Tonka
Real Name:
Thomas René Gerlach
Profile:
Once together with his schoolmate Ian Pooley branded as 'Wunderkind' of German techno, Tonka has become THE disco house producer of the German musicscene. While being commercially succesfull, Tonka managed to hold onto a unique style always identifying him as fan of oldskool breakbeats and early Italian disco tracks. His classic sets at partys in his hometown Mainz are legendary among clubgoers. Lately, he has dropped 'DJ' from his producer alias so one would usually read only 'Tonka' on his newer releases.
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Aliases:
Variations:
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Discography
| Releases: | ||||
| Heartjumpa (Maxi) ◄ (3 versions) | Deep Culture ... | 2001 | ||
| Never! / J.O.E. (Jungle Of Emotion) ◄ (2 versions) | Vivienne | 2001 | ||
| Keep Klimbing (12") | Vivienne | 2002 | ||
| Get Back (Maxi) ◄ (5 versions) | Deep Culture ... | 2003 | ||
| 84 (Album) ◄ (2 versions) | WEA Records (Germany) ... | 2004 | ||
| 84 (My Beginning) (12") | Vivienne | 2004 | ||
| All Over Again (12") | Disco Inc. | 2005 | ||
| Drop Box E.P. (12", EP) | Alphabet City | 2008 | ||
| Ready For War E.P. (12", EP) | Southern Fried Records | 2009 | ||
| Remixes: | ||||
| All I Do (Part 2) (12") | All I Do (Tonka's Clas... | Defected | 2001 | |
| Club Sounds Vol. 17 (2xCD, Comp) | All I Do (Tonka's Clas... | Polystar Records | 2001 | |
| Dance Loop (2xCD, Comp) | Kalimba De Luna (Tonka... | WEA International Inc. | 2001 | |
| I'm Rushing (2x12", Promo) | I'm Rushing (Tonka's B... | Fuel Records | 2001 | |
| Isle Of MTV (2xCD, Mixed) | Show Me Love (Tonka's ... | BMG | 2002 | |
| L'Alizé (Tonka Remixes) (12") | Zeitgeist | 2002 | ||
| Luv 4 Luv (2002 Remixes) (Maxi, EP) ◄ (9 versions) | Luv 4 Luv (Tonka's 200... | Stereophonic ... | 2002 | |
| Show Me Love (2002 Remixes) (Maxi, Single) ◄ (13 versions) | Show Me Love (Tonka's ... | Stereophonic ... | 2002 | |
| Straight Up! (CD, Maxi) | Straight Up! (Tonka Re... | King Kong Records | 2002 | |
| The Punisher Straight Up! (Straight Ahead) (CD, Maxi) | Straight Up! (Straight... | Wea | 2002 | |
| Trapped (Next Level) (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions) | Trapped (Next Level) (... | Club Culture ... | 2002 | |
| Grandmix 2002 (3xCD, Comp, Mixed) | Show Me Love 2002 (Ton... | Sony Music Media | 2003 | |
| Trance To Dance Vol. 1 (2xCD) | Luv 4 Luv (Tonka's 200... | MP1 | 2003 | |
| Yorin FM Dance Experience 2002 (2xCD, Comp + CD, Comp, Mixed) | Show Me Love (Tonka's ... | Sony Music Media | 2003 | |
| Club Sounds Vol. 30 (2xCD, Comp) | Heaven (Tonka's High P... | Sony Music Media | 2004 | |
| Heaven (12") | Heaven (Tonka's High P... | Independance Records, Universal Licensing Music (ULM) | 2004 | |
| Playhouse 07 (2xCD, Comp) | Heaven (Tonka's High P... | MORE Music | 2004 | |
| The Annual 2005 (CD + CD + DVD) | Heaven (Tonka's High P... | 2 Dance | 2005 | |
| Celtic Cross (12") | Celtic Cross (T'n'I Re... | Pooledmusic | 2006 | |
| Dance I Said (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions) | Dance I Said (Tonka To... | Subliminal ... | 2006 | |
| Firstclass - Best Of 2006 - Vol. 2 (2xCD, Comp) | Make Luv (Tonka Radio ... | Polystar Records | 2006 | |
| Lift 2 (2xCD) | Celtic Cross (T'n'l Re... | ThriveDance | 2006 | |
