T.O.Y. is a German Futurepop/Synthpop band. The project was formerly known as Evils Toy, which was closer to electro-industrial in sound.
Evils Toy started out in 1992 as the project of Volker Lutz and Thorsten Brenda. They duly prepared a demo tape which secured their signature to the Hypnobeat label, who released their debut album Human Refuse in 1994. Their combination of distorted vocals and EBM rhythms with occasional touches of melody proved relatively successful, though their real breakthrough came two years later with their "Organics" single, which received significant airplay on both sides of the Atlantic.
The Illusion album in 1997 was the last by this act that might accurately be defined as "industrial". Even then, there were signs that the band's style was moving towards synthpop, with the Angels Only! album the following year moving away from distorted vocals. This was the first Evils Toy recording to feature Oliver Taranczewski, as well as the last recorded with Thorsten Brenda. For background vocals and live keyboards Volker brought in his long-time girlfriend. She appears in the videos for "Virtual State" and "Dream With Me". Silvertears in 2000 was the last release under the name Evils Toy. The project was known as "T.O.Y." thereafter.
Soon after renaming themselves, the re-formed band released their first album: Space Radio, which defined a fresh and revitalized style. Their second album under the name, White Lights, was diverse and followed a similar line that was familiar to listeners of the previous album.
The band have produced many remixes for other bands like Apoptygma Berzerk, In Strict Confidence, De/Vision and !Bang Elektronika. Volker has also undertaken many album productions in his SonicStage Recording Studios. He has worked with bands like And One, L'Âme Immortelle, Funker Vogt and Pulcher Femina.
In 2004 Volker made a song for the German radio play The three investigators-Song contest. Also in 2004, the computer game giant Konami used a special song done by T.O.Y. on the new PS2 & Xbox release: Dance Dance Revolution Ultramix 2. The track was a remix of the popular DDR and Beatmania IIDX song "i feel..." by famous game music composer, Akira Yamaoka. Bands like Neuropa, Echo Image, Alien#Six13 and Midihead also contributed to the soundtrack.
In 2005 Oliver released an album under the name Yavin 4 in the US. An album sounding more like the older Evils Toy releases mixed with modern dance and drum & bass elements. Also he produced the Cruciform Injection album Aftermath that was released in 2006
After split-up rumours concerning the future of T.O.Y. they are, in fact, working on new songs. All such songs are more or less raw demos, some with vocals, some without, but represent the kind of music fans expect to hear on the next T.O.Y. release.
In May 2009 Taranczewski left the band for good. Volker said he would finish the album, entitled PAIN IS LOVE, on his own.
After Taranczewski's departure, Markus Helmert and Christian "Léo" Leonhardt joined Volker, playing keyboards and drums, respectively.
In September 2014, Helmert had to quit the band due to health reasons. About the same time, Taranczewski re-joined the band as a keyboardist, while Leonhardt was replaced by Marc A. Nathaniel on drums. Together the new/old lineup will finish the upcoming album Pain is Love as well playing live gigs.
Volker Lutz (vocals, arrangements, programming, producer).
Oliver Taranczewski (lyrics, keyboards)
Marc A. Nathaniel (drums).
Thorsten Brenda (keyboards).
Cordula K. (vocals, keyboards).
Christian "Léo" Leonhardt (drums).
Markus Helmert (keyboards).
