Topic (DJ) explained

Topic
Birth Name:Tobias Topic
Birth Place:Solingen, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
Genre:Dance/Música electrónica, House progresivo, Future Bass

Tobias Topic (pronounced as /tǒːpitɕ/;[1] born 23 March 1992), also known mononymously as Topic, is a German DJ and music producer. His song "Home" was certified platinum in Australia and Germany.[2] [3]

Career

Early career and commercial breakthrough

Born in Solingen, Topic is of paternal Croatian descent. He went to a high school in Hessen. At the age of 16, he started using Logic Studio, a digital audio workstation, to produce music with the guidance of a teacher. He started his musical career on social media with the assistance of YouTube musicians who contacted him.[4] [5] Topic's first release, a house song called "Light It Up", was released at the end of 2014 and reached more than one million views on his YouTube channel. In summer 2015, he released his debut album "Miles", which charted both German and Austrian charts.

Topic made the singles charts in both countries in January 2016 with the song "Home" featuring Nico Santos on vocals.[6] In April 2016, the track was released in Australia and reached the 11th place in its charts and went double platinum.[7] He has cited the internet as a source of his success, stating "The Internet has actually brought the world closer together."[8]

In July 2016, the single "Find You" followed, sung by Dutch singer Jake Reese, who has become famous by the Dutch edition of X-Factor and a collaboration with Hardwell on his songs Mad World and Run Wild. Already after one week, the song achieved a ranking in the single charts, but couldn't follow the success of his previous single.

In September 2016, he signed a record deal with Sony Music/ATV.[9] In the same year, Topic received a nomination for the MTV Europe Music Awards in Best German Act.[10]

2017–2018: "Perfect"

He made the official single charts of Germany and Austria again in 2017 with the track Break My Habits with the vocals of Swedish singer-songwriter Patrik Jean.[11]

On 26 January 2018, Topic collaborated with American Fifth Harmony member and singer Ally Brooke for the single "Perfect".[12] The success of airplay also received attention in the United States, in particular through Brooke's appearance on the TV show Wild 'n Out. For the song, they were nominated for the Teen Choice Award 2018 in the "Electronic / Dance Song" category.[13]

With the track "Sólo Contigo", which was created in collaboration with Juan Magán and German singer Lena Meyer-Landrut, he released a Spanish-language single for the first time in spring 2018.[14] The song "The Less I Know" followed together with Alexander Tidebrink.[15]

2019: International breakthrough with "Breaking Me"

On 19 December 2019, "Breaking Me" was released as the sixth single. It is a collaboration with the Swedish singer A7S and the first international chart success for Topic after almost two years. The single reached the Top 10 positions in Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Switzerland, Canada, Italy, Australia, New Zealand, Denmark and Ireland.[16]

With "Breaking Me", Topic also reached the Top 10 of the British single charts for the first time and achieved his first number one on the Portuguese singles chart. In the US, he dominated the Dance chart for three weeks and ranked #53 on the Billboard Hot 100.[17] The single reached nearly a billion streams on Spotify[18] today and more than five billion streams overall.

2020: "Like I Love You" and "Why Do You Lie to Me"

On 13 March 2020, the second single collaboration with Nico Santos, "Like I Love You" was released. The song was also promoted with a joint live appearance on the famous German TV show Luke! Die Schule und ich at prime time. The single reached #24 in the German single charts[19] as well as #2 in the airplay charts.[20]

On 28 August 2020, the single "Why Do You Lie to Me" was released. This was the second collaboration of Topic and A7S features American rapper Lil Baby.[21]

2021: "Your Love (9PM)" and "My Heart Goes (La Di Da)"

In January 2021, Topic remade German producer ATB's number-one hit "9 PM (Till I Come)", collaborating with ATB. Retitled "Your Love (9PM)", the record also features A7S' vocals, making it their third collaboration, and was released on Positiva Records.[22] The record charted in a number of markets including the Top 10 in Germany, Austria, Switzerland and the UK.[23] It is Topic's second most successful track to this date and amassed more than 500 million streams on Spotify alone. “Your Love (9PM)” was nominated in the category “International Song of the Year” at the BRIT Awards 2022.[24]

In June 2021, the single Chain My Heart followed together with American popstar and singer Bebe Rexha, making it to #16 on the US Dance charts. On 30 July 2021, the song Drive was released in a collaboration with British electropop band Clean Bandit and British singer Wes Nelson. The song reached rank 17 in the British single charts.[25] Four weeks later, the next composition appeared with British singer Becky Hill. "My Heart Goes (La Di Da)" was released on 24 August 2021 and reached #11 on the UK charts.[26]

