Birthday Boy

As a kid, birthdays are usually a very big deal. The build up weeks prior, counting down the days and hours until Mother Nature’s clock inevitably ticks that it’s time. Now, imagine if you could hold onto that feeling everyday. Eoin, or Birthday Boy as he’s better known, decided to do just that—starting with his moniker. We chopped it up with the Toronto-based producer, DJ, and multi-talented musician recently to get an update on what he’s been up to. In the midst of his first tour, things are on the ups for the light-hearted artist. Like any exchange of birthday gifts, he’s also gifted readers of The Hundreds with an exclusive mix Loot 4 Leo.

Birthday Boy’s Loot 4 Leo exclusive mix.

CHIEF BOSOMPRA: Can you let the people know who you are?
BIRTHDAY BOY: My name is Eoin and I go by the name Birthday Boy. I’m a musician and DJ from Toronto.

Is everyday a celebration for you ? Why the name birthday boy ?
I wanted to choose a name that was kind of tongue-in-cheek because it’s so familiar. Kind of like I could invade people’s imaginations on some Disney shit like they already knew who I was, or had a positive association with the concept behind my name. Growing up no one could pronounce my real name so I wanted to choose something that was already in their head.

Ideal birthday cake?
Probably like ice cream sandwich cake? Do they make that? A giant ice cream sandwich maybe, yeah.

You’re a producer, so what made you begin to sing?
I’ve always sang but never really put it out. I don’t consider myself like a full-fledged singer; my voice is kinda soft. But it’s like another instrument I can use you know? Better than another synth or something because it’s a part of me and no one sounds alike. I’ve also been eager to use my words more in my music so this helps.

“…IT’S MY MISSION NOW TO BE THE JIGGY DUDE IN A CITY BETTER KNOWN FOR DARKER MUSIC.”

Toronto is getting a lot of attention lately as a musical hub. Where do you fit in this mix?

I feel like I’m part of a group of musicians—singers, rappers, producers, etc.—that exist slightly left of what’s most popular here. Drake/OVO and The Weeknd have done wonders to expose our city to the world, which has fortunately shed light on some of the talented artists that might not have gotten the same attention before. I’d like to show there’s another side to our culture; we can be jiggy, danceable, fun, bright, etc. There are so many cultures colliding here and so many different influences that shine through my own music, as well as my peers. For example, Keita Juma has a real UK influence. Our sounds can be very eclectic if you’re listening in the right places. I’ve been tryna make this kind of music before Toronto had all this focus, so it’s my mission now to be the jiggy dude in a city better known for darker music.

You have a mix for us. Can you give us some background on song selection and theme?
This mix is kind of like a beat tape. It’s called Loot 4 Leo and is an all-original compilation of my music. I’ve had a lot of ideas, beats, and songs burning a hole in my pocket for a while and I wanted to choose a unique way to present them. I used clips from RapCity and Electric Circus, two MuchMusic shows from my childhood because I feel like between those two is where I find my style right now. Between Dance and Hip-Hop, kinda nostalgic in both cases.

Plans for the summer?
I have some collaborations I’m super excited about, so those are gonna come out. More shows in more cities and definitely some more events with NUDE in Toronto, y’all know what it is. Also getting started on my first real solo project.

Advice for young producers out there ?
Just be yourself. If there’s one thing I regret it’s sounding too much like other people at times so just go into your own space and create what you want to hear. It might also be a good idea to pick up an instrument or learn a bit of theory, it always helps.

***

Follow Birthday Boy on Soundcloud and on Instagram @birthdayboyto. Photos by Madeline Gross / Maddee. - The Hundreds

There's been a sea change in Toronto's R&B landscape of late. The shift from monochromatic mumbling to Technicolor melody figures most prominently on the Weeknd's new dancefloor-minded, Michael Jackson-baiting single "I Can’t Feel My Face", but there are more precise, less derivative tracks with just as much bombast bubbling beneath the major label surface. "I Can’t Wait" is one of those—a collaboration between blipwave producer Birthday Boy and allie, a real-deal soul singer whose voice has the lush tactility of suede.
This song is all about that mitochondrial thrill of pursuit—anticipation as aphrodisiac—and the pair tease that tension with slow-burning production and glowing harmonies. Birthday Boy, singing on a track for the very first time, splices delicate synth ripples with stout hi-hats and snares, while allie beckons a "king of low-key persistence" to come her way. The song doesn’t build to a single climax, but multiple, every time the producer's surprisingly tender voice wraps itself around allie's silk-strong pleas on the hook: "Take your time now but baby don’t be late, I can’t wait." - Pitchfork

