Gerald Toto

3388 fans

Gerald Toto’s music sways to the rhythms of life.

The songs on his new album don’t shout or seek to batter you over the head. Like all the best music, they insinuate their way quietly into your brain like ear wormswith a benevolent and beguiling subtlety.

Gentle and lilting yet lithesome and full of bold nuance, the music Toto makes on Swaytakes us on an imaginary journey to a world that has time to stop and stare and where the frenetic din of modernity is hushed to a murmur, his songs seemingly plucked from an infinite bowl of fresh air and sunshine as they wrap the listener in a sweet caress of timeless reverie.

Like all the best music, the songs on Swayrefuse simple categorisation, a cultural melting pot of acoustic folk, jazz, soul, pop and blues with cosmopolitan borders that embrace Creole and Caribbean flavours.

The rhythms of life, plucked and strummed and given poetic voice by a master of the understated. For if quiet is the new loud, Toto’s voice is blessed with an elegant eloquence that demands to be heard as his songs whisper and sway in an emotional language that is as universal as it is engaging

We last heard Gerald Toto on the sublime 2017 trio album Bondeko, recorded with fellow global travellers Lokua Kanza and Richard Bona, the “dreamy backdrop” and “immaculate sweet harmonies” of which earned a plethora of four and five star reviews and led one reviewer to liken the trio to “an African Crosby, Stills and Nash.”

Yet that record was merely the most recent chapter in a storied career of impressive pedigree. Born in France in 1967, Gerald Toto’s West Indian parents hailed from the Antilles and were tax officials rather than musicians. But they were ardent music lovers and the parental collection of vinyl was like manna from heaven to Gerald as the house in which he grew up vibrated to the sounds of American soul, Afro-Caribbean dance music, Congolese soukous and makossa from Cameroon.

The radio provided an education in pop and rock and the first record he bought was a Pink Floyd album. Then came Neil Young, Bob Marley and a burgeoning interest in jazz.

By the ageof ten he was playing the guitar, followed by the bass, an instrument which has always fascinated him. A student loan was used to finance the building of a home studio, where –in his own words -he progressed from laboratory assistant to a full-blown “mad scientist of sound”.

By the 1990s he was embedded in the French underground as an audacious world music adventurer. In addition to his own atmospheric and experimental albums, he’s worked with artists as diverse as the Algerian rai singer Faudel, Parisian hipsters Nouvelle Vague and the Middle Eastern electro futurists Smadj

Most significantly of all, in 2005, he hooked up for the first time with the Congolese singer Lokua Kanza and the Cameroonian Afro-jazz star Richard Bona, a felicitous teaming that led to the collaborative album Toto Bona Lokua. The record caused a sensation, particularly in France, where it became a big seller. A sell-out tour followed, although the thriving solo careers of all three meant that is was a dozen years before they found a window in their hectic schedules to go into the studio to record a follow-up.

Now comes Toto’s latest solo offering, swaying gently in the breeze, cool, elegant and elusive, the songs refusing to remain earthbound or to be tied down. Sway to the sweet, samba-tinged romance of “My Girlfriend.” Groove to the syncopated jazz-blues of “You Got Me”. Float away on the ethereal lightness of being that is “Away Alive”.

Dream to the futuristic doo-wop of “Umbaka”. Bask in the diaphanous, sun-dappled lilt of the title track. Defy gravity with the haunting dream-pop of “Let It Blow”. Roll to the bluesy acoustic guitar picking of “Dutiful Love”. Thrill to the skittering electronic beats of “It’s a Love Pain” and wonder at the disturbing beauty of the album’s atmospheric closer “The Night Is Coming.”

