Thomas H.: A one-of-a-kind night owl
Whether at Soubois, Flyjin or King Crab, Thomas H. gets Montrealers dancing to his frenzied beats at the city’s hottest nightclubs, events and galas. This summer is bound to be a pivotal moment in the DJ’s career, as he debuts his new persona Tommy La Croix †. We sat down for a chat with the passionate music maker.
What inspired you to become a DJ?
When I was young, I went to Mykonos every summer. That’s where I discovered nightclubs and house music. I instantly fell in love with how much fun everybody was having. I knew I wanted to be a part of it.
Where do you perform in Montréal?
I play a lot supper clubs. As a partner at Soubois, I’m there regularly. But I also perform at Flyjin, King Crab (the bar at Makro) and at several of the biggest galas and events in the city.
Do you play internationally?
Yes, especially in Los Angeles, Miami and in Europe. I do a lot of private events abroad, like weddings and birthday celebrations.
What has been the most significant experience in your career?
In 2016 I was invited to play at Burning Man. Over 70,000 people came together for the week out in Black Rock Desert. It was beyond anything I’d ever expected. I remember looking around at the blazing desert and the huge throng of dancing people and just being overwhelmed. I felt like I was the luckiest guy alive—being able to bring all of these people together with a beat, getting to travel and connect people through music. It was sublime. I knew I’d found my calling.
What makes your style so unique?
A few things, I think. First, because I love a lot of genres of music, my sets are always an eclectic mix of influences. It’s a collection of different sounds that fascinate me. Also, I think I’m very responsive. I’m always looking around at my shows, watching the room, feeling the audience, analyzing the light and the ambiance. It all influences my performance and the style of music that I’m going to play. Finally, I’m always dancing! I can’t help it. I think people see how much I’m there with them, resonating. That helps build a connection.
What are your upcoming projects?
So glad you asked! Really exciting stuff coming up this summer. On June 14 get ready to meet my new alter ego Tommy La Croix †. His debut is going to be a part of PY1 Nights, Guy Laliberté’s new multimedia event series at the Pyramid in the Old Port of Montréal. It’s a fully immersive audio-visual show. I’m also releasing my first album this June, just in time for the Formula 1 Grand Prix du Canada. It’s been a while in the making and I’m very excited to share it with people.
Who is Tommy La Croix †?
He’s a new side of me! Over the years I have developed something amazing with Thomas H., but I wanted to get back to something more personal, more exploratory. Tommy La Croix † is that. He’s bold and he likes to take risks. He’s not afraid to play things you’ve never heard of. I want to make less commercial music with this character, to go deep and really follow sounds I’m passionate about. I wanted something that better reflects who I am today. But don’t worry Thomas H. is here to stay, too. It’s all about playing around.
You also love real estate. How do you express this passion?
I make music at night, but during the day I spend my time on my second love, real estate. So I started Groupe THT, a real estate and capital investment firm. I always wanted to make sure no matter what happened with my music I’d still be able to live well—and it grew into an unexpected success!
open.spotify.com/user/iamthomash
itunes.apple.com/profile/iamthomash
Text: Diane Stehle
Photo: Patrizia Castiglione
