In the world of electronic bass music, Tom Finster stands out as a uniquely introspective and innovative artist. Born in the twilight of the GDR, just before the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1988, Tom's early life was marked by the upheavals that followed the reunification of Germany. Growing up in a small village near the Czech border, surrounded by deep woods and creeks, these formative experiences of change and resilience deeply inform his music.
Aligned with peers like Imanu and The Caracal Project, Tom is at the forefront of a new era in drum & bass, one that blends the genre's traditional elements with modern left-field indie influences. His music, released under labels such as PILOT., NËU/NEOSIGNAL and DIVIDID continues to push the boundaries of electronic music, captivating listeners with its emotional depth and genre-defying soundscapes.
Before Tom started his solo project around his 30th birthday in 2018, he worked with a lot of other artists of the German Rap and Pop scene, including Casper, Kraftklub, Clueso and Deichkind. Currently based in Leipzig, Germany, he creates a sonic landscape that transcends traditional genres, combining elements of drum & bass, electronica, and ambient. His work often carries a nostalgic or melancholic vibe, with orchestral elements, piano, and his own vocals adding layers of depth.
His first album, ALL THINGS FALL APART (2018) already delivered this range of emotions, soundscapes and tempi. Released as individual singles and two-track offerings, tracks like „Phantom Power“, „On“, and "Element 115" showcased his ability to blend modern bass music with ambient soundscapes, setting the stage for his distinctive sound.
In 2020, Tom released the FROM HERE ON BLIND EP, a collection of songs that further cemented his artistic vision. Tracks such as "Eyes Closed" (with Echo Map) and "We're Friends, Right?" continued to explore his genre-blending style, with a melancholic yet clubby tone.
His full-length album, YEAR OF I (2022), delved into themes of change, introspection, and emotional cycles. Songs like „Last Year I Died“ “Night On Earth,“ and "Unbreakable" painted a picture of hopeful grief, inspired by the image of rain on glass. This was followed by YEAR OF I - REMIXES (2023), featuring reimagined versions of his tracks by artists like Abis, Saka and Vorso, adding new dimensions to his original work.
Tom's latest endeavor, the UNTIEFE EP (2024), marks a shift towards a more positive outlook. Featuring tracks like "The Hole" and "Soul," this EP explores themes of leaving old wounds behind, set against the backdrop of the coniferous forests of his childhood. The EP’s title, a German word with dual meanings of "shallow waters" and "immeasurable depth," reflects the EP's exploration of both light-heartedness and profound emotional depths. Tom's work also includes a range of remixes, such as Rohaan's "People of Eve" (2021), Camo & Krooked & Mefjus's "No Tomorrow" (2021), and Apashe's "Time Warp" (2022). These remixes demonstrate his ability to reinterpret and add his unique touch to the works of other artists.