Dazed Faves is the series where we talk all things online – that surreal meme account you’re obsessed with, weird conspiracy theory subreddits, ASMR YouTubes, or slime Instagrams.

Tomu DJ makes dreamy soundscapes that draw on elements of ambient and footwork to create tender compositions that, despite their somewhat disparate influences, manage to be hypnotic, cohesive, and beautifully intimate. After releasing a string of EPs on Bandcamp throughout 2019 and 2020, all of which have been scrubbed from the internet, the Bay Area producer released her 2021 debut Feminista, an intimate record with new age synths and dulcet pop melodies drifted somewhere between ambient and techno. Inspired by DJ Rashad’s pioneering footwork crew Teklife, her sophomore album Half Moon Bay arrived the following year, following a similar format with soft, euphoric tracks made to mellow you out, and featured fellow footwork artists Dj Manny and SUCIA!

Self-released on Bandcamp, her latest offering If You’re So Cool, How Come No One Likes You? Leans further into ambient, drawing on themes of grief and Tomu’s own struggles with mental health. “I often feel this pressure to only show people the most curated parts of myself as is often done online, but it has been freeing to share a raw and emotional project that depicts where I'm really at, and to have people connect with that,” she says. “I’m feeling lost and frustrated at times, but still grateful to be here and to have survived everything I have up until this point.” 

Though regarded as a primarily online artist, Tomu describes her relationship with the internet as fraught, at times even stressful. “I sometimes wish I could enjoy the internet like a lot of other people seem to. It’s not that I don’t enjoy spending hours on YouTube as much as the next person or whatever, I think I’m just really sensitive and not built to take in information at this rate.” But she maintains that, “at the end of the day, I’m really thankful for every single person I‘ve been able to connect with in real life through music and the internet – and everyone who has listened to my music”.

FAVE SONG: “ALL THROUGH THE NIGHT”

Tomu: I found myself getting really into 70s music this past year, especially Donna Summer. I feel like I can’t really say much about this song that it doesn't already express on its own. I also got really into Steely Dan and Stevie Wonder again. The classics never fail me!

FAVE TV SHOW: POSE

Tomu: I finally watched Pose on FX this year. Everyone on the cast absolutely kills it and it’s a refreshing and thrilling watch through and through. I know I watched it really recently but it’s hard not to call it my favourite of all time already. Recently I’ve also thoroughly enjoyed Atlanta, Better Call Saul, and Insecure (also Awkward Black Girl on YouTube!)

FAVE YOUTUBE: YEUNG MAN COOKING

Tomu: This is definitely one of the more wholesome things I’ve ever found online. It’s rare that an internet series will actually help me with my regular life as much as this one has. He has a lot of different kinds of recipes, and possibly the best taste in royalty-free music I’ve ever seen.

FAVE TWITTER: @VIETNAMCRYSTAL

Tomu: My favourite Twitter account is @VietnamCrystal. This is super niche but it always reminds me of when I used to play Chinese Pokémon cartridges with their shit all fucked up as a kid, and they were always the funniest thing. Come to think of it, I must have partially learned English from those.

FAVE MEME: SOPHISTICATED POOH BEAR

Tomu: My favourite meme is the Sophisticated Pooh Bear. I almost used it as an album cover but didn’t because I didn’t want to get sued. It’s one of those rare memes that are extremely applicable to nearly every situation. You don’t really need to explain anything about it but it’s just funny as hell. I’m actually laughing right now just picturing it in my mind. 

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