Tones and I is an Australian pop singer and songwriter. Her first two singles “Johnny
Run Away” and “Dance Monkey” were released in early 2019. Both tracks have
been certified multi-platinum in Australia. However, the latter became a worldwide hit,
topping charts in more than 30 different countries. Tones now hold the record for
longest-running #1 single on the ARIA Singles Chart. The record was previously held by
Ed Sheeran (Shape Of You). Tones and I is currently signed to Bad Batch Records (Sony
Music Australia). Her debut EP, The Kids Are Coming, was released in August 2019.
Tones was born Toni Watson on August 15, 1993, in Victoria, Australia. She grew up in
Mount Martha – a seaside suburb of Melbourne. In addition to vocals, Watson is an
instrumentalist. She learned both the keyboards and drums during high school. She also
played basketball as a kid. Watson kicked off her busking career in Byron Bay. She met
her current manager, Jackson Walkden-Brown, during one of her street performances. In
early 2018, Watson quit her retail job and moved to Byron Bay. She lived out of her van
for the remainder of the year.
CAREER
Watson launched her YouTube channel back in November 2017. Her oldest video was a
cover of “Hey Ya!” by OutKast. She followed up with song covers of “Drop The Game” and
“Gold” by Chet Faker. The YouTube channel now has 1.1+ million subscribers and 440+
million views. In 2019, Tones signed with Bad Batch Records (an affiliate of Sony). She
has a co-management deal with Walkden-Brown’s ‘Artists Only’ and with ‘Lemon Tree
Music.’ She’s also signed to the Paradigm Talent Agency and to Warner Chappell Music.
Tones and I’s debut single “Johnny Run Away” was released on March 1, 2019. It was
produced by Konstantin Kersting and the supporting music video was directed by Luke
Dunning. The song was originally shared on Triple J Unearthed 2 weeks prior. ‘Johnny
Run Away’ peaked at #12 on the ARIA charts. It was certified 2x Platinum with more than
140,000 units sold. The music video boasts 7+ million views on YouTube.
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Tones’ second single “Dance Monkey” arrived on May 10, 2019. It didn’t disappoint,
peaking at #1 in more than 30 countries. Most notably, the song has spent 20+
consecutive weeks atop the ARIA Singles Chart. It rose to #9 on the US Billboard Hot 100
and peaked at #1 in the UK. Dance Monkey has already sold upwards of 2.5 million copies
worldwide. The music video attracted 375+ million views in under 6 months. Tones won 3
awards at the 2019 ARIA Music Awards, including best female artist and best pop release.
On November 18, 2019, she had a stellar performance on The Tonight Show with Jimmy
The Kids Are Coming, Tones and I’s debut EP, was released in August 2019 by Bad Batch
and Sony Music Australia. It was produced exclusively by Konstantin Kersting. The EP
was led by the title single “The Kids Are Coming” and the aforementioned “Johnny Run
Away” and “Dance Monkey.” The tracklist also includes “Never Seen the Rain”,
“Colourblind” and “Jimmy.” The project charted at #3 on the Australian Albums chart. It
won the award for best independent release at the 2019 ARIA Music Awards.
Tones and I Career Timeline
She created her YouTube channel in 2009.
Her YouTube channel, Tones And I has already garnered over 2.33 million subscribers, as of February 2020.
She started posting Cappella cover versions in her early career.
She was also working in a clothing store.
She started busking in Melbourne.
She performed local gigs and festivals.
In 2014, she performed as a vocalist for a duo.
She bought an RC300 (loop station) from the money made from her retail job.
Caption : Australian singer-songwrier, Tones and I.
She met Jackson Walkden-Brown there. He later became one of her talent managers.
She traveled to Byron Bay to try busking there in September 2017.
She later quit her job and seriously decided to pursue a career in music.
She lived out of her van in Byron Bay in 2018.
She won the Battle of the Buskers at Buskers by the Creek in 2017.
She
signed with Bad Batch Records/Sony Music Australia in February 2019.
She also signed a co-management deal with Artists Only and Lemon Music.
The single was later sent to the Australian radio station Triple. The single became a hit.
She uploaded her debut single, “Johnny Run Away” to an Australian website, Unearthed.
She officially released the single and peaked at number 12 on the ARIA Singles Chart.
The
single became a quick hit and peaked at number one over 30 countries
including Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, Belgium, Austria,
Canada, China, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Japan,
Malaysia, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, Switzerland,
the United Kingdom, and South Africa. It peaked at number 5 in the
United States.
She broke the record for the most weeks atop the
ARIA Singles Chart by any artist in November 2019. Ed Sheeran’s “Shape
of You” previously remained atop for 15 weeks.
She released her second single, “Dance Monkey” on 10 May 2019.
Caption : Tones and I’s single, “Dance Monkey” peaked at number 1 in over 30 countries.
By mid-January 2020, her single spent 24 weeks at number one.
She performed at the Big Pineapple Music Festival in May 2019.
It was the first song by an Australian artist to reach number one on “Spotify’s global daily top 200 streaming chart”.
She opened for Splendour in the Grass 2019 as the Triple J Unearthed
Splendour in the Grass competition winner. She broke the record for the
biggest crowd of an opening set.
She released her debut extended play, The Kids Are Coming in August 2019.
She released her third single, “Never Seen the Rain” in July 2019.
She made her USA Television debut on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon.
She started her Kids Are Coming World Tour in February 2020.
Caption : Tones and I won 4 ARIA Music Awards of 8 nominations in 2019.
She was later featured on several television talk shows in the United States.
PERSONAL
Tones and I is around 5ft 5in tall and she’s a Leo. Her net worth is estimated at $5 million
USD. She earns from music sales/streams, YouTube, and shows. Her online store sells
“The Kids Are Coming” merchandise (hats, hoodies, t-shirts). Tones has an impressive
20+ million monthly listeners on Spotify. She has thousands of fans across Instagram,
Twitter, and Facebook pages.
Watson’s first song “Johnny Run Away” was heavily influenced by the story of her best
friend coming out to a disapproving dad. Her second song “Dance Monkey” was a bit
more personal. It talks about her busking career and the various challenges that she’s
faced. In September 2019, Tones performed in front of 100K people at the AFL Grand
Final at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. She’s performed at the French NRJ Music Awards
in November 2019.
Tones & I’s Zodiac sign is Leo.
Who is Tones and I Dating?
Tones and I rose to limelight overnight following the release of her single,
“Dance Monkey”. Before the single, she was just a struggling singer,
known by few. Thus, detail information about her personal life is not
available at present. Her social media handles do not hints about her
relationship status either. Any development in her relationship status
will be updated.
Real Name: Toni Watson
Birthday: August 15, 1993
Age: 28 Years Old
Place of Birth: Mount Martha, Victoria, Australia
Zodiac Sign: Leo
Height: 5ft 5in (165 cm)
Occupation: Singer, Songwriter
Years Active: 2017-present
Net Worth: US $5 Million
