integrity is what I constantly strive for, and this solo structure is what ensures that coherence.

After collaborating with French producer YDTHXGRT, how did your approach to production and songwriting evolve? Were there any new elements or techniques you were excited to explore?

Working with YDTHXGRT provided the invaluable experience of a beat-conscious approach and exposed me to entirely new types of rhythms, among other things.

The biggest takeaway was an appreciation for "flow"—that elusive element that doesn't necessarily appear on a sheet of music. Rappers inherently understand this, I believe. While I might be stretching the definition a bit, from my perspective, flow is close to the concept of groove but infused with ongoing dynamics, including articulation. It extends beyond the typical elements of music (melody, rhythm, harmony). In this sense, the lines of lyrics and vocal tones matter as much, with all elements working together and each contributing to the whole. That is a dimension of music I'm excited to continue deepening and exploring.

Your latest album, "Hypernonchalant" has been called a complex work that rewards repeated listening. What were the biggest challenges in balancing sonic sophistication with emotional accessibility?

 That balancing act was essentially the entire point of the record, and it took considerable time. The sonic sophistication and the emotional accessibility truly needed to be as heavy and light as each other—that idea of seemingly contradictory things again.

Song-wise, I deliberately avoided a confessional style. Instead, I approached the lyrics more like depicting a phenomenon, while using specific linguistic and lyrical devices to control and refine my vocal delivery. So, rather than asking if the work was inherently emotionally accessible, I was more interested in creating something that would attract people who find it so. In a sense, this album might be likened to a feeler I’m putting out to find that type of connection.

You’re known for your live performances at prestigious venues like Rua Red and Whelan’s. How important is the live experience for you in sharing and reinterpreting your music? Do you have any special memories from these shows?

The live experience is crucial, although writing remains my primary focus. Reinterpretation is an interesting process, and I strive to write something worthy of being reinterpreted in a live setting.

I was initially just putting the word out about my project when the Dublin Modular coordinator invited me to their programme—and that curation was incredible. I loved the mix of art forms. It was a wonderful moment for me to appreciate the differences and to personally reaffirm the saying, "I do me, you do you," treasuring what I can do. That event later led to an invitation from the band Akrobat for me to play synth for their return gig. My perfectionism rarely lets me feel satisfied, but I truly appreciate the warm comments I've received from people after those shows.

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