For Don Toliver, Creating ‘Octane’ Was a Balance of Fatherhood and World-Building

“It all started with me wanting to combine outdoor camping and luxury vehicles,” Toliver said of the genesis of his passion project. “That evolved into me learning about geodesic domes. Geodesic domes are kind of like futuristic tents.

“And from that, I was like, ‘Why would I try to build all these tents in this whole world when I can possibly find a landmark that serves the purpose of what I’m trying to do?’ And that’s when I ran across everything for the album.”

Days before Octane‘s release, a rejuvenated Toliver opened up about the album’s creation, how fatherhood has reshaped his outlook, and this new chapter of balance, growth, and veteran-level confidence.

You’ve got your album Octane coming out. What’s the inspiration behind the title?
The inspiration behind the title is another phrase for more fuel consumption. It’s really what it is. I came to Heartland about two years ago, and I love the energy and everything. I just love the intensity of how I went about it [the album], everything I did, and all the energy that was around it. So, it’s just basically more fuel consumption. It’s really the basis of octane.

When did the recording process for this album start?
I want to say the Hardstone Psycho Tour was probably when I really kicked it off. Honestly, I really want to landmark it around this time. January last year. Around January 5th or 6th, I really started to lock in on this album.

In the album’s editorial photography, a mood board depicts Octane as a universe. What do you mean by that?
Basically, it’s kind of like I build when I’m in the universe. One thing I enjoy doing with my music is world-building. That’s kind of just building out a home for wherever the music lives, and I kind of sought after a place and a particular location to kind of be the home for the album. And from the home and the base of it, I kind of build out from there and create a universe.

On the mood board, you’ve got cars, tech, nature, cool tones, and astronomy. What made you choose those different things?
It started out being about luxury vehicles and what I want to say about camping or outdoor living. With that, there are a lot of people who camp at night. The cars and nature are where this album began for me. I wanted it to be a luxury outdoor living experience where I could connect through a studio out there.

And I was like, “Well, it can’t get even further than that.” And that’s where the tech and different outdoor appliances came in. And then on top of that, the astronomy pieces. Being out at night, standing in these places like Big Sur, and just looking at the constellation is quite impressive.

Living outdoors, but in a luxury vehicle, is where the whole nature aspect came in. It was like having a Ferrari F40 or something crazy. Not even that, just like a Nissan Skyline from the ’90s or some shit that you like and you’re just camping, equipment locked into it. Or an old Beamer that you love and you just packed everything, put everything you owned on top of it, and just really did some touch grass type shit. It’s really where the basis of this album started. It just evolved as I searched for a home for it.

How would you describe this project’s mood and vibe?
I think it’s an experience. It gives me energy. The vibe of it just feels very adventurous when I listen to it. It just makes me want to start my day. When I get in my car and play the record, it makes me want to just go wherever I need to go. It puts me in this Mission Impossible mindset. Of course, it’s my album, but that’s the kind of thing I think about and feel when I listen to it. Mood setting. I would say it’s definitely a moving piece. I love to dance to it. I wouldn’t call it a dance album, but overall, it’s really been something fun. It puts me on a ride and an adventure.

Was there a catalyst at that moment for you to really delve into it?
No. Honestly, after I was ready to get in the studio and embark on something new last year. At the top of the year, it just evolved into this.

Who are the producers that you worked with on this project?
Wheezy. My engineer and I did a lot of production on this album. I want to say about 60% or 70% of it. Dylan Wiggins. I produced three songs on this album. It’s kind of like a medley of different producers, but it’s a lot of just me and my engineer, to be honest.

What are the three tracks that you did personally?
“Rendezvous” featuring Yeat, “ATM,” and I did “Call Back.”

Other than Yeat, who are the other features on the album?
Rema, SahBabii, and Teezo Touchdown.

Will there be a visual component to this album?
I’ve been shooting and got a lot of visuals for this album. For my last album, I produced a short film piece. With this album, I created a lot of short-form content across visuals, videos, and everyday life, around this character and world I built. I leaned a little bit away from a full short piece and did a lot of IRL moments with me in this whole mode.

Where will that live?
Mount Wilson is where everything takes place. It’s in an observatory near downtown L.A. on a mountain top. It’s where we did a lot of research and development, preparation, and planning for this album.

Where can fans see that content?
Fans can see that content right now. If you look at my actual Instagram page, there are a couple of things there. I built a separate Instagram page dedicated to Mount Wilson, everything I did there, and this project as a whole. It’s called Octane Mountain.

It’s only private to select fans, media outlets, and anybody who’s just wondering whatever the hell I’m doing. I left that available for certain people.

Is that closed off, or is there a way fans can gain access?
Yeah, I opened it up. I let people in every other day.

