Swallowed Teeth and All-Caps Tweets: Tommy Kruise is of a Rare Breed

Only Tommy Kruise could utilize a tree trunk as a majestic throne.

Relaxing on what most would consider to be an uncomfortably lumpy log, minutes after his vibrant performance at Time Festival in Toronto, the French Canadian producer and DJ recalls one of his more defining moments.

"I swallowed my tooth that night," he says, referring to his Just Rap tour back in May with fellow Canadian Ryan Hemsworth. There's not a hint of distress in his voice. "We were like drunk and shit, and I go to sleep in my managers office, and I wake up, and I ain't got no tooth," he chuckles. "So I flip the entire room, I was looking everywhere, but I never found the tooth. That's when it caught up with me. I was like, 'oh, I swallowed the thing.'"

Twisting a traumatic experience into an entertaining tale, it's clear Kruise has a knack for entertainment. He's famous for an all-caps approach to Twitter, which sometimes misleads his followers into wrongful interpretations of his posts. "I really just write all caps," laughs Kruise. "When I'm getting deep and it's all caps, people think I'm mad, but I'm just very neutral."

While other DJs use their social media accounts for shameless self promotion, Kruise uses these digital tools to express meaningful ideas, like his many grievances with the electronic music industry. "Nobody's humble, everybody's thirsty for a status or financial security," he explains. "I would never say any names, I'm not like that, I'm not here to judge anyone. It's more the circus — the Vegas shit, the LA shit. They've got some crazy shit going on!"

Raised by a Pink Floyd and Genesis-loving family in Montreal, Kruise has a different perception of the music scene here in Canada. "I feel like in Canada, it's different. We get inspired by this whole scene. Everyone has such different vibes," he says. His own unique approach to crafting infectious DJ sets is exemplary of Canada's complex musical mosaic.

"I really fuck with anything," says Kruise, a fan of both techno and pop rock. "It shouldn't be just one thing and one pattern and one sequence and one type of party. I think it's up to the artist to teach people instead of just giving them what they exactly want. I like giving them what they want, but with my touch."

Kruise name drops outside-the-box producers such as Lunice, Tokimonsta, Baauer, RL Grime and Skrillex as sources of inspiration. He also considers his hometown to have impacted his eclectic sound. "I think Montreal is a city that's very open," he says. "It's a city that never sleeps. It's a city where there's a concentration of immigrants, so you can get a bit of everything. Every neighbourhood has its own vibe."

Yet, Kruise, who so kindly reminded his audience to stay hydrated during his Time Festival performance, realizes that there is more to DJing than mere sound composition. "A good DJ is someone who is able to connect with people," he clarifies. "A bad DJ is someone who has an idea of how to connect with people, but is not even able to look them in their eyes."

Kruise seems to have no difficulties bonding with others. His charismatic personality has resulted in an impressive ensemble of renowned musicians he calls his homies. The list, which ranges from Ryan Hemsworth to Lil' B, also includes A$AP Yams, the widely adored co-founder of the A$AP Mob, who died from an alleged drug overdose in early January.

"Fuck, I miss him," Kruise says with a sigh. "[His death] used to make me cry like crazy, but now it just makes me happy because I think about all the good memories and I thank him just for living." It's been well over six months since Yams' passing, but Kruise continues to find new and interesting ways to honour his old companion. "He's my wallpaper on my phone, so I see him everyday," he adds. "I open my phone I'm like, 'hey hey.' It's a picture of him smiling."

Kruise's passion for Yams' memory reveals his more loveable and cozy side, one that's hidden beneath an oversized jersey and unruly hair. "I love people," he says. He even claims that he'd probably be working with misguided youth had he not decided to focus on music. "I really appreciate kids, they're cool and they all have potential, but a lot of them are trouble."

Though, Kruise is quick to admit that he too was a wild child. As if that wasn't obvious. "The teenage years, I was reckless," he remembers. "I went through a lot of lies and stuff just to make money. I was being stupid."

With his candid and authentic approach to not only electronic music, but also life, Tommy Kruise is of a rare breed.

From his enchanting, all-caps mode of storytelling to his recently-repaired contagious toothless grin, every aspect of the producer's slightly chaotic world is both endearing and intriguing. But what's most striking about Kruise, who is joining illustrious DJs like Kaskade, Dillon Francis, and Odesza aboard the dance music hot spot Holy Ship! cruise in January, is his humbleness.

"I just need a great place to live, some good friends and the ability to travel. What I really wanna do is wake up in the morning and be happy."

Tommy Kruise is on Facebook // Twitter // SoundCloud

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