Human Refuse – (CD Album) 1993 – Hypnobeat • (CD) 1995 – Metropolis • (CD Reissue) 2001 – Sonicstage
Dear God (Remix) – (CD Maxi) 1994 – Hypnobeat
Morbid Mind – (CD Album) 1994 – Hypnobeat • (CD) 1996 – Metropolis
Organics – (CD Maxi) 1995 – Hypnobeat
The Old Race – (CD Maxi, Ltd. Edition) 1996 – Hypnobeat
XTC Implant – (CD Album) 1996 – Hypnobeat, Metropolis
Evils Toy Box – (CD Album, Ltd. Edition, Metal Box) 1997 – Hypnobeat
Illusion – (CD Album) 1997 – Metropolis, Eraser
Angels Only! – (CD Album) 1998 – Metropolis, Eraser
Transparent Frequencies – (CD Maxi w/ multimedia video) 1998 – Eraser
Silvertears – (CD Album) 2000 – E-Wave Records
Virtual State – (CD Maxi) 2000 – E-Wave Records
Evilution: The Best of Evils Toy – (CD Enhanced) 2002 – Sonicstage
Body Rapture Vol. 3 – (CD) 1994, Track #9 "Make Up" – Zoth Ommog
We Came to Dance Vol. V – (CD) 1994, Track #14 "Third World War" – Sub Terranean
Diva Performance 10th Anniversary – (CD) 1995, Track #4 "Sacred (Diva Mix '95)" – Cinemanyx
Hypnobeats – (CD) 1995, Track #5 "Make Up" – Hypnobeat
Moonraker Vol. II – (2xCD) 1995, Disc #1, Track #14 "Make Up" – Sub Terranean
There Is No Time – (4xCD) 1995, Disc #4, Track #13 "Dear God" – Ras Dva Records
We Came to Dance – Indie Dancefloor Vol. VII – (CD) 1995, Track #5 "Dear God" – Sub Terranean
Belle Epoque – Romantic Wave Episodes – (CD) 1996, Track #15 "Lonely" – Sub Terranean
Hypnobeats 2 – (CD) 1996, Track #1 "Organics" – Hypnobeat
Sound-Line Vol. 4 – (CD) 1996, Track #5 "Home" – Side-Line
The Digital Space Between Vol. 3 – (CD) 1996, Track #11 "Dear God (X-Marks The Pedwalk Remix)" – Cleopatra
The Gothic Compilation Part 5 – (CD) 1996, Track #5 "Home" – Gothic Records (Germany)
Alternative – (CD Promo) 1997, Track #7 "Prevision" – Nova Tekk
German Mystic Sound Sampler Volume VI – (CD) 1997, Track #10 "The Old Race"
Moonraker Vol. 3 – (2xCD) 1997, Disc #1, Track #4 "Dizzy Divination" – Sub Terranean
Virtual X-mas 97 – (CD Mini) 1997, Track #5 "Virtual X-mas 97" – Energy Records
We Came to Dance – Indie Dancefloor Vol. 10 – (2xCD) 1997, Disc #2, Track #9 "Organics" – Sub Terranean
Best of Electronic Music – (2xCD, Ltd. Edition) 1998, Disc #1, Track #11 "Transparent Frequencies" – TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH • (CD) 1998, Track #11 "Transparent Frequencies" – TCM Musikproduktionsgesellschaft mbH
Cyberl@b – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #7 "Lucifer's Garden" – Nuclear Blast
Deejay Tribe – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #11 "Transparent Frequencies" – Credo
Electrocity Level X – (CD) 1998, Track #8 "Lucifer's Garden" – Ausfahrt
Electropolis: Volume 1 – (CD) 1998, Track #12 "Organics (Slow Motion Mix)" – Metropolis
Hypnotic & Hypersonic – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #3 "Organics (Remix)" – Hyperium Records
Innovation Eins – (CD, Ltd. Edition metal case) 1998, Track #6 "Motionless" – Credo, Nova Tekk • (CD) 1998, Track #6 "Motionless" – Credo, Nova Tekk
Moonraker Vol. IV – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #2 "Co-Existence" – Sub Terranean
Sauna – Våren 1998 – (CD) 1998, Track #2 "Motionless" – Sauna Magazine
Sender Rio Presents Rock and Wave – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #1, Track #1 "Fallen Angel" – Credo
Stage 1 – (CD) 1998, Track #1 "Co-Existence" – Schwarzrock