2022: "Kernkraft 400 (A Better Day)" and further achievements

On 28 January 2022, Topic released the single In Your Arms (For An Angel) together with Robin Schulz, Nico Santos and Paul van Dyk. This is a new edition of van Dyk's For an Angel from 1994. In collaboration with German Popstar Alvaro Soler, the second Spanish-language single Solo Para Ti was released on 22 April 2022.[27]

The track Kernkraft 400 (A Better Day) followed on 17 June 2022 with singer and producer A7S and its core is built on a sample of Zombie Nations Kernkraft 400 from 1999. On 02 September 2022, Topic and the Swedish singer John Martin released the single Follow Me. Topics first club track and release with the label Tomorrowland Music, that worked with renown artists like Martin Garrix and Felix Jaehn before.[28] Topic states: “[...] John Martin is an incredible artist with huge credibility in the scene. One of my all time favorite tracks and a big inspiration is ‘Don’t You Worry Child’, so I’m incredibly honored that I had the chance to work with him. It’s great to now be able to unfold into a new direction musically and I am really looking forward to what is yet to come!”[29]

Topic was also part of the “Top 100 DJs 2022” from DJ Mag. After an impressive festival season, two diamond certifications in 28 countries and two awards in 2020 and 2021, he was able to secure rank 69.[30]

Topic was part of the documentary We Are Tomorrow from Tomorrowland, that was published on YouTube on 20 September 2022. The four protagonists Topic, Gaggan Anand, Kelly De Clercq and Vicky Tah were filmed and interviewed on their road to Tomorrowland.[31] In the documentary, Topic's live performance and career are displayed and he talks about his idea of a new edition of the hit "Breaking Me" with the new title "Saving Me", as the soundtrack of the documentary with American singer-songwriter Sasha Alex Sloan.[32]

Discography

Albums

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2"
Album detailsPeak chart positions
GER
[33]
AUT
[34]
Miles 67 70

Singles

Title! scope="col" rowspan="2" style="width:1em;"
YearPeak chart positionsCertificationsAlbum
GER
AUS
[35]
AUT
CAN
[36]
IRE
[37]
NLD
[38]
SWI
[39]
UK
[40]
US
Dance/
Elec.

[41]
"Light It Up"
2014Miles
"Real Stars"
2015
"Miles"
"Home"
[42]
12 11 10
"Fly Away"
"Find You"
201657 63 rowspan="5"
"Break My Habits"201758 73
"Perfect"
201898 73 38
"Sólo Contigo"[44]
"Breaking Me"
20193 4 2 9 3 2 4 3 3
"Like I Love You"
202024 32 54
  • BVMI: Gold
  • IFPI AUT: Platinum
Nico Santos
"Why Do You Lie to Me"
[49]
98 86 17rowspan="4"
"Lost"
3 7 8
  • BVMI: Gold
"Your Love (9PM)"
[50]
20216 18 8 77 8
[51]
12 6 8 9
  • BVMI: 3× Gold
  • ARIA: Platinum
  • BPI: Platinum
  • MC: Gold[52]
"Chain My Heart"
100 16
"Drive"
30
17 25
  • BPI: Gold
"My Heart Goes (La Di Da)"
87 100 6
[53]
11 26
  • ARIA: 2× Platinum[54]
  • BPI: Platinum
Only Honest on the Weekend
"Ich bin weg (Boro Boro)"
9 16 12 rowspan="7"
"In Your Arms (For an Angel)"
[55]
202236 61 33
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
"Solo Para Ti"
[56]
57 65 77 52
"Kernkraft 400 (A Better Day)"
[57]
26 34 29 100
  • IFPI AUT: Gold
"All or Nothing"
[58]
"Forget You"
202373
"Lucid Dream"[59]
"One By One"[60]
2024rowspan="3"
"Peakin'"
"I Adore You"
45 21 50
"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released.

