Sacha Toorop

Born in 1970, Sacha Toorop had a difficult time at school, left it early thereby giving him ample time to wander through all types of music.

His roots, on his father’s side Indonesian, musical, globe-trotting and Flemish on his mother’s, have naturally molded his multi-cultural approach. Sacha plays many instruments (drums, bass, keyboards, percussion…), listens to all kinds of music (Sardou excepted) and speaks many languages in a impulsive, spontaneous and self-taught manner.

Up to the time he met the Big Band « Back to Normal » and Ted Milton « Blurt » in 1993, he played improvised music and participated in all kinds of sessions preferably in cellars or garages with other humans, musician or not.

The years 1993 and 1994 are spent in an European tour with Ted Milton « Blurt ».

1995 : Year of a chance and memorable encounter – since their partnership is still ongoing – with Dominique A who falls for his charm and takes him on a tour during one year and a half.

November 1996 : An EP with 4 songs « Welcome » : warm welcome in the specialized French-speaking, Flemish (Rif Raf ) and French press (Les Inrock) ; Many concerts follow with, amongst others, the noteworthy participations in the Dour, Nandrin, Verdurock festivals and in the “Nuits Botanique”. He also performed in opening acts for concerts given by Sophia (Botanique, Bxl), dEUS (Nantes), the Levellers (Vooruit, Gent, AB) and by Kiss My Jazz (Brugge).

September 1997 : publishing of the album « RED POPPIES » and of the single « No fears, no shame » as well as play-lists on the national radios Radio 21 and Studio Brussel. This first album is welcomed by the specialized press (Mofo, Devor Rock, Rif Raf, Babel) and by the musical columns of the daily and periodical press (it was awarded the title of “ album of the year “ by the « Le Soir » newspaper). It was also greeted by specially laudatory review in Inrock and Magic (FR) and in Oor (NL).

Zop Hopop has appeared on television in programs such as Intérieur Nuit (RTBf), Belgica (MCM) and on Canal +.

Francoiz Breut takes him on for the recording between Liège and Rennes of his first album and requests his participation in the French tour.

1998 : Zop Hopop goes on tour in France, in opening act for the Little Rabbits and is selected to represent Belgium at the ‘Printemps de Bourges” in April. He is also performing in supporting act for the Smashing Pumpkins in the park of the Botanique in Brussels, and gives a concert broadcast by the RTBF, on the ‘Grand Place’ in Brussels during the “Fêtes de la Musique”. The requests for partaking increase. : Dominique A for the recording in N-Y-c of his 4th album « Remué », Pierre Bondu « Autour de Lucie » for the « Ramdam » album, and Yan Tiersen for his album « le Phare ».

1999-2000 : Sacha takes part in the recording of the new albums of Dominique A and of Francoiz Breut (with whom he tours on the drums) as well as of Yan Tiersen.

2000-2001 : After having taken a respite from these concerts, Sacha records his second album : « WESTERN », metaphor of a European society invaded by the American myth of the gold rush, that has established the pretense of success at any price as a supreme value, without any consideration for the outcasts , new Indians of modern times. This new album, as the preceding one, is produced by « Soundstation » and is coming out on september 28th, at the record company « Viva disc » (Sony Music distribution).

2003 : Still with his band ZopHopop, Sacha records his third album : “INTERLUDES”, a compilation of songs he liked when he was young. He melts genres and periods, and his reinterpretation of “Ashes to Ashes”, for example, is a pure moment of magic.

2004–2006 : Sacha collaborates in the recording of the new albums of José Parrondo, Françoiz Breut and Dominique A. He also plays drums in Junior Jazz, a band created by Fritz Sunderman. At the same time he records and produces the fourth album of Zop Hopop, “MANGROVIA” which comes out at the record company “Bang !”.

2006-2007 : Eventually Sacha, who is always trying new experiences, records at home an album exclusively in French. AU CLAIR DE LA TERRE is self-produced and, as the preceding album, comes out at the record company “ Bang !”. Sacha goes on tour in Belgium, Luxemburg, France, Germany, Switzerland, Slovakia and China with this new project. In June 2007, Sacha is rewarded with the French Song Award at the Octaves de la Musique.