"E-lec-tri-fying" Racines
3rd ALBUM The Sweet life experience
BIOGRAPHY
QUOTES
Music video "Shine your light"
TOGUNA @ Estival Jazz Lugano, 2014 (c) Sweetlight
With « The Sweet Life experience », 3rd album full of strong melodies, fresh & powerful sound, the rock pop reggae of Toguna should keep on riding some long waves rollin’ from Indian Ocean, where they’re from ;
Produced in their own studio in Reunion island, the award-winning band has collaborated with Brian Gardner in Los Angeles (Red hot, John mayer) and the result is probably their best album to date.
In september 2012, after touring in many countries (US, Japon, Australie, Europe..), the band started working on a new album;
This new album is the most achieved work of the band as they’ve been sitting together a full year to refine each of the tracks.
«It’s a great feeling to have a place to work deeper our music, taking the time to record & create with people you like, with no compromise, only music straight from the heart» Sîla says.
Sîla, songwriter, troubadour, slide guitarist as ben harper and ambassador of Surfrider foundation Indian Ocean, has composed these 12 inspired tracks on the road between California & Bali, sublimed by cool guitar riffs and subtle harmonies of his partners Kingsley & Daoud.
The result is a bit more rock than the other albums, but still with their fresh signature sound «we are artistically constantly in motion, each new album is the soundtrack of our life »
Inspired by all the nice people met, the beauty and spirits of nature, some great surf & skateboard places…"The sweet life experience" was born.
The band is bringing « The sweet life experience » to the stage this year and their sunshine vibes will hit the road again from Usa to Japan, Australia to Europe.
"The Sweet Life Experience is an album that can be stored next to Ben Harper, Jack Johnson and Patrice " Azenda
Contact: Booking Europe: Derives Productions, Aurélie Bigey prod@derivesproductions.com / togunamusic@gmail.com
"listen without moderation" (The Sweet Life Experience) FemmeMag
"an amazing revelation, a real surprise, their sound is absolutely unique"France 24
HIGHLIGHTS
Le Bikini (fr)
Osnabrück Festival (Germany)
Le Médiator (fr)
L'Alhambra (fr)
La Maroquinerie (fr)
Stéreolux (fr)
Rocher de Palmer (fr)
Rootsfest (Jersey Island)
Politburo Session (South Africa)
Madagascar Tour
Live at Fox News Tv (USA)
Live at France Inter "Fou du roi" (fr)
Live at J-wave radio (Tokyo)
SXSW (USA)
Francofolies de la Rochelle (fr)
Printemps de Bourges (fr)
Estival Jazz Lugano (ch)
Casino de Paris (fr)
Fiesta des Suds (fr)
Wake & jam festival (ch)
Teat Plein Air St Gilles (Run)
Nancy Jazz Pulsations (fr)
Sakifo festival (Reunion)
Awme Festival (Australia)
Japan Tour
Moshito Festival (South Africa)
(c) Sweetlight
"Reunion Island don't have his Ben Harper, or his Patrice..there have both in TOGUNA"Rap Mag
"Toguna is entering on international bands category; they're ready to explode" World Sound Magazine
TOGUNA is one of the biggest band from Indian Ocean. Originally formed in Reunion Island, the Award winning rock pop reggae band Toguna has a very personal style and universal at the same time.
Free spirits travelling the world, singer-songwriter Sila & his formers bandmates Daoud Latchoumane & Kingsley Dinnaram have created a signature sound, an uplifting music reflecting the laid-back island lifestyle and the surf/skateboard californian culture.
"Toguna flirts with Ben Harper and John Butler with its own strong personality. With this irresistible groove which characterizes them, the members of Toguna drew their musical environment, defined their artistic color, asserting a universe where the reggae dances with the rock, the soul and the funk. It's intense and powerful, musical rainbow which flies over the genres, the styles and fashions."Frankie Pfeiffer (Paris-Move, Blues Magazine Fr/Uk, Classic Rock UK)
Independently produced, the band released two albums : Sans Frontieres (2008) and In Colors (2011) , both licensed on the indie label Sakifo records/ Wagram in Europe and Metacompany ltd in Japan.
These albums led to some great awards & recognition from the public and the press : Best band of the year 2008 at Trophées des arts afrocaribéens in Paris, Best band of the year 2012 at Voix de l’Océan Indien, nominated as best reggae artist 2012 at Victoires du Reggae (French united press), reaching #1 spot on itunes reggae chart in France, although reggae is just a part of their influence.
The band knew an immediate success with their debut album on myspace involving a wide audience across the world (+55000 followers) without any label at that time.
Toguna have taken their music to the world, their powerful live show has been acclaimed in Europe, USA, Japan, Australia, South Africa; They have played in big festivals, SXSW (where the band was Fox News ‘s favourite), Francofolies de la Rochelle, Printemps de bourges, Fiesta des Suds, AWME, Nancy Jazz pulsations, Sakifo...and has been invited to share the stage by artists such as Xavier rudd, Patrice, Nneka, Asa, Tiken jah fakoly, Israel vibration and many more;
"Toguna is the best surprise of the SXSW festival 2012" Fox News Tv Usa
Official Trailer "TOGUNA live at Theatre St Gilles" (Dvd realease 2015)