Tones And I is the latest addition to the lineup of speakers for Bigsound 2024, Australia’s music industry summit and showcase event.
A one-time busker who was discovered performing in Byron Bay and landed a global smash with “Dance Monkey,” Tones will discuss her vibrant musical journey for an in-conversation with Australian TV personality Myf Warhurst.
Since she unleashed “Dance Monkey” in 2019, Tones (real name Toni Watson) has smashed records with monotonous regularity. The track ruled the ARIA Singles Chart for an all-time record 24 weeks, and held top spot on the Official U.K. Singles Chart for 11 weeks, a record for a solo female artist.
Earlier this year, “Dance Monkey” clocked three billion streams on Spotify, making her the first female artist to pass that threshold.
Written by Tones and recorded with Brisbane producer Konstantin Kersting, “Dance Monkey” ruled charts in at least 30 territories and crashed the Billboard Hot 100, landing at No. 5 and securing for Tones top spot on Billboard’s Hot 100 Songwriters Chart. Earlier this year, Tones opened for Pink on the U.S. pop superstar’s Summer Carnival Tour, which sold 970,000 tickets (second only to Ed Sheeran’s Divide tour) and played to 20 stadiums — a national record for a single tour.
Also announced today (July 24), Garrwa and Butchulla songman Fred Leone will deliver a Bigsound keynote on the importance of honoring his role as a custodian of his tribe’s traditional songs, while Emily Copeland, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s new head of music, will deliver her own keynote, recounting her career in media and how its future will connect with the Australian music landscape.
They join the daytime conference lineup that includes previously-announced speakers such as Kelis, Amy Taylor, singer with Amyl and The Sniffers; VibeLab co-founder Lutz Leichsenring; Billboard’s Lyndsey Havens; Vinyl Group CEO Josh Simons; and Music Venue Trust CEO Mark Davyd.
Meanwhile, ARIA Award-nominated indie band Beddy Rays is added to the 120-strong bill of homegrown showcase acts, joining the likes of Stand Atlantic, Miiesha, JUNO, Keli Holiday, Sly Withers, Alex the Astronaut and many more.
Set for Sept. 3 – 6 in Brisbane, the 2032 Olympic city, Bigsound’s day-and-night action will once again make a splash in the vibrant Fortitude Valley.
The event is supported by the Queensland government through Tourism and Events Queensland, and is presented by Oztix and Brick Lane.
Visit Bigsound.org.au for more.