Today we’d like to introduce you to Martin Costa & Jeziah Hinds.
Hi Martin, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
We (Toucanplay) started our DJing and production journey around 2018. What initially began as a hobby quickly became something we were really passionate about. Our sound sits primarily around minimal house and deep tech, and after a few years of releasing music that found its way to dancefloors, we realised we wanted to take things more seriously.
Since then, we’ve been fortunate enough to play in some incredible places, from Ibiza, where we’ve also had a show on Ibiza Global Radio, to Tokyo and London. This year is particularly exciting for us as we’re also set to play multiple sets at Burning Man, which is a huge honor for us and something we’re really looking forward to.
Alongside the releases and DJing, we started putting on our own parties and began building a label called Movere together with two other artists and close friends from Manchester, Jmal & Jermaine Lee. The idea was to build something that represented the music and community we wanted to be part of.
We’ve also started putting on smaller, more intimate events under the name Toucanplay & Friends. These give us the opportunity to create a different kind of intimate atmosphere and bring together people we’ve met through music over the years.
It’s been a really organic journey so far, and we’re excited to see where it continues to take us.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. We’ve had plenty of knock-backs from labels and moments where we’ve questioned whether our music really fits within the scene at times. The important thing for us has been staying positive, continuing to develop our sound and keep pushing forward.
Balancing music with family life and other responsibilities can also be challenging, especially when you’re trying to produce, DJ, organise events and keep everything moving.
Events are probably the biggest challenge. Venue hire, production costs and the rising cost of living have made things much harder. Booking bigger international DJs can also be a huge financial risk. Possibly the hardest part, though, is simply getting people through the door. Without the support of the people who attend our events, we wouldn’t be able to keep doing them.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
As Toucanplay, we’re DJs, producers, event organisers and label owners, so there are a few different sides to what we do. We’re constantly working on new music, playing shows and developing our sound, while also running our label, releasing our own music and discovering new artists we feel deserve to be heard.
On the events side, we’re involved in booking DJs and artists, negotiating fees, finding venues and managing events from start to finish, including production, promotion and making sure everything runs smoothly on the night.
We enjoy being involved in the whole process though, from creating and releasing music to finding new talent and bringing people together through our events.
What does success mean to you?
For us, success isn’t just about money although it does play its part! A side from that it’s about being able to keep doing what we love, releasing music we’re proud of, playing great shows and building something that people genuinely connect with.
If we can continue growing Toucanplay, discover and support new artists, put on memorable events and create a community around the music, then we’d consider that a success. Ultimately, being able to look back and know we built something we’re proud of together is what matters most.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.beatport.com/artist/toucanplay/698766
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toucanplay/
- Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/toucanplaymusic
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/movere_sounds/