Birthday Boy flips are one-of-a-kind. Earlier releases on his Soundcloud page are ripe with funk and disco influence, while fresher ones come from a more progressive palette. All of it is on a level. Plus, the dude loves Sweet Chili Heat just as much as we do. We feel you, fam. We want some right now. - Complex

Collaborating together for the first time, Toronto's allie and Birthday Boy have collided musical affinities on a new track titled "I Can't Wait." An amalgam of Birthday Boy's mesmerizing instrumental with allie's soothing voice, the release is a stylistic departure for both artists and sees the burgeoning producer make his debut as a vocalist. As Toronto continues to develop its reputation as a city with ubiquitous creative potential, these two emerging artists are definitely ones to keep an eye on. Listen to the premiere above and visit the SoundCloud pages of Birthday Boy and allie for more from each artist. - Hypetrak

At some point over the past few years, something that can be defined as a distinctly Toronto sound was birthed. It's all syrupy flows over trap-borrowing beats, a meld of the 6's wintery culture and influences from south of the Mason-Dixon. But Music to Soothe the Savage Youth, a new EP recorded in collaboration by rapper Drew Howard and producer Birthday Boy, presents a new proposition for Toronto, something that sounds more like partying and falling in love late at night in the downtown core than hanging out on its perimeter. On standout cuts like "Robin Williams" and "I Won't Judge You," Howard alternates between turnt-up bars and sweet R&B melodies, riding Birthday Boy's synth-y, slow-burning beats with impressive dexterity.
"We originally got together to make one song, which turned into 'They Love Me'. We just realized we had chemistry, so we continued to work together. This is what we came up with. I like to think we found a unique middle ground between our styles," Birthday Boy told The FADER over email.
"It was mostly experimental, but everything felt very organic. All the songs grew and this is the result," explained Howard.
Stream the project in full below and hit the download link. - THE FADER

On Saturday, NXNE, NUDE, and the East Room teamed up to throw the first ever NXNE Block Party, an afternoon east-end parking lot party with food, art installations, and no shortage of good tunes. The outdoor vibes were right, with Clairmont The Second, and Harrison queuing up fire for the casual dance party, but a performance by Toronto rapper Drew Howard took it to the next level. Previewing songs from an upcoming collaborative EP with producer Birthday Boy, Drew Howard’s energy felt restricted on the small stage, but it was a nice teaser for what the emcee may be capable of. - Complex

We would like to introduce you to Toronto’s own Birthday Boy, part of the new wave of producers blending House, Hip Hop and Neo-Soul into a new genre as familiar as it is innovative. Although he’s been producing music for over 10 years, the Birthday Boy identity was born in last year, in March and in such short time he’s already taken large strides with his musical and brand identity. His production style is unique through its shuffling baselines, as well as its organic drums and percussion. After the successful release of several infectious remixes, he completed the formation his identity as an artist and his musical sound of “Afterhours Funk” with his debut EP entitled Colors in July. Since then, he has been adding singles and remixes to his arsenal, that have been getting attention from many notable figures in the music community. Expect a lot to come in the next few months from the upbeat, eccentric producer.

Press play on the video below and get familiar with one of music’s quickly-rising producers. Once you watch the interview be sure to check out some of Birthday Boys remixes and of course his Color EP below.