Remixes

Awards and nominations

YearOrganizationAwardWorkResult
2016MTV Europe Music AwardsBest German ActHimself[63]
20161 Live KroneBest SingleHome (with Nico Santos)[64]
2018Teen Choice AwardsChoice Electronic/Dance SongPerfect (with Ally Brooke)[65]
2020LOS40 Music AwardsBest Dance ActHimself[66]
20201 Live KroneBest Single Breaking Me (with A7S)[67]
20201 Live KroneBest Dance Act Himself[68]
2021Audi Generation AwardMusicHimself
2022BRIT AwardsBest International Song Your Love (9PM) (mit ATB & A7S)

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Tópić. Hrvatski jezični portal. 11 February 2022. hr.
  2. Web site: Musik: Topic ist als Produzent auf der Erfolgsspur - aber singen will er lieber nicht. Südkurier. 17 January 2017. de . 26 January 2018.
  3. Web site: In-Producer Topic aus Solingen startet auch international durch . 10 July 2016 . neuH Magazine . de-DE . 26 January 2018.
  4. Web site: 5 April 2018 . Topic: Dagi Bees bester Freund über sein lässiges Leben als DJ . 28 May 2021 . Bravo . de.
  5. Web site: Radtke . Guido . 4 June 2016 . Solingen: Topic spielt neuen Song zum ersten Mal in der Festhalle . 26 January 2018 . RP ONLINE.
  6. Web site: Einck . Henry . Musikvideo » Topic feat. Nico Santos - Home . 26 January 2018 . Dance-Charts.de . de-DE.
  7. Web site: 2022-01-29 . Topic, Robin Schulz, Nico Santos, Paul Van Dyk - In Your Arms (For An Angel) . 2022-11-09 . schmusa.de . de-DE.
  8. Web site: Music Video - TOPIC - Home Ft Nico Santos . 26 January 2018 . en-US.
  9. Web site: MusikWoche News Sony/ATV gewinnt . 26 January 2018 . www.mediabiz.de . de.
  10. Web site: "best german act": Die Beginner sind für die MTV EMAs nominiert . 2022-11-09 . www.universal-music.de . de.
  11. Web site: 14 January 2017 . Topic released Break My Habits mit einem filmreifen Musikvideo . 26 January 2018 . It's All About The Music . de-DE.
  12. Fifth Harmony's Ally Brooke Releasing Debut Solo Single 'Perfect,' Collab With Topic . Billboard . 26 January 2018.
  13. Web site: Vacco-Bolanos . Jessica . 2018-08-12 . Teen Choice Awards 2018: All the Nominees and Winners . 2022-11-09 . Us Weekly . en-US.
  14. Web site: Hummel . BS-Live! Sascha . TOPIC x Juan Magan x Lena "SOLO CONTIGO" (CD) . 2022-11-09 . www.bs-live.de.
  15. Web site: Hummel . BS-Live! Sascha . Topic- The less I know (CD) . 2022-11-09 . www.bs-live.de.
  16. Web site: Chartsurfer.de . Breaking Me von Topic feat. A7S . 2022-11-09 . www.chartsurfer.de.
  17. Topic . 2022-11-09 . Billboard . en-US.
  18. Web site: Topic . Spotify.
  19. Web site: Offizielle Deutsche Charts - Offizielle Deutsche Charts . 2022-11-09 . www.offiziellecharts.de.
  20. Web site: germancharts.de - Airplay Charts Deutschland . 2022-11-09 . germancharts.de.
  21. Web site: Google Calendar - Sign in to Access & Edit Your Schedule . 2022-11-09 . accounts.google.com.
  22. Web site: 15 January 2021 . ATB collaborates with Topic to reimagine "Your Love (9pm) . Datatransmission.co.
  23. Web site: Chartsurfer.de . Your Love (9PM) von ATB x Topic x A7S . 2022-11-09 . www.chartsurfer.de.
  24. Web site: 2022 International Song of the Year nominees announced! . 2022-11-09 . BRIT Awards . en.
  25. Web site: Chartsurfer.de . Drive von Clean Bandit & Topic Feat. Wes Nelson . 2022-11-09 . www.chartsurfer.de.
  26. Web site: Chartsurfer.de . My Heart Goes (La Di Da) von Becky Hill & Topic . 2022-11-09 . www.chartsurfer.de.
  27. Web site: Köln . Radio . Alvaro Soler, Topic - Solo Para Ti . 2022-11-09 . Radio Köln . de.
  28. Web site: Emmers . Kevin R. . 2022-09-02 . Topic & John Martin veröffentlichen ihren Track "Follow Me" . 2022-11-09 . frontstage-magazine.de . de-DE.
  29. Web site: 2022-09-02 . Topic John Martin Follow Me . 2022-11-09 . en-US.
  30. Web site: Topic Top 100 DJs 2022 . 2022-11-09 . DJMag.com . en.
  31. Web site: Germany . DJ MAG . "We Are Tomorrow": Tomorrowland-Dokumentation über ikonische Rückkehr . 2022-11-09 . www.djmag.de . de.
