He's toured in the U.K, The U.S, Europe and Japan but for the last thirty years, he has been, most fundamentally, a singer-songwriter and a recording artist.
So, what’s the Toby May story to date?
A teenage drummer, then drummer/singer, he recorded first album and pressed first CDs in 1996, before moving to the USA where he learnt the full sweep of skills required of an indie artist: performer, songwriter, studio artist, manager, booking agent.
On his return in the early 2000's his band CATCHA signed to London based Lotus Records to produce and tour and album with John McKenzie (bass) and Blair Cunningham (drums).
In 2009, his band put together an acoustic album mixed by Laurence Manchester, mastered by Fred Kevorkian in NYC.
Toby May became a solo artist in 2012 when he collaborated with Caribbean superstars Kassav’ on several recordings and live shows. Then, he put all of his indie skills together and created his recording studio/production house: Unagi Sound.
“We design sounds to tell stories” became the mantra of his audio/visual work which he successfully delivered for corporate clients such as: WHO, International School of Geneva, Lombard Odier, TPG, United Nations, US Embassy, FIBA, Lenz & Staehelin (education, podcast, press conference, promotional video, audio signature, voice over, sound design).
In 2016, after a successful crowd funding campaign, Toby May released “On Reflection” on his own label, Unagi Sound.
Toby is the quintessential musical journeyman.
Even though life has not been easy for indie artists over the last couple of years, you can’t knock them down and you can’t knock him down. And all paths have led to “Never Fall”.
“Never Fall” was written, arranged, and produced by Toby May at Unagi Sound in Geneva. As a multi-instrumentalist he initially planned on recording all the parts as a one-man band. While that’s how he began, the times were so weird that May felt compelled to reach out to his network of musicians for the type of connection we’ve all been missing. This idea felt perfect for the underpinning “Never Fall” spirit.
We’re stronger together.
Consequently, almost by happy accident, he put together a super-team from around the world to produce this new record in his Geneva studio: Unagi Sound. Never Fall released in 2022.
The album features:
Greg Arnold: backing vocals, guitars, lyrics (AUS - Things of Stone and Wood)
Stef Roul: drums (FR - Anxious Records, Dave Stewart, East 17)
Dale Davis: bass (UK - Amy Winehouse, Paul Young)
Anna Murphy: Hurdy Gurdy (CH - Cellar Darling, Eluveitie)
Sara Wheeler: Backing Vocals (USA - Sara Wheeler Music)
Mark Baëchle: Strings (CH/USA - Grammy Award Composer)
Mathias Künzli: percussion (CH/USA - Regina Spector, Moby)
Richard Spooner: lyrics (UK/CH - Philippe Fankhauser, Dominic Shoemaker)
Joe Baamil: piano (CH - Pilots on Mars)
Lee Russell: recording (UK – Temple, Julian Lennon)
Rui Guerreiro: mix & master (PRT - Luísa Sobral, Rui Valoso)
Photography and Artwork by Franck Harscouët
Video production by Yvon Labarthe and Ana Lowry at Flying Focus
Lighting production by Yvan Cavazzana
