Thomas-René Gerlach (born June 24, 1973), known professionally as DJ Tonka, is a German
electronic dance musician. He is also known as Tonka, Chip Tunes, and Thomastic.
Musical career
In his early career, Thomas-René Gerlach worked with fellow producer
Ian Pooley in the groups Outrage, Space Cube, and T'N'I. Together they produced several records in
techno,
progressive house and
breakbeat. In 1996, the partnership was dissolved (an EP with unreleased tracks was still released in 1997), and coincidentally, both started producing a more mainstream-friendly sound.
As a solo artist, Gerlach took on the name DJ Tonka and began producing
house music, with influences from
synthpop and the American
garage house scene. He achieved some notoriety as a
remixer, reworking tunes such as "Trapped" for disco artist
Colonel Abrams, "Love Shack" for
The B-52's and "Push It" for
Salt-N-Pepa.
Tonka cites
Grandmaster Flash and
Depeche Mode among his influences.[citation needed] He has also founded two record labels: Uplifting Records in 1997 and Vivienne Records in 2000.
Discography
Studio albums
1998: Peaktime (In One Go) (Warner/Germany)
2004: 84 (Uplifting Rec. Warner/Germany)
Singles & EPs
1995: "Flashback" (Force Inc. US)
1995: "Flashback, Remixes" (Outland Rec./NL)
1995: "Got to Get Up" (Force Inc. 100)
1995: "Feel" (Force Inc. US,Disco Magic/Italy,Airplay Rec./France)
1995: "Feel, Remixes" (Force Inc. US)
1995: "Phun-ky" (Force Inc. US,Skint/UK,Dance Net/Australia)
Thomas-René Gerlach (born June 24, 1973), known professionally as DJ Tonka, is a German
electronic dance musician. He is also known as Tonka, Chip Tunes, and Thomastic.
Musical career
In his early career, Thomas-René Gerlach worked with fellow producer
Ian Pooley in the groups Outrage, Space Cube, and T'N'I. Together they produced several records in
techno,
progressive house and
breakbeat. In 1996, the partnership was dissolved (an EP with unreleased tracks was still released in 1997), and coincidentally, both started producing a more mainstream-friendly sound.
As a solo artist, Gerlach took on the name DJ Tonka and began producing
house music, with influences from
synthpop and the American
garage house scene. He achieved some notoriety as a
remixer, reworking tunes such as "Trapped" for disco artist
Colonel Abrams, "Love Shack" for
The B-52's and "Push It" for
Salt-N-Pepa.
Tonka cites
Grandmaster Flash and
Depeche Mode among his influences.[citation needed] He has also founded two record labels: Uplifting Records in 1997 and Vivienne Records in 2000.
Discography
Studio albums
1998: Peaktime (In One Go) (Warner/Germany)
2004: 84 (Uplifting Rec. Warner/Germany)
Singles & EPs
1995: "Flashback" (Force Inc. US)
1995: "Flashback, Remixes" (Outland Rec./NL)
1995: "Got to Get Up" (Force Inc. 100)
1995: "Feel" (Force Inc. US,Disco Magic/Italy,Airplay Rec./France)
1995: "Feel, Remixes" (Force Inc. US)
1995: "Phun-ky" (Force Inc. US,Skint/UK,Dance Net/Australia)