Interview by Paul Salfen
Artist Biography
by Andy Kellman
Tommy Trash (born Thomas Olsen) debuted in 2006 and quickly emerged as a high-profile electro-house DJ and producer through a steady supply of remixes and his own releases. In 2006, the native of Queensland, Australia, along with Goodwill, remixed Sugiurumn’s “Star Baby,” but 2007 was a breakout year for Trash. Signed to Ministry of Sound Australia, he released a handful of singles — some of which were collaborations with Goodwill, as well as with Tom Piper — and remixed tracks by the likes of Green Velvet, the Veronicas, and Armand Van Helden. He also mixed the first volume in Ministry of Sound’s Electro-House Sessions series. His 2008 was as prolific, and 2009 was a banner year that culminated with an ARIA Award nomination in the category of Best Dance Release (for “Need Me to Stay”). As he continued to release his own work on Ministry of Sound, Dim Mak, and Fool’s Gold, he also maintained his remarkable amount of remixing duties. Moby, Zedd, Timbaland, and Swedish House Mafia released his work. “Reload,” a collaboration with Sebastian Ingrosso, was released in September 2012 and eventually worked its way to number three on the U.K. singles chart (as well as number four on Billboard’s Hot Dance Club Songs chart). That same year, he earned a Grammy nomination for his remix of Deadmau5’s “The Veldt.” In 2014, he produced the track “Mr. President” on Kylie Minogue’s album Kiss Me Once, while 2015 saw him release the single “About U” with BURNS. The hard-hitting “Louder” — a collaboration with Kill the Noise and R. City — was issued the same year. “Wake the Giant” with JHart followed, along with two remix EPs. Before the year’s end, Trash released the three-track Luv U Giv EP. In 2016, singles like “Bird Alert,” Lose My Mind,” and “IOUE” preceded the Group Chat EP, which featured contributions by Moosh & Twist, Jesse Boykins III, A-Trak, Gladiator, Kittens, and Tommy Lee Sparta. The bright anthem “Dreamer” (featuring DENM) arrived in 2017.
