Tones And I

Toni Watson, known professionally as Tones and I, is an Australian singer, songwriter, and record producer. She grew up on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria, Australia, and learned to play keyboards and drum pads in high school. Before her music career took off, she was a vocalist for a duo in 2014 and later began busking in Melbourne while working in retail. After being made redundant from her job, she bought a loop station and started to develop her solo act. In 2017, she travelled to Byron Bay to try busking, which proved to be a pivotal decision in her career.

Career Beginnings and Breakthrough

In early 2018, Tones and I fully committed to her music, living out of her van in Byron Bay for a year. Her big break came in February 2019 when she signed with Bad Batch Records/Sony Music Australia and uploaded her debut single, "Johnny Run Away," to Triple J's Unearthed website. The song quickly gained popularity and reached number 12 on the Australian singles chart. However, it was her second single, "Dance Monkey," released in May 2019, that catapulted her to global fame. The song reached number one in over 30 countries, breaking numerous records, including spending 24 weeks at the top of the Australian singles chart. In February 2024, "Dance Monkey" became the first song by a female artist to surpass 3 billion streams on Spotify.

The Kids Are Coming EP and Welcome to the Madhouse

Following the massive success of "Dance Monkey," Tones and I released her debut extended play, "The Kids Are Coming," on August 30, 2019. The EP peaked at number three in Australia and charted in the top 10 in several other countries. Her debut album, "Welcome to the Madhouse," was released on July 16, 2021, and debuted at number one on the ARIA Albums Chart. The album features the singles "Fly Away," "Won't Sleep," and "Cloudy Day."

Awards and Recognition

Tones and I has received numerous awards throughout her career. At the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, she was the most awarded artist, winning four awards from eight nominations, including Breakthrough Artist and Best Female Artist. She has also won multiple APRA Music Awards, including Song of the Year for "Dance Monkey" in 2020. The global success of "Dance Monkey" also led to it becoming the most Shazamed song of all time.

Recent Work

Tones and I has continued to release new music, including the single "I Made It," which was featured in the 2023 biopic "True Spirit." She also performed at the closing ceremony of the 2023 FIFA Women's World Cup. Her second studio album, "Beautifully Ordinary," was announced with a scheduled release in August 2024, preceded by the single "Dreaming."