Tiarn Toni may be an emerging singer-songwriter, but I have been watching her journey since 2020. Initially from Bundaberg, Queensland, Tiarn pivoted from her career as a dance teacher after sustaining an injury that didn’t permit her to continue. Searching for a new purpose, Tiarn returned to university to study a Diploma of Music, where she learned the finer details of composition and songwriting.
Now based in Melbourne, Tiarn spends her days as a multi-discplinary artist, combining singing and songwriting with composing. Tiarn Toni has released a series of genre-bending singles as a solo artist over the past 2 years, prior to her new single being released today ‘Small Country Hometown’.
You are a singer-songwriter and composer – which role do you enjoy most?
“I love songwriting, it allows me to be honest and vulnerable which at times can be quite challenging, especially when I’m writing about my personal experiences. But ultimately it helps me express myself and dissect my emotions creatively, turning painful moments into something I can share with others. It helps me to not feel so alone in the world and gives me a sense of connection. At the same time, composing gives me a sense of being outside of myself. When I’m creating for something more tangible like dance or visuals, I feel more removed from the process and it’s less about my emotions and more about what the music needs.
Sometimes this can be more of a challenge, however, I often find that in a way it allows me to experiment more. So, I guess I enjoy both roles but if I had to choose, I would probably say singer-songwriter, I don’t think I could go more than a day or two without sitting at my piano and singing a tune.”
How would you now describe your sound in 2024 vs in 2020 when I first discovered you?
“Wow, that feels like a lifetime ago. I had only just started my journey with music and was still studying when you first discovered me back in 2020. I would say I was in my experimental phase for sure, trying out different genres and leaning towards more cinematic compositions. I was also experimenting with my vocals, so my sound was more alternative, and it even had a bit of a 90’s trip- hop vibe – I attribute that to my love of contemporary dance. But as I leaned more into my natural voice and started focusing on the songwriting process, I started writing more about my childhood growing up on a farm and my life in a small town and how much I missed the quiet life, and I just naturally started pivoting towards a more folk/country sound. In the end, I’ve always admired the vulnerability and storytelling found in folk and country music, which is something I strive for in my writing, so I think it was inevitable that I’d go down this road.”
’Small Country Hometown’ is now up across all streaming platforms. What does this release mean to you, and how did you come to create the track?
“I started writing ‘Small Country Hometown’ on the side of the road when my pickup broke down on the way back to Melbourne after my annual trip home to Bundaberg over the summer. I was starting to have post-vacation blues and was thinking about all the things I’d miss going back to the city, and why I even moved there in the first place, and the lyrics just started flowing. I sang it for my husband, and he said, “Looks like you just wrote your first country song”, so when I got home to Melbourne, I started producing it, fast forward to today and it’s finally out for the world to hear. It means a lot to me because it helped express all the things I’ve been feeling lately, the sense of community that feels absent in the city in a lot of ways, and it gave me a way to explore the reasons why I left my hometown. Ironically, it’s all the things I miss now.”
What is something your fans wouldn’t know about you?
“For a hot second, I studied Psychology thinking that I could change the world, but quickly realised I missed being creative too much and the long road to a Doctorate seemed too far away. Also, I love sour lollies – ever since I bought my first Warheads showbag back in primary school.”
Could you share a highlight from the past twelve months that has shaped the success of where you’re headed with your music?
“Honestly, it’s not a ‘highlight’ as most people would see it, like a career achievement, but taking the time to discover my voice and what I need to say in my music has been a turning point for me as an artist. When I first started producing, I jumped headfirst, straight in, and didn’t know exactly what I was doing or how the industry worked. I released a few songs, played a few gigs, collaborated with a few people, and even took on my very first commissions, although I loved doing all those things, I didn’t give myself or the music space to breathe, so things felt disconnected for me. But over the past 12 months, I stopped everything and just focused on songwriting and my voice, and taking that time drasticallychanged my sound and how I feel about the music. It reminded me of why I love music, and ultimately led me down the path of writing ‘Small Country Hometown’.”
What’s next?
“I’m excited to be releasing more music, with a handful of singles ready to be released early next year. I’m also working towards an EP that’s centred around the themes of faith, misery, and love.”
We all start somewhere – could you share a reflection on your musical journey so far and any advice for your younger self?
“I returned to uni to study music in my 30s, so I’m arriving late to the music scene. I grew up playing piano as a kid, but it wasn’t until I had to give up my job as a dance teacher that I realised how much music shaped my life. It was the source of my inspiration in movement and since then it’s become a vessel of expression for me, a way to connect with others. I always loved music, but there was a part of me that was scared to tell my story that way, fearful that I wouldn’t live up to expectations, but getting older, and only a little bit wiser, I realise that you’re never too old or inexperienced to create the art you want to see in the world. So, to my younger self, I would say, you have time, find yourself, and it’s ok to be scared, everyone is, just be brave as well.”
Her vocals have been described as a “magical blend of coldness, melancholy, and defiance,” while her production adopts a nuanced fusion of alternative country and indie folk. Head over to your favourite music streaming platform and take alisten to Tiarn Toni’s new single, ‘Small Country Hometown’.