Is that a contest or by random?
It’s by random, honestly. Very random.

This is the longest fans have had to wait for a new album from you. Was there a particular reason?
My son, man. My son has been taking a lot of my time in a very good way. I just wanted to take my time and see everything for what it was, you know?

What was your goal in making this album?
My goal in making this album was just trying to keep on schedule. I love to drop an album every year, every two years. Stay on schedule with how I want to drop my music. Keep my head in the future, and just be happy that I’m even able to do so.

How has fatherhood impacted your lifestyle and artistry?
It just makes me very, very cautious about my time. I can’t get time back. I can’t get my son’s time back. My time is very precious, bro, and I treat it as such because whatever I’m doing is probably taking away from him if he’s not next to me. That’s really the main shit that I just learned and been experiencing these last two years he’s been here.

Have you had him in the studio with you?
Yeah, man. He’s already cooking the beats. He’s singing, bro. He’s putting input on shit. It’s crazy.

That’s what’s up. You and your partner, Kali Uchis, have collaborated on at least three occasions that I know of. It was twice on two of your albums and once on hers. Can we expect a reunion?
Oh, I don’t know, man. Honestly, me and my girl have just been working on being parents, man. I think we’re in the place where we let music come to us when we really yearn for it. Between the two of us, we’ve just been so busy giving our son as much time as we are able to give him.

I like to keep work as work, you know what I’m saying? I really stress that a lot when it comes to how me and my girl operate. I’m just proud of how we’ve been taking time to do everything we can for our kid, man. That’s just been the most important piece for me.

What’s your favorite song on Octane?
“Pleasure’s Mine.”

What about that song makes it your favorite?
I really love the storyline behind the song. I love the production behind the song, and I love my tone. I love the melody a lot. The melody of that song to me is everything.

What are three songs from this album that you can’t wait for fans to hear?
“Body,” “Pleasure’s Mine,” and “Sweet Home. The energy in them is just crazy and infectious, and I think that people are really going to be in for a serious treat when they see that.

You’ve always shown a willingness to push the envelope in your music. What would you say is the biggest creative risk or leap you’ve taken between this project and the last one?
Just kind of going for my own production. I executive-produced this whole album, and I can say it’s like I’ve been following my heart more, and [it’s] less about what I think is hot.

What would you say is your current mission as an artist?
To be one of the greatest artists to ever live is honestly my end goal. Of course, it’s to be successful in whatever I do within this, but more so, just to be pronounced as one of the best. I’m fine with that.

There’s been a lot of talk about the rise of AI and music. What are your feelings on the topic?
I see AI as a tool. Honestly, people use certain tools for things I don’t think they should use them for all the time, but that’s life. That’s kind of like my biggest take on AI.

What I will say is I’m not using any vocal AI and won’t in any of my music. It doesn’t make any sense for me as an artist. I’m not knocking anyone who chooses to use it or uses it to collaborate or anything else; it’s just not something I will be implementing in my music at all.

You’re a part of Cactus Jack, along with Travis Scott and the rest of the team. How would you describe the evolution of the crew from when you joined to now?
Everybody’s just getting older. We’re getting wiser, and we are just trying to make the best possible music we can make and spread that love, bro. I just love the growth of everyone, and I just love how we move as a family unit when it’s time to do so. It’s crazy to me.

What do you feel sets y’all apart from other crews?
[We’re] just individuals who ain’t trying to [fit in]. We do our thing, bro. We do our own thing, and we stand on our own, too. We’re not pressing to be around or do anything with anybody that doesn’t [mesh]. I like that about us. We’re more of a show it [and] prove it and just be running our miles and talking and shit. I like that about all of us, so that’s what I feel just kind of sets us apart from a lot of other shit. We really just go and get it.

Cactus Jack has multiple projects dropping this year. Will 2026 be the year of Cactus Jack?
Man, I feel like every year is our year. No matter what’s going on, it’s one of us somewhere working on something diabolical, so I’m just happy to be a part of everything. To still be out here doing my thing.

How would you say music and the business of it have changed since you came into the game?
Things just move fast, and people’s attention just gets farther and farther away from the plot, which is how I look at it.

Do you have plans to tour for this album?
I do.

Do you have plans for a tour? The name, the markets you’re going to hit, and all of that?
To be honest, we’ll get into this more over the next couple of weeks, as we’re about to drop it, but not yet. I’m really in the thick of it and just making decisions on what I really want to do.

Do you have any artists you might bring along?
No. Right now, I can’t really speak on it. It’s just knowing that it’s going to be incredible, man.

What are your plans for the next half of this decade?
Honestly, these next five years are very pivotal and important for my son. I’m going to drop this album and hopefully take some quality time to really lock in with my kid and scope the scene from there.

Listen to Don Toliver’s Octane album below.