L1 x Toni Smoke - I Swear I'm Not Crazy (New Album)
Toni Smoke has always been some sort of enigma within the Scottish HipHop scene; the ‘not-so-silent’ partner if you like?
Humbly boasting a ‘Bachelor’s Degree in Science in Sound’, Toni has never been the sort to talk-the-talk. He quietly and confidently walks-the walk and paves his own trail, collaborating with a diversity of talents from around the globe, regardless of genre. Although his roots lie with Drum N Bass, he shows no hesitation in the exploration of sound in a truly entrepreneurial fashion. Over the lockdown period, he has joined forces with Aussie female vocalist, L1, to produce a unique infusion and experimental work of art.
L1
I grew up in Melbourne, Australia. My dad died when I was 12 and I was never the same. I went on to make a series of decisions geared towards escapism and that pretty much sums up my teens and early 20's. Writing poems helped me start to understand and process my grief more. As time went on, I agonised over numerous existential questions that seemed unanswered. I've spent a lot of time over the years trying to distract myself from internal pain in a myriad of ways, but to this day, writing is all that has ever helped me in moments of despair and confusion, so it's what I do.
I'm proud to say that I finally (with the help and kind heart of one very talented individual, sending banger after banger) took the time to write an album - I've never really finished anything before, so this is everything to me.
It has been an incredible experience to work with Toni, there are no boundaries with his beats, one might be DNB and the next Boom bap.. and that variety has allowed me to express all that I needed to within this project. I Swear I'm Not Crazy is for those who aren't, sure.
TONI SMOKE
Musician, Producer, DJ & Engineer from Glasgow, Scotland. Active in music from age 12 playing guitar to working with analogue drum machines at the age of 16 and progressing his talents and skills for the next 20 years obtaining a Batchelor of Science degree in Sound & Audio, Cymatics and Engineering. Having worked with artists around the world amassing millions of plays, he has found one of the best talents in hip hop with L1 and with her words and hypnotising tracks she has laid on Toni's beats is a hour of pure dynamic sculpture that wants you asking for more. Bringing his skills from different genres and techniques to make the album with L1 has been a long journey due to the fact that the two artists have never been able to meet but has navigated pandemics and time-zones and life to bring you this 16 track wonder.
“I don't need a boyfriend, I need a shrink.. I need somebody to fix how I think. And that should be me but it probably won't be, I am too busy perpetually floating” - L1
