Toy (German band)

T.O.Y. (Trademark of Youth) is a German futurepop/synthpop band. The project was formerly known as Evils Toy, which was closer to electro-industrial in sound.

T.O.Y.
Also known asEvils Toy
OriginGermany
Genres
Years active1992–present
Labels
Members
  • Volker Lutz
  • Helge Wiegand
  • Marc A. Nathaniel
Past members
  • Thorsten Brenda
  • Cordula K.
  • Christian "Léo" Leonhardt
  • Markus Helmert
  • Oliver Taranczewski

History

As Evils Toy

Evils Toy started out in 1992 as the project of Volker Lutz and Thorsten Brenda. Thorsten and Volker were introduced by a mutual friend who knew that each of the duo were heavily into industrial music and were already working on music of their own.[1] After completing several tracks together they sent a demo tape to several labels, including the German Hypnobeat label (a sub-label of Hyperium Records) who released their debut album Human Refuse at the end of 1993. Their second full-length release, Morbid Mind, was released a year later and was recorded at André Schmechta's T.G.I.F. Studios, known for recording works by André's project X-Marks the Pedwalk and many other well-known German EBM and industrial bands. This studio collaboration with André also yielded an XMTP remix of "Dear God" that was included on the album.[2]

Their combination of distorted vocals and EBM rhythms with occasional touches of melody proved relatively successful, though their real breakthrough came in 1995 with their "Organics" single, which received significant airplay on both sides of the Atlantic. The Illusion album, released in 1997, was the last album by this act that might accurately be defined as "industrial".

The Angels Only! album, released the following year, moved away from distorted vocals and towards a more synthpop style. This was the first Evils Toy recording to feature Oliver Taranczewski, as well as the last recorded with Thorsten Brenda. For background vocals and live keyboards Volker brought in his long-time girlfriend Cordula K, who also appears in the videos for "Virtual State" and "Dream With Me". Silvertears in 2000 was the last release under the name Evils Toy. The project was known as "T.O.Y." thereafter.[3]

As T.O.Y.

Soon after renaming themselves, the re-formed band released their first album: Space Radio, which defined a fresh and revitalized style. Their second album under the name, White Lights, was diverse and followed a similar line that was familiar to listeners of the previous album.

The band have produced many remixes for other bands like Apoptygma Berzerk, In Strict Confidence, De/Vision and !Bang Elektronika. Volker has also undertaken many album productions in his SonicStage Recording Studios. He has worked with bands like And One, L'Âme Immortelle, Funker Vogt and Pulcher Femina.

In 2004 Volker made a song for the German radio play The three investigators-Song contest. Also in 2004, the computer game giant Konami used a special song done by T.O.Y. on the new PS2 & Xbox release: Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2. The track was a remix of the popular DDR and Beatmania IIDX song "i feel..." by famous game music composer, Akira Yamaoka. Bands like Neuropa, Echo Image, Alien#Six13 and Midihead also contributed to the soundtrack.

In 2005 Oliver released an album under the name Yavin 4 in the US. An album sounding more like the older Evils Toy releases mixed with modern dance and drum & bass elements. Also he produced the Cruciform Injection album Aftermath that was released in 2006

After split-up rumours concerning the future of T.O.Y. they are, in fact, working on new songs. All such songs are more or less raw demos, some with vocals, some without, but represent the kind of music fans expect to hear on the next T.O.Y. release.

In May 2009 Taranczewski left the band for good. Volker said he would finish the album, entitled PAIN IS LOVE, on his own.[4]

After Taranczewski's departure, Markus Helmert and Christian "Léo" Leonhardt joined Volker, playing keyboards and drums, respectively.

In September 2014, Helmert had to quit the band due to health reasons. About the same time, Taranczewski re-joined the band as a keyboardist, while Leonhardt was replaced by Marc A. Nathaniel on drums. Together the new/old lineup will finish the upcoming album Pain is Love as well playing live gigs.[5]

In March 2017 O.Taranczewski again left the band due to private reasons and Helge Wiegand, songwriter from cologne and also keyboardplayer and vocalist of the band Diorama joined in April 2017.

Members
  • Volker Lutz (vocals, arrangements, programming, producer).
  • Helge Wiegand (keyboards, vocals)
  • Marc A. Nathaniel (drums).

