Beneath the shadow of the historic Hollywood Roosevelt’s tower, a stage is framed by silhouettes of palm trees standing tall and dark against the setting sun. The day’s festivities have been ongoing for nearly eight hours, yet the collective energy is only continuing to build, with bodies converging in movement atop the hotel’s covered pool.

‍Red Bull Midsummer, the simultaneously occurring in seven different cities and three continents, arrives in LA with an invigorating lineup of DJs including The 9AM Banger, heds, Sophie Gray, Strawbry, Pangea Sound, Baile World, Noodles, and Austin Millz.

Tonight, the dancing crowd is united by the resonant beats and bass formulated by headliner TOKiMONSTA, whose ardor and dynamism is palpable even from the furthest peripheries of the courtyard. She’s brightly lit by intermittent, beaming strobes and light on her feet as she bounces along to beats of her own creation, never faltering in rhythm or stamina throughout the duration of her two hour set. Her larger-than-life stage persona, brightly colored hair and experimental nail art express just as much devotion to subtlety as they do vibrance. True to her name–with “tokki” being the Korean word for rabbit, and “monsta” embodying her daring sound–the artist is committed to representing dualities.

Touching upon sentiments of relinquishment and celebration, the L.A. native finds sonic inspiration in her city’s ubiquitous nightlife, as well as the ever-present creative freedom that its cultural landscape has to offer. TOKiMONSTA's newly released single, “Joy Without Sound” is a study in quiet exuberance that delves into the expression of human emotion, a theme present across much of her discography. The track’s audible warmth, soulful piano, and burgeoning tonal shifts mark a fresh evolution for the artist’s fifteen year legacy, having quickly established herself as a local idol in the Los Angeles dance music scene. "Joy Without Sound" ritualizes growth with a fearless and abundant confidence that affirms the necessity of transformation, despite its inherent challenges. Read below for our conversation with TOKiMONSTA on intention, artistry, and the guiding presence of Red Bull across her career.

You just released a new single called Joy Without Sound. How does this work connect to the discography you’ve built over the past fifteen years?

Looking back across my catalog, there are songs that came from joy, grief, curiosity, heartbreak, wonder. “Joy Without Sound” feels more like a reminder that some of the most meaningful experiences aren’t loud or obvious. Sometimes joy isn’t celebration.

Describe the perfect listening environment for Joy Without Sound. Where do you envision it playing?

Anywhere people are fully immersed in the moment. A packed dance floor at sunset or even a road trip with the windows down. More than anything, I imagine it playing in places where people can let go of whatever they’re carrying and just be present for a few minutes.

When was the first and last time you fell in love with a crowd?

The first time was probably at Low End Theory in LA.  It was one of the first environments where I felt surrounded by people who were deeply curious about music for its own sake. The most recent was this Red Bull Midsummer event in LA. There was this feeling that everyone was just living in the same moment. Every once in a while you look out and realize the connection is happening in real time.

Your career first began at the Red Bull Music Academy in London, and this summer, you’ll be performing at Red Bull’s Midsummer event in your hometown of Los Angeles. Has the brand’s ethos guided your musical and personal development?

Absolutely. One of the things that made Red Bull Music Academy special was its belief that creativity doesn’t belong to a single genre, scene, or type of person. It brought together artists who approached music from completely different perspectives and encouraged curiosity and collaboration over competition.

Outside of making music and performing, what keeps you energized?

Community, movement, and learning. The older I get, the more I realize that creativity doesn’t happen in isolation. Spending time with friends, traveling, going out to underground events, discovering new ideas, and having conversations that challenge the way I see the world all feed back into the music. Inspiration usually arrives when I’m paying attention to life outside the studio.