"Toto"
Single by Drax Project
from the album Noon
Released13 August 2018 (2018-08-13)
GenrePop
Length3:09
LabelDrax Project, Universal Music New Zealand
Songwriter(s)
  • Benjamin Daniel Harold O'Leary
  • Matthew David Beveridge Beachen
  • Samuel Jacob Henry Thomson
  • Shaan Singh
Drax Project singles chronology
"Woke Up Late"
(2017)		 "Toto"
(2018)		 "Woke Up Late"
(2019)
Music video
"Toto" on YouTube

"Toto" is a song by New Zealand band Drax Project. Inspired by vocalist Shaan Singh quitting their full-time jobs to pursue music, "Toto" was released as the second single from the Noon EP in August 2018. The song was a commercial success, becoming platinum certified in New Zealand.

Background and composition

The song was written by the band the day after the band members quit their full-time jobs to pursue music.[1] While not directly inspired by the 1982 song "Africa" by Toto, the band references "Africa" in the song's lyrics, and wanted to recreate the same joyfulness present in "Africa".[1] The first stanza of the song's lyrics are a direct quote by vocalist Shaan Singh, who was describing his day to a friend.[2] The band performed the song live before deciding on a finished version of the song's lyrics. Due to a fan's strong response to the song, the band were convinced to leave the song as it was, and release the song on the Noon EP.[3]

Release

The song was first unveiled as a track on the Noon EP, which was released on 8 June 2018. A month later on 13 August, the song was announced as the band's next single.[4] "Toto" was later featured in the band's debut album Drax Project. A music video was produced for the song, a dance rehearsal video made in collaboration with Samsung, that does not feature members of the band.[5]

The single climbed the charts in October 2018,[6] and was certified platinum in 2019.[7]

Credits and personnel

Credits adapted from Tidal.[8]

  • Devin Abrams – producer
  • Matt Beachen – drums, songwriter
  • Simon Gooding – engineer
  • Stuart Hawkes – mastering engineer
  • Ben O'Leary – bass guitar, songwriter
  • Sam Thomson – bass (vocal), songwriter
  • Shaan Singh – vocals, songwriting

Charts

Certifications

Certifications and sales for "Toto"
Region CertificationCertified units/sales
New Zealand (RMNZ)[7] Platinum 30,000‡

‡ Sales+streaming figures based on certification alone.

References

  1. 1 2 Roth, Madeline (27 September 2019). "Drax Project Break Down Their Debut Album, From 'Woke Up Late' To 'Catching Feelings'". MTV. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  2. ↑ Mamo, Heran (27 September 2019). "Drax Project Underscores Laid-Back R&B Vibes & Electronic Flourishes on Self-Titled Debut Album: Listen". Billboard. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  3. ↑ Postema, Saskia (18 June 2019). "Drax Project". Euphoria. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  4. ↑ "Drax Project write about their risks in new single 'Toto'". MediaWorks Radio. 13 August 2018. Retrieved 21 August 2018.
  5. ↑ "Drax Project reveal to Stace and Flynny what it's been like opening for stars Ed Sheeran and Camila Cabello". The Hits. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 3 January 2023.
  6. ↑ "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  7. 1 2 "New Zealand single certifications". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  8. ↑ "Credits / Noon". Tidal. Retrieved 8 January 2023.
  9. ↑ "NZ Singles Chart". Recorded Music NZ. 19 October 2018. Retrieved 21 October 2018.
  10. ↑ "Official Top 20 NZ Singles: End of Year Charts 2018". Recorded Music NZ. Retrieved 1 February 2022.
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