Tokimonsta - Eternal Reverie (2025)

"As I feel the searing echoes of your absence, I'll have to remind myself that a part of you lives on in me and that I remain abundant." It's with these words, that TOKiMONSTA (born Jennifer Lee) offers a glimpse into the grief that shaped this album. The "you" is her best friend, Regina Biondo, who died in October 2024 after a long battle with cancer. For Lee, loss and hardship are certainly not unfamiliar territory. A decade ago, she faced her own life-altering struggle after being diagnosed with Moyamoya disease. Two high-risk brain surgeries left her unable to speak, or, devastatingly, hear music properly. Her passion was rendered nothing more than metallic, distorted noise.

Despite these challenges, TOKiMONSTA's journey has been one of resilience, transformation, and ultimately, joy. Eternal Reverie is an act of survival and continuity, a project that channels anguish into movement, pain into catharsis, and loss into a need for liberating dance. With a vibrant fusion of electronic, house, R&B, hip-hop, and references to Lee's Korean roots, this album bursts with energy offering an emotional respite for herself and her listeners. "Lucky U" starts off the album with danceable yet somewhat restrained energy, as TOKiMONSTA skillfully builds suspense through sharp percussion, warm synths, and Gavin Turek's hypnotic R&B-infused vocals. The euphoric "Feel It" is undeniably a club anthem, driven by hypnotic house rhythms and shimmering atmospheric synth layers that pulse with an infectious sense of release.

"On Sum," Eternal Reverie's centrepiece, is effortlessly groovy, blending TOKiMONSTA's sharp production with the laid-back flow of Anderson .Paak and Rae Khalil's smooth vocals, creating a hypnotic, addictive fusion. Over the final few tracks ("Say Tell Me" to "Infinity's Embrace"), the album tapers off into more synth-driven, atmospheric, non-lyrical electronic beats, slowly letting go of its groovy R&B edge to create space for more introspective beats.

TOKiMONSTA's signature production remains sharp and innovative, weaving intricate polyrhythms, deep-bass textures, and organic instrumentation into a dynamic, ever-evolving sound. Eternal Reverie isn't just about escape but also transformation—turning pain into something vibrant and life-affirming. Every beat, every synth, and every groove feels like a deliberate revolution against grief and despair, and a reminder that even in times of sorrow, there is still space for joy.

TRACKLIST

1. Tokimonsta - Eternal
2. Tokimonsta;Gavin Turek - Lucky U
3. Tokimonsta;Anderson .Paak;Rae Khalil - On Sum
4. Tokimonsta - Warm Water (Interlude)
5. Tokimonsta;Cakes Da Killa;GAWD - Switch It
6. Tokimonsta;grouptherapy. - Feel It
7. Tokimonsta;Oby Onyioha - Enjoy Your Life
8. Tokimonsta - Corazón / Death by Disco, Pt. 2
9. Tokimonsta;Kaelin Ellis - For You
10. Tokimonsta;Mez - Sci Fi
11. Tokimonsta - Say Tell Me
12. Tokimonsta - Reverie
13. Tokimonsta;Amaka - All In
14. Tokimonsta - Infinity's Embrace