Sway to the rhythms of life.
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Top tracks

02
Naleki
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:42
Writer: Gerald Toto - Kanza Lokua - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Kanza Lokua - Richard Bona
08
Tann Tanbou A
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:57
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
05
Love Train
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
02:59
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
06
Ngum Nya Ko
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:58
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
11
Awo
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
04:07
Writer: Richard Bona - Lokua Kanza - Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
10
Bukavu
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
02:18
Writer: Lokua Kanza / Composers: Lokua Kanza
05
Flutes
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
02:52
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: G. Toto
01
Ma Mama
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:42
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
02
Kwalelo
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
04:14
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: R. Bona
09
M'aa Kiana
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:41
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
07
Thitae
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:22
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
04
Je Kango
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
04:02
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
03
Youwilé
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
05:11
Writer: Richard Bona - Lokua Kanza - Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
04
Away Alive
Gerald Toto
Sway
02:54
Writer: Jule Japhet / Composers: Gerald Toto
03
Lamuka
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
02:44
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: L. Kanza
01
Ghana Blues
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
03:03
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: R. Bona
12
Lisanga
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
06:48
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: L. Kanza
07
Na Ye
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
03:35
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: L. Kanza
01
Chocolate Cake
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
04:21
Writer: Alice Orpheus / Composers: Gerald Toto
04
L'endormie
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
02:36
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: G. Toto
06
Sway
Gerald Toto
Sway
04:04
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto

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  • Discography
Albums
No Format
30-10-2018
Sway
01
Alger 69
Gerald Toto
Sway
02:40
Composers: Gerald Toto
02
Day by Day
Gerald Toto
Sway
02:58
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
03
My Girlfriend
Gerald Toto
Sway
02:13
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
04
Away Alive
Gerald Toto
Sway
02:54
Writer: Jule Japhet / Composers: Gerald Toto
05
Umbaka
Gerald Toto
Sway
03:54
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
06
Sway
Gerald Toto
Sway
04:04
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
07
You Got Me
Gerald Toto
Sway
03:28
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
NØ FØRMAT
03-11-2017
Bondeko
01
Ma Mama
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:42
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
02
Naleki
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:42
Writer: Gerald Toto - Kanza Lokua - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Kanza Lokua - Richard Bona
03
Youwilé
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
05:11
Writer: Richard Bona - Lokua Kanza - Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
04
Je Kango
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
04:02
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
05
Love Train
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
02:59
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
06
Ngum Nya Ko
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:58
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
07
Thitae
Gerald Toto
Bondeko
03:22
Writer: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
Access the complete album info (11 songs)
Gerald Toto, Mercoeur Music
23-05-2011
Spring Fruits
01
Chocolate Cake
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
04:21
Writer: Alice Orpheus / Composers: Gerald Toto
02
Freedom
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
04:32
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
03
My Child
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
04:48
Writer: Alice Orpheus - Gerald Toto - Paula Bird / Composers: Gerald Toto
04
Killing Time
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
04:42
Writer: John Mitchell / Composers: Gerald Toto
05
Dive
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
03:21
Writer: Alice Orpheus / Composers: Gerald Toto
06
I Easily Get Lost
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
03:51
Writer: Alice Orpheus / Composers: Gerald Toto
07
On Your Own
Gerald Toto
Spring Fruits
02:43
Writer: Alice Orpheus / Composers: Gerald Toto
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
℗ 1998 WARNER MUSIC FRANCE
06-02-1998
Les premiers jours
01
Les Premiers jours
Gerald Toto
Les premiers jours
04:35
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
02
Y'en a qui
Gerald Toto
Les premiers jours
04:38
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
03
Mademoiselle
Gerald Toto
Les premiers jours
03:10
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
04
Bonne nuit
Gerald Toto
Les premiers jours
05:05
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
05
Libellules
Gerald Toto
Les premiers jours
04:42
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
06
Le Vrai sauvage
Gerald Toto
Les premiers jours
06:25
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
07
If 6 Was 9
Gerald Toto
Les premiers jours
03:43
Writer: Jimi Hendrix / Composers: Jimi Hendrix
Access the complete album info (13 songs)
EPs
2024 Alt-life Music / BMG Production Music
30-08-2024
Spirit Voice
01
Heaven On Earth
Gerald Toto
Spirit Voice
02:31
Composers: Gerald Toto
02
Child Play
Gerald Toto
Spirit Voice
02:17
Composers: Gerald Toto
03
Flying Bird
Gerald Toto
Spirit Voice
02:31
Composers: Gerald Toto
04
Disco
Gerald Toto
Spirit Voice
02:18
Composers: Gerald Toto
05
Spirit Voice
Gerald Toto
Spirit Voice
02:04
Composers: Gerald Toto
06
A Little Coffee
Gerald Toto
Spirit Voice
02:09
Composers: Gerald Toto
Nø Førmat!
25-11-2022
On My Own
01
Kafoukafou
Gerald Toto
On My Own
03:37
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
02
On My Own
Gerald Toto
On My Own
04:04
Writer: Gerald Toto - Jule Japhet / Composers: Gerald Toto
03
Gran Manman
Gerald Toto
On My Own
02:48
Writer: Gerald Toto - Piers Faccini / Composers: Gerald Toto
Nø Førmat!
17-06-2022
Dérivé
01
Dérivé Larel La
Gerald Toto
Dérivé
03:47
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
02
Man La Ti La Mwen
Gerald Toto
Dérivé
03:14
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
03
You Become Stronger
Gerald Toto
Dérivé
03:24
Writer: Gerald Toto - Jule Japhet / Composers: Gerald Toto
NO FORMAT!
25-10-2019
À l'automne
01
Before You Turn
Gerald Toto
À l'automne
03:35
Writer: Alice Orpheus / Composers: Gerald Toto
02
La tè nou a
Gerald Toto
À l'automne
03:34
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
03
Walk into the Light
Gerald Toto
À l'automne
03:01
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
04
You Got My Soul
Gerald Toto
À l'automne
03:59
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
Singles
℗ 2024 NØ FØRMAT!
17-04-2024
Youwilé (Hagan Remix)
