MEINL ALL THE WAY FEATURING TEJI TOKO
Hailing from Arunachal Pradesh, Teji Toko began his drumming journey at the age of sixteen and has gone on to win many accolades since then. From bebop jazz to extreme death metal, Teji’s ability to tackle every genre in its most authentic way speaks leaps and bounds about his versatility. Regularly conducting workshops and jam spaces for the musicians in his locality he has built a community over the years. In 2016, he established a state-of-the-art audio and visual recording facility for the people of the North East. Teji now wishes to venture out to an international audience with his music.
Get to know Teji Toko and his journey with Meinl Cymbals as part of Meinl All The Way!
How Did You Get Introduced To Meinl Cymbals?
I found out about Meinl cymbals mainly through youtube videos watching my favourite drummers like Benny Greb, JP Bouvet, Matt Garstka, etc.
What Are The Qualities You Look For In Cymbals?
Articulation, versatility, and dynamics.
Tell Us About Your Current Meinl Cymbals Set Up? What Made You Choose Them?
My current Meinl cymbals setup:
16” Byzance dry medium-thin hats
18” Byzance extra dry thin crash
22” Byzance vintage pure ride.
I chose them because some of my favourite drummers play these but also because these cymbals are very versatile. I’m currently experimenting with the dry sounds these cymbals offer as I feel they bring out the organic ideas in my playing. These cymbals have influenced my playing in a big way.
Which Other Meinl Cymbals Would You Like To Own?
On my wishlist:
15” Dual hats
14” Byzance jazz thin hi-hats
14” Byzance medium hi-hats
22” Byzance monophonic ride
21” Byzance Serpents ride.
Can You Name A Few Meinl Artists You Love?
JP Bouvet.
Matt Garstka.
Benny Greb.
Richard Spaven.
Anup Sastry.
Dan Mayo.
Jai Row Kavi.
Gino Banks.
Do You Have To Take Any Special Care Of Your Cymbals?
Not really I store them in a bag and take them out whenever I play. I hardly need to clean.
What Makes Meinl Cymbals Special?
A versatile range of cymbals catering to different kinds of players and genres of music – rock, pop, metal, and jazz is what makes Meinl special.
Have The Sound Engineers At Your Live Performances And Studio Sessions Ever Noticed Your Cymbals And Had A Discussion With You About Them?
Yes, the sound engineers at live events always compliment how controlled, washy, and full they sound. And that they hardly need to do anything with it. The natural frequencies of the cymbals themselves sound mixed and controlled.
With The Emergence Of Rehearsal Spaces With Just One Drum Kit And Cymbal Set-Up, Which Meinl Cymbals Would You Recommend To Satisfy Drummers From Different Genres Of Music?
Meinl Byzance traditional series. It is versatile and crisp. And if you are on a budget then the BCS series will do.
Do You Have A Memorable Moment From A Performance With Your Meinl Cymbals?
Orange fest 2018. I played for 7 different artists and bands. From Metal to Indie to Latin music. My 16” extra dry hats blended perfectly with all of them which is impressive.
Do You Feel At Times Your Cymbals Pushes You To Play Better?
My cymbals definitely push me to play better. It's a constant discovery, allowing me to hear myself clearly and articulate my ideas helping me develop my sound.
How Would You Describe Meinl Cymbals To Someone Who Has Never Played Them Before?
Very organic sounding cymbals which not only sound good but also feel good.
If You Could Only Choose Three Meinl Cymbals To Perform With Live And In The Studio, Which Ones Would You Choose?
16” Byzance dry medium-thin hats
18” Byzance extra dry thin crash
22” Byzance vintage pure ride.
Which Is Your Favourite Accessory From Meinl Cymbals?
I would like to try the ching rings.
To get to know more about Teji Toko, check out his Facebook, Instagram, and YouTube.