  32. Web site: Emmers . Kevin R. . 2022-07-15 . TOPIC enthüllt mitreißende Überarbeitung seines globales Hits "Breaking Me" für Tomorrowland . 2022-11-09 . frontstage-magazine.de . de-DE.
  33. Web site: Discographie von Topic. GfK Entertainment. 10 January 2020.
  34. Web site: Discographie Topic - austriancharts.at. austriancharts.at. 26 January 2018.
  35. Peaks in Australia:
  36. Topic, Canadian Hot 100. Billboard. 11 August 2020.
  37. Web site: IRMA – Irish Charts. Irish Recorded Music Association. 26 June 2020.
  38. Web site: Discografie Topic. dutchcharts.nl. 8 May 2020.
  39. Web site: Discographie Topic feat. A7S. hitparade.ch. 10 February 2020.
  40. Web site: Topic ft. A7S full Official Chart history. Official Charts Company. 12 June 2020.
  41. Topic Chart History: Dance/Electronic Songs. Billboard. 20 August 2024.
  42. Web site: 29 March 2016. Urban Dance. 29 September 2021. Warner Music Germany. de-DE.
  43. Web site: Gold-/Platin-Datenbank. 15 April 2020.
  44. Web site: Sólo Contigo - Single by Topic, Juan Magán & Lena on iTunes. 8 October 2018.
  45. Australia. 2021. 3 February 2022.
  46. United Kingdom. Topic. 19 July 2022.
  47. Austria. Topic. single. 23 February 2023.
  48. United States. Topic. 18 March 2021.
  49. Web site: Topic, A7S - Why Do You Lie To Me (Lyric Video) ft. Lil Baby. YouTube. 27 August 2020.
  50. Web site: Your Love (9PM) – Single. Apple Music. 15 January 2021. 23 January 2021.
  51. Web site: Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 5 March 2021. Official Charts Company. 5 March 2021.
  52. Canada. Topic. 30 May 2021.
  53. Web site: Top 100 Singles, Week Ending 12 November 2021. Official Charts Company. 12 November 2021.
  54. Australia. 2024. single. 18 March 2024.
  55. Web site: Topic, Robin Schulz, Nico Santos & Paul Van Dyk - In Your Arms (For An Angel). mix1.de. de. 28 January 2022.
  56. Web site: "Solo Para Ti" von Alvaro Soler & Topic – Titel auf Apple Music. Apple Music. de. 25 April 2022.
  57. Web site: Kernkraft 400 (A Better Day) by Topic & A7S on Apple Music. Apple Music. 16 June 2022.
  58. Web site: Topic and HRVY Unleash 'All or Nothing'. Broadway World. 16 December 2022. 17 December 2022.
  59. Web site: TOPIC veröffentlicht seine neue Single „Lucid Dream“ + Lyric-Video. magedburg-klickt.de. de. 16 June 2023. 19 June 2023.
  60. Web site: Robin Schulz and Topic Unleash Electrifying Dance Anthem “One By One” Featuring Oaks . Clubbing TV. 19 January 2024. 22 January 2024.
  61. Web site: Natural Blues (Topic Remix) [feat. Gregory Porter & Amythyst Kiah] - Single by Moby & Topic on Apple Music ]. . 31 May 2021.
  62. Web site: You (feat. Troye Sivan & Tate McRae) [Topic Remix] - Single by Regard on Apple Music ]. . 30 June 2021.
  63. Web site: Solingen: Solinger Discjockey für MTV-Award nominiert. Rp-online.de. 10 October 2016. 29 March 2022.
  64. Web site: 1Live Krone 2016 : Die Nominees stehen fest. Presse.wdr.de. 29 March 2022.
  65. Entertainment Weekly. https://web.archive.org/web/20180813151232/https://ew.com/awards/2018/08/12/teen-choice-awards-winners-list/. 13 August 2018. Entertainment Weekly.
  66. Web site: LOS40 Music Awards 2020. LOS40.com. 29 March 2022.
  67. Web site: Die Nominierten in der Kategorie "Beste Single", 1LIVE Krone 2020 I Beste Single - Beste Single - Nominierte - 1LIVE Krone - Radio - WDR . 9 November 2020 . 19 May 2021 . https://web.archive.org/web/20210519221417/https://www1.wdr.de/radio/1live/events/1live-krone/beste-single-120.html . dead .
  68. Web site: Die Nominierten in der Kategorie "Bester Dance Act", 1LIVE Krone 2020 I Bester Dance Act - Krone 2020 - Events - 1LIVE - Radio - WDR . 9 November 2020 . 18 November 2020 . https://web.archive.org/web/20201118155936/https://www1.wdr.de/radio/1live/events/1live-krone/bester-dance-act-102.html . dead .