| Fred Deakin Presents: The Triptych (Comp) ◄ (2 versions) | Funk Music (Tonka Remix) | Family Recordings (UK) | 2007 | |
| Beach Angel III (3xCD, Comp) | Heaven (Tonka's High P... | Fierce Angel Records | 2008 | |
| 5 Years Of Great Stuff (CD, Comp, Mixed + CD, Comp) | Lust (Tonka Remix) | Great Stuff Recordings | 2009 | |
| Reader (12") | Reader (Tonka Remix) | Pooledmusic | 2009 | |
| Nice Traxx Volume 1 (12") | Show Me Love (Tonka Mix) | Not On Label | ||
| Appears On: | ||||
| All I Do (Maxi) ◄ (2 versions) | All I Do (Tonka's Clas... | Defected | 2001 | |
| I'm Rushing (12") | I'm Rushing (Tonka's B... | Fuel Records | 2001 | |
| Kalimba De Luna (CD, Maxi) | Kalimba De Luna (Tonka... | Deep Culture | 2001 | |
| Club Sounds Vol. 21 (2xCD, Comp) | Heartjumpa (Short Cut) | Polystar Records | 2002 | |
| Show Me Love (CD, Album) | Show Me Love (Tonka's ... | Stereophonic | 2002 | |
| Straight Up! (Remixes) (12") | Straight Up! (Tonka Mix) | King Kong Records, Deep Culture | 2002 | |
| Make Luv (The 2005 Mixes) (CD, Maxi, Copy Prot.) | Make Luv (Tonka Radio ... | Blow Up | 2005 | |
| Dance I Said (Record 2) (12") | Dance I Said (Tonka To... | Subliminal | 2006 | |
| Elektro Bass 2008.2 (2xCD, Comp) | Orca | More Music | 2008 | |
| Hot & Spicy (12") | Hot & Spicy (Tonka Remix) | Long Distance Recordings | 2008 | |
| Tracks Appear On: | ||||
| One Year Of Culture - Deep Culture & Club Culture (2xCD, Promo) | Don't Be Afraid (Extra... | Club Culture, Deep Culture | 2000 | |
| Club Sounds Vol. 21 (2xCD, Comp) | Heartjumpa (Short Cut) | Polystar Records | 2002 | |
| Club Sounds Vol. 23 (2xCD, Comp, Copy Prot.) | Never | Polystar Records | 2002 | |
| Firstclass - The Finest In House Volume IV (2xCD, Comp) | Never, The Night | Polystar Records | 2002 | |
| Independance Techno (2xCD, Comp) | Keep Klimbing | Independance Records | 2002 | |
| Nature One 2002 - Summer Sound System (2xCD) | Never! | Warner Special Marketing GmbH | 2002 | |
| The Disco Boys - Volume 2 (2xCD, Comp, Mixed) | Never | Warner Strategic Marketing | 2002 | |
| Club Hits Vol.10 (CD, Comp + CD, Comp, Mixed) | 84 (My Beginning) | New Yorker Music & Media | 2004 | |
| Bolero Mix 22 (2xCD, Comp) | Get Back | Blanco Y Negro (2) | 2005 | |
| Multi Mega Mix 2.1 (CD, Comp, P/Mixed) | Get Back, Get Back (Cl... | Blanco Y Negro (2) | 2005 | |
| DJ Selection 207: Elektro Beat Shock 20 (CD, Comp) | Orca | Do It Yourself Entertainment Strategic Marketing | 2008 | |
| Elektro Bass 2008.2 (2xCD, Comp) | Orca | More Music | 2008 | |
| Minimal Terminal (CD, Comp, Mixed) | Freeze | Oxa | 2008 | |
| Munich Disco Tech Volume 1 (12") | Orca, Freeze | Great Stuff Recordings | 2008 | |
| Munich Disco Tech Volume 1 (7xFile, MP3, 320) | Orca, Freeze, Orca (Dub) | Great Stuff Recordings | 2008 | |
| Munich Disco Tech Volume 2 ◄ (2 versions) | Orca (Ian Pooley's Orc... | Great Stuff Recordings | 2008 | |
| Rainer Weichhold's Secret Weapons (30xFile, MP3, Comp, 320) | Freeze | Great Stuff Recordings | 2008 | |
| Sólid Sounds 2008.3 (3xCD, Comp) | Orca | La Musique Fait La Force | 2008 | |
▸ show all 3 reviews
Reviews & Discussion
His tracks may be called too commercial, or all the same - but they just work. Tonka has got a simple recipe that is unique - the pianos make you feel good, the bass kicks (at least on releases until 2000, later on getting softer), the bassline grooves, the melodies are catchy. This is happiness in a tin can. Open it and feel good.