We Came to Dance – Indie Dancefloor Vol. 11 – (2xCD) 1998, Disc #2, Track #4 "Lucifers Garden (Remix)" – Sub Terranean
We Came To Watch Part 1 – (VHS) 1998, Video #5 "Co-Existence" – Credo
Body Rapture 7 – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #3 "In Silence (Album Mix)" – Zoth Ommog
Body Rapture 8 – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #5 "Co-Existence" – Zoth Ommog
Cover Classics Volume One – (CD) 1999, "In The Army Now" – VISION Records
Deejay Tribe 2 – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #6 "Angels Only! – Beyond" – Credo
Electro Club Attack – Shot One – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #1, Track #11 "Angles Only! > Beyond" – XXC
Electro Club Attack – Shot Two – (2xCD) 1999, Disc #2, Track #6 "Lucifer's Garden (Remix)" – XXC, Zoomshot Media Entertainment
Electro Mania – (CD) 1999, Track #5 "Mad Modern Dream" – Zoth Ommog
Memobeat – An Electro Industrial Compilation – (CD) 1999, "Transparent Frequencies" – Memento Materia
The Electronic Challenge Vol. 3 – (CD) 1999, Track #6 "Transparent Frequencies (Klupp Miks)" – COP international
Gothic Compilation Part XI – (CD) 2000, Track #5 "Rainbow vs. Stars" – Betbeliever Releases
Electro Club Attack – The Classix I – (2xCD) 2001, Disc #1, Track #3 "Make Up" – XXC
DJ Revelation 01 (Compiled By L'âme Immortelle) – (CD Mixed) 2003, Track #8 "Make Up" – Angelstar
Tonedeaf Records Presents: Vinyl Conflict No. 1 – (CD) 2003, Track #2 "Space Radio" – ToneDeaf Records
Synth & Wave Essentials – (DVD) 2005, Track #19 "Virtual State" – ZYX Music
Space Radio – (CD Album) 2001 – E-Wave Records, XIII BIS Records • (CD Album) 2004 – Art Music Group
Fairytale – (CD) 2003 – A Different Drum
White Lights – (CD) 2003 – A Different Drum
White Lights (Fan Edition) – (2xCD) 2003 – E-Wave Records
Club Bizarre 2 – (2xCD) 2001, Disc #1, Track #8 "Welcome to Spaceradio" – Angelstar
Strange Love 5 – (CD) 2001, Track #1 "Strange Modern Art" – Orkus
Advanced Electronics – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #6 "Loner (Remix)" – Synthetic Symphony
Dark Decryption – The Electro Remix Selection Vol. 02 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #14 "Dream With Me (Massiv In Mensch Remix)" – XXC
Synth & Wave Essentials – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #2, Track #4 "We Are Electric" – ZYX Music
Zillo Dark Summer – Best of Goth Open Airs 2002 – (2xCD) 2002, Disc #1, Track #7 "Dream With Me (Fairlage Mix)" – Zillo
Gothic Compilation Part XX – (CD) 2003, Track #10, "Long Distance Ride" – Batbeliever Releases
Orkus Compilation VII – (CD Sampler, Enhanced) 2003, Track #3 "Long Distance Ride" – Orkus
Sonic Seducer Cold Hands Seduction Vol. 28 – (CD Sampler) 2003, Track #1 "Long Distance Ride" – Sonic Seducer
Stromschlag Volume 1 – (CD) 2003, Track #7 "Dream With Me (Massiv In Mensch-Remix)" – Electro Shock Records
Listen to the Future – (CD) 2004, Track #2 "Color Matching" – A Different Drum
Synthpop Club Anthems 3 – (CD) 2004, Track #6 "Another Lovesong (Trance Mix By Massiv In Mensch)" – A Different Drum
The Collector's Set of Dark Electronic – (3xCD) 2004 Disc #3 Tracks #1-#14 – E-Wave Records
Synth & Wave Essentials Vol. 2 – (2xCD) 2005, Disc #1, Track #2 "Do Dreams Bleed (Memphis Mix)" – ZYX Music
DDR Festival & Dance Dance Revolution Strike Original Soundtrack – (2xCD Partially Mixed) 2006, Disc #1, Track #42 "I Feel... (T.O.Y. Remix)" – Toshiba EMI Ltd