You’re welcome. - Sidewalk Hustle

Toronto-based Birthday Boy is known primarily as a producer, lending his syrupy, dreamy production style to artists such as a l l i e and Drew Howard on previous projects. His innovative musical stylings bounce between R&B, jazz, house, hip-hop and funk, allowing him to avoid ever being boxed into a single genre. Today Birthday Boy is showing that his talent extends far beyond his skills behind the boards by showcasing his vocal abilities on two brand-new tracks that we are streaming exclusively here on HYPETRAK today. "Out of Here" sports a funky bassline and woozy, Rhodes-like piano progressions, while "Storm" takes listeners for a two-minute ride through a number of beat changes and vibe switches. Birthday Boy is due to appear at Kitsune's SXSW showcase in just a few weeks before departing on a North American tour that is due to stop in Toronto, Montreal, New York and LA. Stream "Out of Here/Storm" above and stay tuned for more from Birthday Boy in the coming weeks. - Hypetrak

Is it too early for 2000s nostalgia? On "Benny & Lil Ze", Toronto's Drew Howard and Birthday Boy channel the young protagonists from 2002’s Brazilian cult crime drama City of God and tag-team the syncopated stumble of funk carioca—a Rio de Janeiro sound that became popular on North American dancefloors in the mid-2000s. (Chill: It forges on without us).
"Benny & Lil Ze" is the highlight of Music to Soothe the Savage Youth, a new EP from the rapper and producer that attempts to brighten up the cavernous melodrama that has become a staple of the Toronto Sound. Here, it’s like the ideas have been marinating for years before spilling forth in Birthday Boy’s dramatic, 30-second intro: a velvety mess of playful chants, sibilant vocal percussion, four-on-the-floor house, and warm filters. That's when Howard launches himself at the beat, playing the cunning Lil Ze to Birthday Boy's measured Benny, weighing it down with his gravely voice and a lurching flow that brings the song into 2015. - Pitchfork

On "Walk Away," the plush electronic ballad from Toronto producer Birthday Boy, the vocals intone a regretful distance: I'll take the coward's way out/ And live in your mind. The track's video, premiering above, works with this theme into scenes of a couple spending time together, with one of the figures nearly erased into the background. Speaking with The FADER over email, Birthday Boy revealed how "Walk Away" is new creative territory for him: "I'm kind of sensitive about this one because I don't normally sing solo on my tracks. I tried to create an atmosphere and then disappear into it. It's about how someone perceives you after you leave their life." - The Fader

In it, a pair of teens try flirting for the first time. Toronto artists Birthday Boy and a l l i e may appear as karaoke video characters in their video for "I Can't Wait," but the smooth electro-R&B track is anything but cheesy. The song is the perfect match for heartwarming visuals about the budding love of two fashionable teens. Watch above. - The Fader

At this point, it’s virtually impossible not to associate Drake with his city. On the cover of his new album, VIEWS (the album formerly known as Views from the 6), the rapper is Photoshopped sitting on top of Toronto’s most well-known landmark, the CN Tower. The message is loud and clear (and perhaps a tad literal)—he started from the bottom, now he’s here.

While the city has a rich hip-hop history that started in the '80s—with artists like Dream Warriors, Maestro Fresh-Wes, Michie Mee, and Kardinal Offishall achieving some level of mainstream success—it wasn’t until Aubrey Graham came along that U.S. and international audiences and media really started paying attention.

Drake’s chart-topping 2013 third album Nothing Was the Same marked a new plateau for the rapper, but his Toronto stranglehold on the world stage has only tightened since. With the help of his longtime producer Noah “40” Shebib and manager Oliver El-Khatib, he founded OVO Sound in 2012, partnering with major label Warner Bros. for distribution. This created a cottage industry of acts including Majid Jordan, PARTYNEXTDOOR, and The Weeknd, the latter of which has gone to launch his own massively successful career. There’s also the annual OVO Sound Festival, a Beats 1 radio show, and Drake's own “Global Ambassador” position with the Toronto Raptors.

Lurking in the shadows of Drake’s omnipresent spotlight, though, is a flood of artists ready for their moment, ranging from hard-nosed grime to sweet R&B, all of which showcase the city’s multicultural diversity. While the infrastructure to support these rising acts is still catching up, here are 20 Toronto names you should get familiar with now, along with their best songs.

Birthday Boy & allie, “I Can’t Wait” (2015)

R&B artist Allie’s gorgeously soulful voice is a hot commodity in Toronto, and she’s been putting it to good collaborative use alongside producers like Elaquent, Da-P, and TOKiMONSTA. On “I Can’t Wait,” Allie teams up with fellow Toronto producer Birthday Boy for a simmering duet about the pursuit of romance, a track that’s comparable to contemporaries like Tinashe or Jhené Aiko.—ML - Pitchfork