Timo Ellis
Timothy Kneeland "Timo" Ellis (born June 7, 1970) is an American multi-instrumentalist, composer, producer, and vocalist based in New York City, where he was born and raised.[1][2] He is renowned for his eclectic career spanning rock, metal, and experimental music, having contributed to nearly 100 albums over two decades as a performer, songwriter, and collaborator.[1] Ellis gained prominence as the drummer for the alternative hip-hop and pop band Cibo Matto in the late 1990s and early 2000s, contributing to their innovative sound that blended urban grooves with quirky lyrics.[2][3] He has also fronted the progressive sludge metal band Netherlands since 2010, releasing ten albums including the 2025 album Vapors and the 2023 effort Severance on Svart Records, which features his signature post-shred guitar work, primal drumming, and intense vocals.[4][3][5] Additionally, Ellis studied audio engineering at The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, and has composed and licensed original music for television, web series, and film, with clients including MTV and CNN.[1][6] His extensive collaborations highlight his versatility, including work with Yoko Ono on albums like Warzone, Sean Lennon on unreleased demos, Joan as Police Woman, Spacehog, Lydia Lunch, and metal acts such as Gojira's Joseph Duplantier and The Melvins.[1][7][3] In 2024, Ellis launched his solo project OOMASOOMA, exploring "genrefluid" styles that further showcase his boundary-pushing approach to music production and performance.[1]Early life and education
Childhood in New York City
Timothy Kneeland Ellis, known professionally as Timo Ellis, was born on June 7, 1970, in New York City.[8] He is the son of baby boomer parents described as relatively liberal and leftist, which contributed to his upbringing in a culturally progressive household amid the city's dynamic social landscape.[9] Ellis grew up in what he has characterized as an extremely intense and chaotic 1970s New York City environment, marked by the city's economic struggles, rising crime rates, and vibrant underground cultural movements that would later influence artistic communities.[9] During his early years, Ellis developed interests beyond music, including a fascination with film; at age 10, he attended a screening of the horror movie The Shining by himself, an experience that highlighted his independent engagement with cultural events.[10] His introduction to music came in adolescence, when he began playing drums at age 11 and picked up the guitar two years later, marking the start of his hands-on exploration of instruments.[6] This early experimentation laid the groundwork for more structured musical pursuits in his teenage years.Musical training and influences
Timo Ellis began learning music informally during his childhood in New York City in the 1970s, starting with drums at age 11 and picking up guitar two years later at age 13.[6] His early development was self-directed, focusing initially on technical proficiency inspired by musicians like Eddie and Alex Van Halen, before shifting toward songwriting in his late teens.[11] By high school in the 1980s, he experimented with home recording using a Tascam 424 cassette four-track recorder, which allowed him to explore multitrack techniques, editing, and basic production on his own.[11] Ellis expanded his skills as a multi-instrumentalist during this period, gradually incorporating bass, keyboards, and vocals alongside his foundational work on drums and guitar, all through self-taught practice amid New York City's vibrant cultural environment.[9] No formal lessons or mentors are documented from his New York years, but the city's diverse 1970s and 1980s music and art scenes profoundly shaped his creative outlook, exposing him to a mix of genres via local radio and urban energy.[11] His pivotal early influences stemmed from rock radio staples he encountered as a child around ages 8 to 9, including The Jackson 5, The Cars, Van Halen, Earth, Wind & Fire, and Black Sabbath, which ignited his passion for rhythmic precision and dynamic performance.[11] A specific spark came from The Jacksons' 1978 album Destiny, particularly the track "Shake Your Body (Down to the Ground)," whose infectious groove and vocal energy motivated him to pursue music seriously.[12] In 1989, Ellis attended The Evergreen State College in Olympia, Washington, majoring in Media Studies with an emphasis on audio engineering, where he honed recording skills and first engaged with amateur music-making.[6][1] During his college years (1989–1990), he discovered the punk rock circuit, which broadened his exposure to raw, energetic scenes and encouraged his entry into local performances with bands like Nubbin and Lemonade, marking his initial non-professional gigs.[11][13] These experiences solidified his versatile foundation, enabling a seamless transition to professional opportunities such as joining Cibo Matto.[9]Career beginnings
Involvement with Cibo Matto
Timo Ellis joined Cibo Matto in 1997 as the band's drummer, forming a quartet alongside founders Yuka Honda and Miho Hatori, as well as bassist Sean Lennon. This addition expanded the group's lineup following their debut album Viva! La Woman (1996), marking a pivotal evolution in their sound.[14] As a versatile multi-instrumentalist, Ellis played a key role in shaping Cibo Matto's fusion of hip-hop, pop, and avant-garde elements, contributing drums, percussion, guitar, bass, and backing vocals across their releases. His involvement began with the Super Relax EP (1997), where he provided drums on tracks like "Super Relax" and co-wrote material with the band and Lennon, recorded at Q Division Studios in New York with producer Mitchell Froom. The EP's eclectic tracks, blending funky rhythms and experimental textures, showcased Ellis's ability to support the group's playful yet innovative style. Following this, Ellis contributed extensively to the full-length Stereo ★ Type A (1999), handling drums, acoustic and electric guitars, 12-string bass, cymbals, and even sound effects like slamming doors, while also providing vocals on several songs. Recorded at Magic Shop, Sear Sound Studios, and Studio 4 in New York, the album refined Cibo Matto's sound into a more confident, genre-blending mix of lounge, funk, and hip-hop, with Ellis's multi-layered instrumentation adding depth to tracks such as "Moonchild" and "Sci-Fi Wasabi."[15][16][14] Ellis's tenure with Cibo Matto also included extensive touring from 1997 to 1999, promoting both Super Relax and Stereo ★ Type A across North America and Europe, which helped solidify the band's live presence through dynamic performances that highlighted their improvisational jazz influences and quirky lyricism. Within the band, dynamics were collaborative and creative, with Honda and Hatori's core vision sharpened by Ellis and Lennon's input, fostering an environment of musical experimentation among the members' diverse backgrounds. This period represented Ellis's transition from amateur musician to full-time professional, as his mid-20s involvement in recording, touring, and performing with the group launched his career in the New York music scene.[17][9]Early solo releases
Following the disbandment of Cibo Matto in 2001, Timo Ellis transitioned from his role as the band's drummer to a multifaceted solo artist, taking on lead vocals, songwriting, and primary instrumentation for his debut effort.[18][19] This shift marked his emergence as a frontman, allowing him to explore personal creative control beyond collaborative group dynamics.[19] Ellis's first solo release, the EP The Enchanted Forest of Timo Ellis (also subtitled The Enchanting Schizophrenia of Timo Ellis on the spine), came out in 2001 on the independent label Records And Tapes Records as a CD in the United States.[20] The five-track EP, recorded between April and November 2000 with live drums captured at Euphoria Studios in New York City, showcased experimental rock fused with electronic elements, including synthesizers and programmed beats.[20] Ellis handled writing, arrangements, production, and mixing alongside collaborator Ron "Al B." Shaffer, while playing most instruments himself; contributions from former Cibo Matto associates like Sean Ono Lennon on acoustic guitar and synthesizer, Yuka Honda on keyboards, and Duma Love on additional percussion lent a familiar yet expanded sonic palette.[20][19] The tracklist featured:- "El Serape"
- "Arrivederci"
- "Flash Dumbo"
- "Lite Brite"
- Untitled[20]