01
Youwilé (Hagan Remix)
Gerald Toto
Youwilé (Hagan Remix)
06:21
Writer: Gerald Toto - Richard Bona - Lokua Kanza / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
Nø Førmat!
27-10-2022
On My Own
01
On My Own
Gerald Toto
On My Own
04:04
Writer: Gerald Toto - Jule Japhet / Composers: Gerald Toto
Nø Førmat!
24-05-2022
Dérivé Larel La
01
Dérivé Larel La
Gerald Toto
Dérivé Larel La
03:47
Writer: Gerald Toto / Composers: Gerald Toto
Featured in
℗ 2006 Kwaidan Records under exclusive licence to [PIAS]
12-06-2006
Bande à Part
01
The Killing Moon
Nouvelle Vague
Bande à Part
03:39
Writer: Ian McCulloch - Will Sergeant - Les Pattinson - Pete De Freitas / Composers: Ian McCulloch - Will Sergeant - Les Pattinson - Pete De Freitas
02
Ever Fallen in Love
Nouvelle Vague
Bande à Part
03:19
Writer: Pete Shelley / Composers: Pete Shelley
03
Dance With Me
Nouvelle Vague
Bande à Part
03:40
Writer: Stiv Bators - Brian James / Composers: Stiv Bators - Brian James
04
Don't Go
Nouvelle Vague
Bande à Part
03:43
Writer: Vince Clarke / Composers: Vince Clarke
05
Dancing With Myself
Nouvelle Vague
Bande à Part
03:08
Writer: Billy Idol - Tony James / Composers: Billy Idol - Tony James
06
Heart of Glass
Nouvelle Vague
Bande à Part
03:34
Writer: Chris Stein - Deborah Harry / Composers: Chris Stein - Deborah Harry
07
O Pamela
Nouvelle Vague
Bande à Part
04:26
Writer: Steven Allen - Bobby Gillespie - Alex MacPherson - Carolyn Allen - Gerard McNulty / Composers: Steven Allen - Gerard McNulty - Bobby Gillespie - Alex MacPherson - Carolyn Allen
Access the complete album info (14 songs)
℗ 2004 No Format!
20-04-2004
Toto Bona Lokua
01
Ghana Blues
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
03:03
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: R. Bona
02
Kwalelo
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
04:14
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: R. Bona
03
Lamuka
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
02:44
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: L. Kanza
04
L'endormie
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
02:36
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: G. Toto
05
Flutes
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
02:52
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: G. Toto
06
The Front
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
00:21
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: R. Bona
07
Na Ye
Lokua Kanza
Toto Bona Lokua
03:35
Writer: Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona - Gerald Toto / Composers: L. Kanza
Access the complete album info (12 songs)
℗ 2024 NØ FØRMAT!
21-06-2024
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
01
Kouzen (Melanie Charles Remix)
Melissa Laveaux
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
02:51
Writer: Traditionnel / Composers: Traditionnel
02
Zibonakalise (Vigro Deep Remix)
Msaki
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
05:43
Writer: Tubatsi Mpho Moloi - Msaki / Composers: Tubatsi Mpho Moloi
03
Nenibali (Catu Diosis Remix)
Mamani Keïta
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
03:32
Writer: Mamani Keïta / Composers: Mamani Keïta - Nicolas Repac
04
Youwilé (Hagan Remix)
Gerald Toto
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
06:21
Writer: Gerald Toto - Richard Bona - Lokua Kanza / Composers: Gerald Toto - Lokua Kanza - Richard Bona
05
Iyesa (KEENE Remix)
Que Vola ?
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
05:06
Composers: Fidel Fourneyron
06
Ninguém Solta A Mão de Ninguém (Luana Flores Remix)
Lucas Santtana
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
03:41
Writer: Lucas Santtanna / Composers: Lucas Santtana
07
Mue (Sofie Birch Remix)
Koki Nakano
NØ FØRMAT! Remixed (2004-2024)
04:07
Composers: Koki Nakano - Sofie Birch
Access the complete album info (10 songs)
℗ 2019 Kwaidan Records under exclusive licence to [PIAS]
12-04-2019
Curiosities
01
Sweet Dreams
Nouvelle Vague
Curiosities
03:48
Writer: Stewart - Lennox / Composers: Stewart - Lennox
02
My Girl
Nouvelle Vague
Curiosities
04:14
Writer: Carl Smyth - Graham Mc Pherson - Chris Foreman - Daniel Woodgate - Mike Barson - Lee Thompson / Composers: Chris Foreman - Graham Mc Pherson - Daniel Woodgate - Mike Barson - Lee Thompson - Carl Smyth
03
Girl You Want
Nouvelle Vague
Curiosities
02:50
Writer: Mark Mothersbaugh - Gerard Casale / Composers: Mark Mothersbaugh - Gerard Casale
04
Under the Flag
Nouvelle Vague
Curiosities
03:00
Writer: Donald Francis Tovey - Joe Frye / Composers: Donald Francis Tovey - Joe Frye
05
Brass in Pocket
Nouvelle Vague
Curiosities
04:07
Writer: Chrissie Hynde - James Honeyman-Scott / Composers: Chrissie Hynde - James Honeyman-Scott
06
I'm in Love with a German Film Star
Nouvelle Vague
Curiosities
03:36
Writer: Barbara Gogan - Clive Timperley - David Wardill - Richard Williams / Composers: Barbara Gogan - Clive Timperley - David Wardill - Richard Williams
07
Don't You Want Me
Nouvelle Vague
Curiosities
03:19
Writer: Joe callis - Philip Adrian Wright - Philip Oakey / Composers: Joe callis - Philip Adrian Wright - Philip Oakey
Access the complete album info (12 songs)