Get deep with TOI _{by Madelaine Empson}

Wellington collective TOI, formerly called Tunes of I, met fresh out of college at jazz school back in 2011. Lead singer Conway Jeune says making music together became their creative outlet – one removed from jazz, but with jazz elements still woven through their sound. While the stage quickly became their natural habitat, they could never have imagined what was to come.

“Sold-out Spark Arenas and tours supporting some of our biggest musical influences? No way!”

Highlights have included being personally selected by Anthony Kiedis to open for the Red Hot Chili Peppers and touring Aussie with their “good friends Ocean Alley”.

“They took us under their wing and we played a string of sell-out shows across the country as our first international experience. It was an incredible time for us as a band.”

TOI will continue to make waves when they release their new album, recorded entirely at their home studio Te Māra, on the 13^th of September.

“We go pretty deep on Waves”, Jeune says. “There’s some heartache, love, pain, joy, overwhelm, anxiety, a whole melting pot of emotions to be honest. I think the space allowed us to open up that way and I believe it can be felt in the music. The space became a place where we would talk for hours about what was going on in our lives and eventually the creativity and music expressed itself as a sort of therapy. We’re really proud of that and we hope it resonates with our listeners.”

Expect “a night of deep sonic expression and release” when TOI celebrates the new album at Meow on the 20^th of September.