Queer artist Toño goes all out with ‘Wreck It Ralph’ remix EP
Portland’s premiere Hyperpop Rapper Toño is back at it again with his “Wreck It Ralph” Remix EP!
“After a year of various singles, and a killer RETURN of a certain HallowEP, it was time to cap off the year with a special treat for the listeners” says Toño on his latest release.
The eccentric rapper and singer from the City of Roses: Toño. From the dark pop and R&B inspired 2018 release of his first EP “Tart”, to his 90s R&B and Electro PopRap sophomore project “Distractions”, Toño has broke through the Portland rap community with his unique and ever morphing sound. Light buzz singles such as “Sometimes”, “Sign”, and hyperpop newcomer “See Me Again!” cement Toño as an up and coming artist in the queer music scene. Back in 2021,Toño dropped his EP “HallowEP RETURNS” with features from Bryce Quartz, Yuck, Hi Yello, and production from MRTN, a true Halloween serve worth every listen!
At the end of 2021, Toño topped off his year with the Wreck It Ralph remix EP. Toño really went all out on this remix EP of his hit single “Wreck It Ralph.” He serves us several instrumental remakes of the original, as well as features from our very own cubby rapper Bryce Quartz and hunterdrips. The EP also features production from Rabbit Rabbit, Yuck, and MRTN.
Each remix takes us on a different journey, delivering new verses and production that are a must listen. If you liked the original, you will fall in LOVE with all of these remixes! Check out one of them below.
I had the chance to catch up with Toño himself about the entire project and more, check out our conversation below!
Bryce Quartz: What inspired you to make this remix project?
Toño: I’m a person that loves collaboration with my music. My last EP had 5 different producers that I brought together to create “HallowEP RETURNS”, and I had a great time essentially directing the… direction of the project. I wanted to do that again but give even more creative freedom to those involved, thus the “Wreck It Ralph” remix EP was born.
BQ: What was your favorite part about making this project?
T: Definitely getting to work on the CUB/DRIP MIX. Bryce got to turn the song into a jam that’s actually about wanting to fuck Wreck It Ralph, AND I got to forcibly yassify my best friend and podcast co-host Hunterdrips (of banes.co) for the track! I’m so here for the hyperpopification of my friends.
BQ: Where did you originally record this song, and what are the vibes like in the studio with you?
T: I’m a crafty lil’ bitch with a crafty lil’ studio in my room. It’s where I record all my songs so I try to keep it pretty chill! My most ideal vibe is when the space is clean, the stuffed animals are out to soak up more sound, and I’m not wearing pants. If you haven’t recorded music in your underwear I’d recommend it 100%.
BQ: What keeps you motivated?
T: SPITE. For real. I started rapping out of spite because some “friends” said I couldn’t do it. I made pursuing music my ultimate goal out of spite after some of my family told me I needed a plan B to fall back on. I keep creating music in spite of the end of the world being in our line of sight. It’s my ultimate fuel. That and intense emotions, because I am a Cancer after all.
BQ: What can we expect next from you?
T: AN ALBUM…. Eventually. And a lot of features. I can’t say too much, I gotta keep the gays guessing!
BQ: What other artists are you listening to right now?
T: Charli XCX and SOPHIE are always in my recently played, especially with the one year mark of SOPHIE’s passing is right around the corner. Right now, I’m also listening to a lot of Caroline Polachek, Payday, Tkay Maidza, Cashmere Cat, AG Cook, and Remi Wolf!
BQ: What made you want to release your first remix EP for this song in particular?
T: It started after Martin Giz (MRTN), a producer from Germany, DM’d me on Instagram and asked if he could do a remix of the song. Of course I said yes! I didn’t plan on going farther than that until I started to ask some more of my friends if they wanted to hop in on the project with me. I almost abandoned it until hunterdrips, or Hunter of Banes Co, randomly sent me a voice memo of them singing background vocals to the song. I couldn’t get it out of my head! I knew almost immediately that Bryce Quartz would be the final piece of the puzzle for the last remix I needed.
BQ: What is “Wreck It Ralph” about?
T: “Wreck It Ralph” is a song about video games! Not about wanting to fuck Wreck It Ralph (that’s the CUB/DRIP MIX). During the early days of the panini, I started play a lot more of them again to pass the time. Namely, a lot of Megaman Battle Network and Super Smash Bros. This is for the hotties who choose Megaman in Smash!!!
BQ: Who else do you main in Smash?
T: Besides Megaman, I usually go for Pikachu, PAC-MAN, Kirby, and Duck Hunt. And of course I’m always a whore for Bowser.
BQ: Are you as good at Smash as the song suggests?
T: I wish! I know what I’m doing but I’m never the one to win a match. I usually come in second. Megaman Battle Network and Pokemon, however… I slay.
BQ: Is there a music video in the works for the song?
T: Get the OG and CUB/DRIP MIX to 1K streams on Spotify and then we’ll talk.
BQ: Any other fun facts about the song?
T: The vocal samples that you hear in the background of the track (you can hear them most clearly at the end of the original) are definitely NOT extremely chopped up and pitched Britney Spears vocals that my producer Julian (Wintermoot) put in.
BQ: Thanks for taking the time to catch up with us, Toño!