Previous members
  • Thorsten Brenda (keyboards).
  • Cordula K. (vocals, keyboards).
  • Christian "Léo" Leonhardt (drums).
  • Markus Helmert (keyboards).
  • Oliver Taranczewski (lyrics, keyboards)

Discography

As Evils Toy
  • Human Refuse – (CD Album) 1993 – Hypnobeat • (CD) 1995 – Metropolis • (CD Reissue) 2001 – Sonicstage
  • Dear God (Remix) – (CD Maxi) 1994 – Hypnobeat
  • Morbid Mind – (CD Album) 1994 – Hypnobeat • (CD) 1996 – Metropolis
  • Organics – (CD Maxi) 1995 – Hypnobeat
  • The Old Race – (CD Maxi, Ltd. Edition) 1996 – Hypnobeat
  • XTC Implant – (CD Album) 1996 – Hypnobeat, Metropolis
  • Evils Toy Box – (CD Album, Ltd. Edition, Metal Box) 1997 – Hypnobeat
  • Illusion – (CD Album) 1997 – Metropolis, Eraser
  • Angels Only! – (CD Album) 1998 – Metropolis, Eraser
  • Transparent Frequencies – (CD Maxi w/ multimedia video) 1998 – Eraser
  • Silvertears – (CD Album) 2000 – E-Wave Records
  • Virtual State – (CD Maxi) 2000 – E-Wave Records
  • Evilution: The Best of Evils Toy – (CD Enhanced) 2002 – Sonicstage

Compilation appearances (as Evils Toy)
  • Body Rapture Vol. 3 – (CD) 1994, Track #9 "Make Up" – Zoth Ommog
  • We Came to Dance Vol. V – (CD) 1994, Track #14 "Third World War" – Sub Terranean
  • Diva Performance 10th Anniversary – (CD) 1995, Track #4 "Sacred (Diva Mix '95)" – Cinemanyx
  • Hypnobeats – (CD) 1995, Track #5 "Make Up" – Hypnobeat
  • Moonraker Vol. II – (2xCD) 1995, Disc #1, Track #14 "Make Up" – Sub Terranean
  • There Is No Time – (4xCD) 1995, Disc #4, Track #13 "Dear God" – Ras Dva Records
  • We Came to Dance – Indie Dancefloor Vol. VII – (CD) 1995, Track #5 "Dear God" – Sub Terranean
  • Belle Epoque – Romantic Wave Episodes – (CD) 1996, Track #15 "Lonely" – Sub Terranean
  • Hypnobeats 2 – (CD) 1996, Track #1 "Organics" – Hypnobeat
  • Sound-Line Vol. 4 – (CD) 1996, Track #5 "Home" – Side-Line
  • The Digital Space Between Vol. 3 – (CD) 1996, Track #11 "Dear God (X-Marks The Pedwalk Remix)" – Cleopatra
  • The Gothic Compilation Part 5 – (CD) 1996, Track #5 "Home" – Gothic Records (Germany)
  • Alternative – (CD Promo) 1997, Track #7 "Prevision" – Nova Tekk
  • German Mystic Sound Sampler Volume VI – (CD) 1997, Track #10 "The Old Race"
  • Moonraker Vol. 3 – (2xCD) 1997, Disc #1, Track #4 "Dizzy Divination" – Sub Terranean
  • Virtual X-mas 97 – (CD Mini) 1997, Track #5 "Virtual X-mas 97" – Energy Records
  • We Came to Dance – Indie Dancefloor Vol. 10 – (2xCD) 1997, Disc #2, Track #9 "Organics" – Sub Terranean
  • Best of Electronic Music – (2xCD, Ltd. Edition) 1998, Disc #1, Track #11 "Transparent Frequencies" – TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH • (CD) 1998, Track #11 "Transparent Frequencies" – TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
  • Cyberl@b – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #7 "Lucifer's Garden" – Nuclear Blast
  • Deejay Tribe – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #11 "Transparent Frequencies" – Credo
  • Electrocity Level X – (CD) 1998, Track #8 "Lucifer's Garden" – Ausfahrt
  • Electropolis: Volume 1 – (CD) 1998, Track #12 "Organics (Slow Motion Mix)" – Metropolis
  • Hypnotic & Hypersonic – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #3 "Organics (Remix)" – Hyperium Records
  • Innovation Eins – (CD, Ltd. Edition metal case) 1998, Track #6 "Motionless" – Credo, Nova Tekk • (CD) 1998, Track #6 "Motionless" – Credo, Nova Tekk
  • Moonraker Vol. IV – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #2 "Co-Existence" – Sub Terranean
  • Sauna – Våren 1998 – (CD) 1998, Track #2 "Motionless" – Sauna Magazine
  • Sender Rio Presents Rock and Wave – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #1 "Fallen Angel" – Credo
  • Stage 1 – (CD) 1998, Track #1 "Co-Existence" – Schwarzrock
  • We Came to Dance – Indie Dancefloor Vol. 11 – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #4 "Lucifers Garden (Remix)" – Sub Terranean
  • We Came To Watch Part 1 – (VHS) 1998, Video #5 "Co-Existence" – Credo
  • Body Rapture 7 – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #3 "In Silence (Album Mix)" – Zoth Ommog
  • Body Rapture 8 – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #5 "Co-Existence" – Zoth Ommog
  • Cover Classics Volume One – (CD) 1999, "In The Army Now" – VISION Records
  • Deejay Tribe 2 – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #6 "Angels Only! – Beyond" – Credo
  • Electro Club Attack – Shot One – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #11 "Angles Only! > Beyond" – XXC
  • Electro Club Attack – Shot Two – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #2, Track #6 "Lucifer's Garden (Remix)" – XXC, Zoomshot Media Entertainment
  • Electro Mania – (CD) 1999, Track #5 "Mad Modern Dream" – Zoth Ommog
  • Memobeat – An Electro Industrial Compilation – (CD) 1999, "Transparent Frequencies" – Memento Materia
  • The Electronic Challenge Vol. 3 – (CD) 1999, Track #6 "Transparent Frequencies (Klupp Miks)" – COP international
  • Gothic Compilation Part XI – (CD) 2000, Track #5 "Rainbow vs. Stars" – Betbeliever Releases
  • Electro Club Attack – The Classix I – (2xCD) 2001, Disc #1, Track #3 "Make Up" – XXC
  • DJ Revelation 01 (Compiled By L'âme Immortelle) – (CD Mixed) 2003, Track #8 "Make Up" – Angelstar
  • Tonedeaf Records Presents: Vinyl Conflict No. 1 – (CD) 2003, Track #2 "Space Radio" – ToneDeaf Records
  • Synth & Wave Essentials – (DVD) 2005, Track #19 "Virtual State" – ZYX Music

