Biography
Amsterdam-based DJ and producer Tom Trago specializes in upbeat house and disco marked by prominent hooks alongside subtle grooves. His first album Voyage Direct appeared in 2009 and resonated strongly with the neo-disco audience, after which he shifted toward vocal-driven material on Iris in 2011 and The Light Fantastic in 2013. Those records included contributions from Tyree Cooper, Romanthony, and Steffi. Later projects such as Bergen in 2018 and Deco in 2023 moved into more atmospheric and occasionally experimental territory.
Raised in a musical family, Trago quickly gravitated toward a professional path in music and began DJ’ing at an early age. He first earned his living spinning records in a coffee shop, channeling those earnings into vinyl purchases while creating original tracks during off hours. Early encouragement came from several Amsterdam DJs, notably Aardvarck and Awanto 3, who served as informal guides. His initial single “Live with the BBQ” surfaced in 2006 on the local label and record store Rush Hour, with which he maintained a lasting connection. After issuing Voyage Direct through that imprint in 2009, he launched his own label of the same name to champion emerging local artists. He has maintained an interest in cross-genre partnerships, including EPs recorded with U.K. club producer and Night Slugs founder Bok Bok.
Iris and The Light Fantastic likewise came out on Rush Hour, drawing from multiple periods of house, funk, and disco. The former featured vocalists Romanthony, Olivier Daysoul, and Om’mas Keith, while the latter incorporated appearances by San Proper, Ben Westbeech, and Steffi. Bergen marked his first release on Dekmantel in 2018 and highlighted his growth through denser, more layered productions. His ongoing collaboration with Maxi Mill under the name Shoebox yielded the debut album Falling in the Right Place in 2020. Subsequent EPs include You Deserve Better in 2021 and Tide Will Turn in 2022. That same year saw the archival hip-hop collection 18, issued with clothing store Patta, and the techno-leaning Trembala EP. Trago returned to Rush Hour in 2023 for the calm, introspective full-length Deco.
Raised in a musical family, Trago quickly gravitated toward a professional path in music and began DJ’ing at an early age. He first earned his living spinning records in a coffee shop, channeling those earnings into vinyl purchases while creating original tracks during off hours. Early encouragement came from several Amsterdam DJs, notably Aardvarck and Awanto 3, who served as informal guides. His initial single “Live with the BBQ” surfaced in 2006 on the local label and record store Rush Hour, with which he maintained a lasting connection. After issuing Voyage Direct through that imprint in 2009, he launched his own label of the same name to champion emerging local artists. He has maintained an interest in cross-genre partnerships, including EPs recorded with U.K. club producer and Night Slugs founder Bok Bok.
Iris and The Light Fantastic likewise came out on Rush Hour, drawing from multiple periods of house, funk, and disco. The former featured vocalists Romanthony, Olivier Daysoul, and Om’mas Keith, while the latter incorporated appearances by San Proper, Ben Westbeech, and Steffi. Bergen marked his first release on Dekmantel in 2018 and highlighted his growth through denser, more layered productions. His ongoing collaboration with Maxi Mill under the name Shoebox yielded the debut album Falling in the Right Place in 2020. Subsequent EPs include You Deserve Better in 2021 and Tide Will Turn in 2022. That same year saw the archival hip-hop collection 18, issued with clothing store Patta, and the techno-leaning Trembala EP. Trago returned to Rush Hour in 2023 for the calm, introspective full-length Deco.
Albums
Pearls for Pleasure Vol. 1
2024
Deco
2023
’18’ Tom Trago x Patta
2022
Tide Will Turn
2022
You Deserve Better
2021
Whisper / Belltower
2020
Serene Waters
2017
The Light Fantastic
2013
Use Me Again (And Again)
2011
Iris
2011
The Fluor Green EP
2008
Singles
