Tote Fernández is a renowned Uruguayan drummer, composer, and educator based in Montevideo, blending progressive metal, modern groove, and high-energy instrumental music.
He stands out for an approach that combines power, technical precision, and a strong rhythmic identity. His style is defined by the organic integration of complexity and musicality, where virtuosity always serves the sound and overall expression.
After years of establishing himself as one of the most versatile and in-demand drummers in the Uruguayan scene—with an extensive career as a session musician both live and in the studio—Fernández has developed his solo project in parallel, channeling a more personal artistic vision focused on composition and sonic exploration.
In 2020, he released his debut album ANALYSIS PARALYSIS, a work rooted in progressive metal and alternative rock, featuring internationally acclaimed musicians such as Derek Sherinian (Dream Theater), Steve Di Giorgio (Testament, Death), Mattias Eklundh (Freak Kitchen), and Francisco Fattoruso. The album was nominated for the Graffiti Awards as Best Metal/Hard Rock Album.
In 2023, he released the single KAOS, a preview of his upcoming work, featuring collaborations with Martin Méndez (Opeth) and Hugo Fattoruso, further reinforcing an identity that blends the power of metal with an openness to rhythmic and sonic influences beyond the genre.
Throughout his career, he has worked with a wide range of artists both nationally and internationally, including Peyote Asesino, Laura Canoura, Dostrescinco, Jorge Drexler, La Triple Nelson, and Maria Creuza, among many others, spanning genres from rock and metal to jazz, funk, and popular music.
Alongside his artistic work, he maintains an active role as an educator, teaching private lessons and conducting clinics and masterclasses in Uruguay and abroad, mentoring a new generation of drummers through an approach that integrates technique, musicality, and creative thinking.
His training includes studies with internationally renowned drummers such as Dom Famularo, Bruce Becker, Billy Cobham, Mike Mangini, and Chad Wackerman. In 2009, he won the Montevideo Drumfest, and in 2020, he was a finalist in the international Drum Off Global competition.
He is currently an endorsed artist for Bosphorus Cymbals, Canopus Drums, Vater Drumsticks, Audix Microphones, and SkyGel Damperpads.