Tommyknocker (producer)

Tommyknocker
Birth nameTommaso Marra
Born (1977-01-20) January 20, 1977 (age 47)
OriginItaly
GenresHardcore
Years active1995 - present
LabelsTraxtorm Records
Websitehttps://web.archive.org/web/20120507070920/http://www.traxtorm.com/tommyknocker/?lang=en

Tommaso Marra (born January 20, 1977, in Rome, Italy), best known as Tommyknocker, is a Hardcore producer and DJ.

Career

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In 1992, Tommyknocker bought his first set of turntables. Two years later, he discovered hardcore music. When he was captivated by that genre, he entered the underground rave scene by spinning at illegal raves in Rome, and at parties with an atmosphere and sound that very much influenced Tommyknocker as an artist.

The name Tommyknocker appeared for the first time on a flyer in 1995 when Tommyknocker started spinning for Freddy K at clubs and on the radio. He was one of the first DJs to play hardcore in Italian clubs. He became a resident DJ at the Oxygen parties, where he came in contact with Hardcore artists from other countries, specifically the Netherlands, thereby broadening his musical horizons.

In the following years, Tommyknocker continued playing hardcore in Rome, and by 1998, he decided to begin producing music. Tommyknocker was inspired by artists such as Promo, Stunned Guys, PCP, Miro, and Lory D. By 1999, Tommyknocker had released his first EP "The Realm" on Traxtorm Records.

Over the next few years, without having achieved a critical breakthrough hit, Tommyknocker released his hit EP Showtime in 2003, featuring Demolition and Showtime.[1] This release exemplifies why he has gained a reputation in the hardcore scene as a DJ who heavily favors distorted bass and angry vocals. After this release, Tommyknocker moved to Belgium to keep up with incoming bookings in Western Europe. Since then, he has regularly played at major Hardcore events such as Masters of Hardcore, Decibel Outdoor, Raving Nightmare, Defqon.1 Festival, and Q-Base. In 2005, Tommyknocker performed in front of the biggest crowd he had ever played for at the famous Thunderdome festival. To this day, Tommyknocker plays for the crowds all over Europe, including Australia.[2] His next release, "Twisted World", a collaboration done together with The Viper, hit the first position in the Masters Of Hardcore Radio Live top 100 in 2007. By 2009, Tommyknocker released the track "Criminal". The track is influenced by the 1990s hardcore techno, with a message about government corruption that resonated loudly with both fans and fellow producers. As a result, the track received second place in the Masters Of Hardcore Radio Live Top 100.

In 2010, Tommyknocker returned to Rome, where he now currently lives.

Discography

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Year Artist Title Label
1999 Tommyknocker & MC Lob The Realm (12") Traxtorm Records
2001 Tommyknocker Fuck This Track Up (12") Impulse Records
2001 Tommyknocker Volume On The Dancefloor (12") Traxtorm Records
2002 Tommyknocker T-2002 (12") Traxtorm Records
2002 Tommyknocker T-2002 (12") Hard Traxx
2002 Tommyknocker vs. DJ Mad Dog Clockwork (10") Traxtorm Records Sinful Edition
2003 Tommyknocker Showtime (12") Traxtorm Records
2003 Tommyknocker & The Stunned Guys vs. Paul Elstak Hardcore Takin' Over / Battle With The Mind (Remixes) (12") Total Hardcore Records
2004 Tommyknocker Revolution (12") Traxtorm Records
2004 Paul Elstak vs. Tommyknocker Danger Danger (12") Offensive Records
2004 The Viper & Tommyknocker The Prophecy Unfolds (12") Traxtorm Records
2005 Tommyknocker & The Stunned Guys & DJ Mad Dog Our Thing E.P. (12") Traxtorm Records
2005 Tommyknocker & The DJ Producer ft. MC Justice Raving Nightmare - Nocturnal Rituals (12") Underground House Movement
2006 Tommyknocker Domination(12") Traxtorm Records
2006 Tommyknocker & Unexist Step Into Our World (12") Traxtorm Records Sinful Edition
2006 Art Of Fighters vs. Tommyknocker Follow Me (12") Traxtorm Records
2006 Tommyknocker Traxtorm Revamped 007 - Tommyknocker Special Edition (12") Traxtorm Records Revamped
2007 Tommyknocker Learn From The Pain (12") Traxtorm Records
2007 Tommyknocker vs. Sunbeam Twisted World (10", S/Sided) Traxtorm Records
2007 Tieum & Tommyknocker Post Traumatic Stress (12") Altern-Hate
2009 Tommyknocker Criminal (12") Traxtorm Records
2010 Tommyknocker feat. Ian K Scream Traxtorm Records
2012 Tommyknocker T-2012 Traxtorm Records
2012 Tommyknocker feat. The Wishmaster Supernatural Traxtorm Records

References

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  1. ^ "Tommyknocker - Showtime". Discogs.
  2. ^ "Tommyknocker".
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