To quote BBC6 Music's Tom Robinson, Toby Corton is a 'charismatic queer cockney creative' currently based in East London. His music has been described by Earmilk as “British soul, held together by a modern indie overtone”. As an artist and founder of Sounds Queer, a platform for queer live music, his work has led to being labelled a ‘queer community leader’ by Brick Lane Jazz Festival, DJ sets at the likes of Body Movements and Glastonbury, as well as programming and hosting the new music stage at Mighty Hoopla. 

 

His creative collaborations include the likes of RuPaul's Drag Race UK Queens Bimini and Black Peppa, as well as London Trans Pride Founder Lucia Blayke, David Mrakpor of Blue Lab Beats and one of London’s hottest new soulstresses Sophie Faith.

 

Toby’s supporters include the likes of COLORS, Dazed, Wonderland, Notion and The Independent, as well as BBC 6Music’, BBC Introducing, The Roundhouse and major pride festivals in London and Birmingham. 

 

Last year Toby released his debut EP, ‘Don’t Blame Me’ on Think Twice Records, celebrating the release at 91 Living Room, with his 10-piece band.

 

For 2024, he’s working on a queer concept record entitled ‘Songs For a Younger Me’ which, frankly explores aspects of the queer experience. Setting out to create a record he felt was missing from his journey as a young queer person.

 

True to his creative expression, the record is to be accompanied by a photo-project shot by Toby that champions diverse queer artists and a short film (funded in part by Help Musicians), that explores some of the themes of the record, such as gender dysphoria, queer kinship and breaking out of stereotypes.

 

In addition to this, the beginning of 2024 will see him release numerous collaborative works as part of State Is Flow, the Clerkenwell-based music artist collective.