When BBoyTechReport.com started in MMXII, one of the first artists that I thought to write about was TOKiMONSTA. She’s always been a dope beatmaker and performer. So we did a piece called “TOKiMONSTA: Just Because…” where we explored her gear choices and musical style in an effort to profile dope female beat makers.

Fast forward a couple of years to March of 2014, at Moogfest 2014. We had a chance to sit with Tokimonsta. The short time spent with Tokimonsta was half interview and half discussion but it was all about the music, technique, approach and the gear.

When asked about her approach to music making and her creative process, TOKiMONSTA says “I try not to have so much of a process.avoid a formula. I always approach a beat differently each time. I think if I create too much [of a] process… the music would become too formulaic.”

When asked what advice she would give to aspiring beat makers TOKiMONSTA says “The main thing is that I hope people would try to stay true to themselves and not give in to trends.”

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A bit about Tokimonsta from her bio, “Los Angeles native, TOKiMONSTA (Jennifer Lee) is known for her unique take on indie electronic/r&b/dance music. Her classical upbringing and eclectic music taste has allows her to create vast textural soundscapes a reverberation that fuses vintage sensibilities with progressive inclinations.”

One thing that I’ve found to be fascinating in electronic music and beat making the uncovering of those who are and those who are not classically trained musicians. Not that it makes a huge difference with today’s technology advancements. However TOKiMONSTA is, in fact, a classically trained musician. That, for some, seems to transcend the idea of one being a “beatmaker / electronic musician”. None the less, TOKiMONSTA does what she does rather remarkably with both unconventional and conventional methods.

But don’t take my word for it. Listen to TOKiMONSTA as she tells you how it is in her creative space.

Be sure to keep up with Tokimonsta on her website and instagram.

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