Toko and Erik Santos met in Tokyo in 2002. At that time, Santos was in Japan as resident composer for the butoh troupe Dairakudakan, led by Akaji Maro. The two immediately bonded, though they spent the next three years maintaining a long distance relationship. Their first song together, "I Wonder Why", was actually a "callaboration" (collaboration over the phone). When Toko moved to the United States in 2005 to study photography in Ann Arbor, Michigan, the couple immediately began to work on their first record.
Often, the main melodies and lyrics are created and sung by Toko, and all other music is arranged, performed and produced by Erik. But the duo has also collaborated with several talented friends of theirs. For example, "Golden Eye" was co-written with Erik's high school buddy Brent Lewis, who also sings the main vocal. The blazing freestyle rap on the end of "Floating Soldier" was written and performed by a former staple of the Ypsilanti music scene, Satchel Jones. "Cocoon" began as a collaboration with drummer Ben Lorenz, another familiar face among Ypsi musicians. The couple has also collaborated with two Japanese writers that they met over the internet, Shintaro and Kenshiro. The lyrics for "Ashita ~ Tomorrow Ride" and "Somethin' Eternal" were written by Shintaro to fit some of Toko's melodies. The lyrics for "Me" were inspired by and written for Toko by Kenshiro.
October Babies first album is called Ao-zora Radio (Blue-sky Radio),
after Toko's monthly podcast of the same name. Since its release in Oct 2007, Erik and Toko have added two new members to October Babies:drummer Ben Lorenz, and guitar/vocalist Dale King. As a quartet, October Babies are now developing new material for their second album. The group is currently planning a brief tour of Japan (Tokyo & Osaka) in July. Stay tuned for the tour schedule!
Often, the main melodies and lyrics are created and sung by Toko, and all other music is arranged, performed and produced by Erik. But the duo has also collaborated with several talented friends of theirs. For example, "Golden Eye" was co-written with Erik's high school buddy Brent Lewis, who also sings the main vocal. The blazing freestyle rap on the end of "Floating Soldier" was written and performed by a former staple of the Ypsilanti music scene, Satchel Jones. "Cocoon" began as a collaboration with drummer Ben Lorenz, another familiar face among Ypsi musicians. The couple has also collaborated with two Japanese writers that they met over the internet, Shintaro and Kenshiro. The lyrics for "Ashita ~ Tomorrow Ride" and "Somethin' Eternal" were written by Shintaro to fit some of Toko's melodies. The lyrics for "Me" were inspired by and written for Toko by Kenshiro.
October Babies first album is called Ao-zora Radio (Blue-sky Radio),
after