Tosin Abasi, born Oluwatosin Ayoyinka Olumide Abasi, is an American guitarist whose self-taught brilliance and unwavering passion transformed him from a curious kid in Washington, DC, into a genre-defining maestro of progressive metal.
1. Early Life & Family Roots 🏡
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Real Name / Birth: Oluwatosin Ayoyinka Olumide Abasi, born January 7, 1983, in Washington, D.C.
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Family: Born to Nigerian immigrant parents. His father enthusiastically supported his musical curiosity by buying him his first guitar, while his mother, rooted in traditional immigrant mentality, emphasized academics over art. He has a brother, Abdul Abasi, who later became a fashion designer after serving in the U.S. military
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Religion & Meditation: Though his faith background is private, Tosin practices Transcendental Meditation—a discipline he credits for focus and creativity
2. Discovering Music & Early Hardships
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Started with the clarinet in grade school, but gravitated to guitar after jamming with a friend. Self-taught through rental VHS tapes and guitar magazines—no formal lessons.
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Worked odd jobs to support his passion: cleaned dog kennels, processed salmon in Alaska for 16-hour days—funding his first Steve Vai guitar
3. Forging a Career
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First bands: Played in PSI (2001), followed by technical metalcore act Reflux (released The Illusion of Democracy in 2004)
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Education: Enrolled at Atlanta Institute of Music and Media to refine his craft.
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Breakthrough: Signed solo deal with Prosthetic Records, but politely declined—felt too raw. After completing education, I revisited the offer and birthed Animals as Leaders (AAL), inspired by the philosophical novel Ishmael
4. Rise of Animals as Leaders & Breakthrough Moments
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Debut: In 2009, Tosin released Animals as Leaders (produced with Periphery’s Misha Mansoor). Soon after, bandmates Javier Reyes (guitar) and Navene Koperweis (drums) joined to create a power-trio
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T.R.A.M.: Side project formed in 2011; performed at SXSW with Adrian Terrazas-González and Eric Moore
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AAL album timeline: Weightless (2011), The Joy of Motion (2014), The Madness of Many (2016), and Parrhesia (2022)
5. Ups, Downs & Stardom
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Signature gear: In 2013, teamed with Ibanez to create the TAM100 and TAM10 models featuring DiMarzio pickups
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Recognition: Played in super-tours like Generation Axe in 2016–18 alongside Steve Vai, Yngwie Malmsteen, and Zakk Wylde. Steve Vai even publicly praised his playing—a milestone for Tosin
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Entrepreneurship: Founded Abasi Concepts in 2017 to build high-end ergonomic instruments. Despite early conflicts with initial builder Frank Falbo, the brand formed partnerships with World Musical Instrument Co., Dyna Gakki, and Grover Jackson Engineering
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Media fame: Revealed as the “air-guitar shredder” in Bill & Ted Face the Music (2020)
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Challenges: Music industry shifts—streaming royalties, gear design, production hurdles. Yet he found success through innovation and direct-to-fan engagement.
6. Present Day & Future
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Age: 42 (as of 2025)
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Residence: Likely splits time between D.C. roots and Atlanta (early career hub), while frequently touring worldwide.
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Ongoing work: Continues leading AAL, releasing music, touring, and designing guitars through Abasi Concepts. Collaborators include Ernie Ball Music Man on the Kaizen 7-string model,
📊 Personal Profile
| Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Real Name | Oluwatosin Ayoyinka Olumide Abasi |
| Date of Birth | January 7, 1983 (Capricorn) |
| Birth Place | Washington, D.C., USA |
| Residence | USA (D.C./Atlanta, touring internationally) |
| Profession | Guitarist, bandleader, guitar designer, entrepreneur |
| Nationality | American (Nigerian descent) |
| Religion | Private practices of Transcendental Meditation |
| Partner | Not publicly documented |
| Father | Nigerian immigrant, supportive of musical passion |
| Mother | Nigerian immigrant; prioritized academics |
| Horoscope | Capricorn Sun, Scorpio Moon |
| Age | 42 |
| Body Measurements | Not publicly available; focus is on musical identity |
| Bra/Hip Size | Not applicable |
| Weight/Height | Not documented |
| Body Type | Athletic/metropolitan musician profile |
| Eye Color | Likely dark/brown |
| Hair Color | Black (now transitioning to gray) |
FAQ
Q: What inspired the name “Animals as Leaders”?
A: The name comes from Daniel Quinn’s philosophical novel Ishmael, exploring humanity’s relationship with nature and power.
Q: Does Tosin use seven or eight-string guitars?
A: He popularized eight-string guitars with AAL but also designs seven- and six-string models through Abasi Concepts
Q: What other bands has he been in?
A: Besides PSI and Reflux, he co-founded T.R.A.M. and played live with Born of Osiris. He was also involved in high-profile tours like Generation Axe
Q: What’s Abasi Concepts?
A: His guitar company (founded in 2017) produces ergonomic, high-performance six-, seven-, and eight-string instruments. The current lineup includes Legion, Larada, JLarada, Master, Spartan, Space, and Emi models
Q: What’s next for him?
A: Expect more AAL releases, global touring, expanded Abasi Concepts models, and influence in guitar tech innovation.