- 2024-08-05
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MUSIC
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Tones And I Releases New Album “Beautifully Ordinary”
Australian singer-songwriter Tones And I released her sophomore album “Beautifully Ordinary” on August 2, 2024 via Bad Batch Records.
The album is her first LP in three years since the 2021 debut album “Welcome to the Madhouse” and comprises a 16-track.
Tones And I wrote this album during her tour over a period of a year and a half.
All written by Tones And I, additionally, co-writer American pop rock band X Ambassadors' Sam Nelson Harris on “Dreaming”, American singer-songwriter Rick Nowels on “Wonderful” and “John Doe”, American singer-songwriter Budo on “Live Without Your Love”, and Canadian singer-songwriter Jenna Andrews on “Call My Name”.
Produced by Jenna Andrews, Randy Belculfine, Jacob Farah, Jerome Farah, Joel Farland, Sam Nelson Harris, Stephen Kirk, Rick Nowels, Toni Watson, and Xander.
Tones And I said of the album, “Beautifully Ordinary is my sophomore album,” Tones and I explains. “There was never a theme or tone I aspired to. Each song is a different story, meant for its own moment. Some songs have been inspired by the same life experience, but through a different perspective. Mostly the album presents itself as whatever the listener takes from it. There's an undertone of loneliness, heartbreak, desperation, fear, vulnerability, and triumph (but not too much).
She continued, “The brightest songs have the saddest stories. Nostalgia seems to be a constant theme throughout the album, although it was never intentional. Subconsciously, I think the past is just something that really controls the person I am today – as I'm sure it does for a lot of us.”- Tones And I told Apple Music about the album, “The last album, I'm not really happy with at all, I wanted to change so much. I don't want to regret this one like I regret the last one. The production was lazy. It was just lazy work. I wasn't honest and vulnerable about myself, I [just] wrote poppy melodies. As a composer I really wanted to create an album that had more depth to it.”
She shared on social media, “Please take the time if you have spare to listen to this album. Not as a favour to me, writing it was my journey I needed to go on in order it reflect on my past but releasing it is a gift I give YOU in hopes that it helps you reflect on yours.” -
Tones And I explained track-by-track for the album via Apple Music.
“To Be Loved”
“I brought things up that I've never brought up before. I think that's me opening myself up to keep growing. But genuinely, I gave in that song as much as I could; I probably couldn't go into much more detail comfortably. I think I need to slowly start edging towards opening up more, and this is kind of my first step into that ocean.”
“Lose Someone Like Me”
“It's the biggest heartbreak that a young girl could have, which is with my best friend. It's still raw. Even though it's been a few years, I haven't been able to write about it. And that's why I almost didn't release this song. And I know this person will know who it's about. And this will be my version of reaching out. It's important that I put it out there so I can move on.”
“I Get High”
“'I Get High' is about those best friends that you have, and you're not old enough to go to clubs yet, but you get in cars with older boys at night, you sneak out, or you drink in the park, and you get up to mischief. Our feelings are so heightened at that age. As we get older, we have to subdue our emotions a lot more. There are great friendships when you're that young and you share so much and go through so much together. I really wanted to touch on that.”
“We'll See Stars”
“I wanted it to be about giving my sister one night of no worries. I just want her to be happy, and that flows into 'Wonderful' as well. This one's about 'let's go out for the night, put all your worries aside, let's have a sister night. I want you to experience life to its fullest and I want you to let go and have a good time.' I picture my sister running around the city at night just having a good time.”
“Dance With Me”
“I wanted this song to feel bassy and '80s, kind of giving a vibe of Robyn's 'Call Your Girlfriend' or 'Dancing on My Own.' But even though sonically you're moving to it, you're dancing to it, the lyrics are sad. And I love that. The song doesn't mean you're physically dancing. Whatever the thing that you and your partner used to do when you were at your happiest moment, I'm sitting here in that spot waiting for you to come back to me, but you're nowhere to be seen. So I'm just here on my own.”
“Figure It Out”
“This is the first track I wrote for the album. I wanted time to grow. I think everyone needs time to grow. People think that your first or biggest thing is just who you are now, and that's such a defining factor of everything. But I think it's important that everyone gets that opportunity to grow, and I think I'm asking for it in that chorus.”
“Wonderful”
“It's about my sister, or it could be my best friend. There's times where they're at their lowest, and you just want to give them your perspective so that they could see how much potential they have, even though their brain isn't letting them see that. It's just about trying to help them at their worst.”
“Raise Me Up”
“Another song about desperation in a relationship, just wanting to be seen and heard. The song is about needing help and asking for it.”
“Dreaming”
“'Dreaming' could be about a friendship or love. For me it's both. [It's saying] I don't know if it's all in my head, but I think we're growing apart. It goes into detail in the verses, but then it goes back to 'but is it all in my head?' So not really knowing.”
“You Don't Know Me Like That”
“This is about a stalker. I have this stalker that comes to my house, leaves random stuff. I've got this massive thing they wrote me. I didn't ever mean to talk about this. But my friend that I wrote it with, we just loved it so much. It's got a nice vibe to it. But ultimately, it's about trying to get rid of a stalker.”
“John Doe”
“'John Doe' is about someone that you meet and you have that instant connection, but you don't want to say anything or do anything. It's about wanting to go to that person and know more about them and see if there's something there but [you're] a bit hesitant.”
“Sorrento”
“David is my papa. A year before he passed I said, 'For my wedding present I would love for you to write me your life story.' And he wrote that for me. I just thought I'd share a little memory of him, and now it will be there forever.”
“Need You to Love Me”
“It starts a bit more vulnerable. It starts like you're right there, I'm right there in front of you, singing about a relationship and the struggles of that. And then it turns into a little bit more of an upbeat kind of [song]. This album is the only time I've ever written about love. It's really also about the struggles in relationships. It's almost like I'm trying to convince myself, 'Do I deserve better?' Which is so vulnerable to say.”
“Only One”
“I was going through such a hard time when I wrote this song—serious heartbreak. And I couldn't write anything. I was just so sad. I wanted to be so angry, but the chorus is [saying], 'I still think that you're the one for me.' Which is the head fuck about it. 'I have so much love for you, this is so hard.'”
“Live Without Your Love”
“This one was written a long time ago. This is about my friend; she is so happy. I realized the friendship that she gives me is so important. It helps me become a better person; it helps me see the brighter sides. If I was running around with another pessimist, then I would be doubling down on myself. And so it ended up being 'we're never going to be the same person, but I love you for that. And I can't live without your love.'”
“Call My Name”
“I realized I had a lot of vulnerability in the album. So I wanted to have that more four-to-the-floor moment, just to showcase that a little bit more. I haven't got a big, long story about the lyrics; it's two professional songwriters [Watson and Jenna Andrews] in a room writing a pop song. And that is what that is.” - source : Apple Music