As T.O.Y.
  • Space Radio – (CD Album) 2001 – E-Wave Records, XIII BIS Records • (CD Album) 2004 – Art Music Group
  • Fairytale – (CD) 2003 – A Different Drum
  • White Lights – (CD) 2003 – A Different Drum
  • White Lights (Fan Edition) – (2xCD) 2003 – E-Wave Records
  • Pain is Love (CD / Vinyl / Download) 2017 - Nordhausen Schallplatten

Compilation appearances (as T.O.Y)
  • Club Bizarre 2 – (2xCD) 2001, Disc #1, Track #8 "Welcome to Spaceradio" – Angelstar
  • Strange Love 5 – (CD) 2001, Track #1 "Strange Modern Art" – Orkus
  • Advanced Electronics – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #6 "Loner (Remix)" – Synthetic Symphony
  • Dark Decryption – The Electro Remix Selection Vol. 02 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #14 "Dream With Me (Massiv In Mensch Remix)" – XXC
  • Synth & Wave Essentials – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #4 "We Are Electric" – ZYX Music
  • Zillo Dark Summer – Best of Goth Open Airs 2002 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #7 "Dream With Me (Fairlage Mix)" – Zillo
  • Gothic Compilation Part XX – (CD) 2003, Track #10, "Long Distance Ride" – Batbeliever Releases
  • Orkus Compilation VII – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2003, Track #3 "Long Distance Ride" – Orkus
  • Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 28 – (CD Sampler) 2003, Track #1 "Long Distance Ride" – Sonic Seducer
  • Stromschlag Volume 1 – (CD) 2003, Track #7 "Dream With Me (Massiv In Mensch-Remix)" – Electro Shock Records
  • Listen to the Future – (CD) 2004, Track #2 "Color Matching" – A Different Drum
  • Synthpop Club Anthems 3 – (CD) 2004, Track #6 "Another Lovesong (Trance Mix By Massiv In Mensch)" – A Different Drum
  • The Collector's Set of Dark Electronic – (3xCD) 2004 Disc #3 Tracks #1-#14 – E-Wave Records
  • Synth & Wave Essentials Vol. 2 – (2xCD) 2005, Disc #1, Track #2 "Do Dreams Bleed (Memphis Mix)" – ZYX Music
  • DDR Festival & Dance Dance Revolution Strike Original Soundtrack – (2xCD Partially Mixed) 2006, Disc #1, Track #42 "I Feel... (T.O.Y. Remix)" – Toshiba EMI Ltd

References
  1. "Interview: Evils Toy". Culture Shock. Genocide Project (2): 28–29. Spring 1996. ISSN 1093-1651.
  2. Linder, Petra (1995). Weaver, Rodney (ed.). "Interview: Evils Toy". Infectious Substance. 1 (2): 28–33.
  3. Darklight. "Album Review: White Lights". Wrapped In Wire. Retrieved 27 August 2020.
  4. Volker Lutz on Facebook
  5. Official T.O.Y. Facebook page update
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