AND THE VOICE SAID

Description

Toth’s paradoxical third album, And The Voice Said, is at once a prayer for the ability to pray, a meditation on why he meditates, and a collection of jokes about what he holds sacred. “I’ve always been conflicted about my spiritual aspirations,” Toth says. “I’ve never wanted to identify as a Buddhist because Buddhism is supposedly about non-identity. There’s a classic adage, ‘If you see the Buddha, kill the Buddha.’ This album is my attempt to kill the Buddha.” For Toth, this might translate to performances where audiences sing along to “Open your heart to the universe!” It’s a mixture of irony and catharsis. “It’s ironic, but joyful,” he explains. “My natural state is so negative and self-loathing. I’m making fun of the very things I need to survive.” This duality — humor and spirituality, irony and sincerity — permeates the album, which features a duet with Kimbra and was co-produced by Grammy-nominated artist Caroline Rose. It’s also Toth’s first album with another producer involved. “I’ve never been good at having teachers or mentors, but I need them to leave me alone. Caroline wouldn’t let me hide behind abstraction; they had exercises to help me connect to the title’s ‘voice.’” Throughout the album, Toth oscillates between the joyful assurance of “Not Broken” and the growing doubt that follows, captures the zeitgeist with “Ice Cream,” and explores his inner voices with “Triangle People.” His trumpet rings out, a mix of fanfare and alarm. By the end of the album, he has found a fragile, almost airy, trembling peace. It’s clear Toth hasn’t killed the Buddha. His assassination attempts fail with panache. But And The Voice Said leaves behind so much beauty that, for a moment, one might believe that having a self isn't so bad after all.