DJ Tonka (born June 24, 1973 in Mainz, West Germany; real name Thomas-René Gerlach), is a German electronic music artist. He is also known as Tonka, Chip Tunes, and Thomastic.
In his early career, Thomas-René Gerlach worked with fellow producer Ian Pooley in the groups Outrage, Space Cube, and T'N'I. Together they produced several records in techno, progressive house and breakbeat. In 1996, the partnership was dissolved (an EP with unreleased tracks was still released in 1997), and coincidentally, both started producing a more mainstream-friendly sound.
As a solo artist, Gerlach took on the name DJ Tonka and began producing house music, with influences from synthpop and the American garage house scene. He achieved some notoriety as a remixer, reworking tunes such as "Trapped" for disco artist Colonel Abrams, "Love Shack" for The B-52's and "Push It" for Salt-N-Pepa.
Tonka cites Grandmaster Flash and Depeche Mode among his influences. He has also founded two record labels: Uplifting Records in 1997 and Vivienne Records in 2000.
DJ Tonka Singles & EPs
1995 Flashback (Force Inc. US)
1995 Flashback, Remixes (Outland Rec./NL)
1995 Got To Get Up (Force Inc. 100)
1995 Feel (Force Inc. US,Disco Magic/Italy,Airplay Rec./France)
1995 Feel, Remixes (Force Inc. US)
1995 Phun-ky (Force Inc. US,Skint/UK,Dance Net/Australia)
1996 Feel Phun-ky EP (Outland Rec./NL)
1996 Old Skool (F.Inc.US,Dance Net/Aus,Happy One/Danm,Pen Pot/Italy)
1996 Feel The Street vs Deskee (Force Inc. US)
1996 Feel The Street vs. Deskee, Remixes (Outland Rec./NL)
1996 Radical Noise, Remixes (Outland Rec./NL)
1996 Happiness (Force Inc. US)
1997 Old Skool - Joey Negro Rmx (Club Masters/UK)
1997 Old Skool - Fletch Remix (Happy One/Danm)
1997 The Night, Security (Upl,Warn/Ger,Ginger Music/Spain,Hitland/Italy,Airplane/France)
1998 She Knows You (Uplifting Rec./Warner)
1998 She Knows You, Birthday Edition (Uplifting Rec.)
2000 Don´t Be Afraid (Vivienne Rec., Warner/Ger., BlancoYNegro/Spain)
2000 Don´t Be Afraid, Nerio´s Dubwork Remix (Promo Only/Warner)
2002 J.O.E, Never! (Vivienne Rec.)
2002 Keep Klimbing (Vivienne Rec.)
2004 84 (Vivienne Rec. Warner)
2004 Get Back, PT1 (Vivienne Rec. Warner, BlancoYNegro/Spain)
2004 Get Back, PT2 (Vivienne Rec. Warner, BlancoYNegro/Spain)
2004 84 (Vivienne Rec.)
2008 Orca, Freeze (Munich Disco Tech Vol.1, Great Stuff Germany)
2008 Orca, Ian Pooley Rmx (Munich Disco Tech Vol.2, Great Stuff/Germany)
