Global superstar Tones And I has released her new single “Won’t Sleep,” which previews her widely anticipated full-length debut expected to arrive this year [single artwork below]. “Won’t Sleep” is available now on all streaming platforms and accompanied by a Tones And I, Nick Kozakis and Liam Kelly directed official music video, which is streaming on Tones And I’s YouTube channel.
“Won’t Sleep” is an entirely solo composition from Tones And I, reflecting the inimitable idiosyncrasies of her signature style, highlighting her clever lyricism, unpredictable songcraft, and indisputable knack for a hook. Born as a personal antidote to the Lockdown doldrums, “Won’t Sleep” might just be the perfect soundtrack to reopening the world.
Elaborating on “Won’t Sleep,” Tones and I shared, “I loved writing this song and playing around with the production, the bass, and the drums. It’s a song about me and my friends staying home and partying through lockdown.”
Meanwhile, the music video continues what has become a tradition of highly unexpected and unforgettable visuals. Once again, she unveils another side of herself with no shortage of costume changes and unbelievable characters.
Of the video, she added, “When coming up with the creative for this film clip, I thought to myself, ‘Picture the most crazy thing ever’… and that’s what I wanted it to be. As with most of my videos, there are lots of prosthetics and different characters, and I had so much fun shooting it!”
“Won’t Sleep” follows on the heels of Tones And I’s recent single “Fly Away,” which stands out as one of her most personal, poetic, and powerful compositions. Originally released at the tail end of 2020, “Fly Away” has amassed over 160 million streams with Tones And I delivering performances of the song on Jimmy Kimmel Live! and The Ellen DeGeneres Show. This past fall, she recruited blackbear for the official remix of her 2020 hit “Ur So F**kInG cOoL,” the single version of which has surpassed 140 million streams and follows Tones And I’s standalone tracks “Can’t Be Happy All The Time” and “Bad Child.”
Tones And I’s global smash “Dance Monkey” was declared the most Shazamed single of all time, and officially became the 3rd most streamed song of all time on Spotify making the track the most streamed song ever by a female artist on the platform. The “Dance Monkey” official music video has surpassed 1.5 billion views on YouTube, while the track has eclipsed six billion streams globally and earned 4x platinum certification from the RIAA in the US as well as multi-platinum or diamond certification in sixteen other countries. Plus, “Dance Monkey” hit #4 on Billboard’s Hot 100 chart, making “Dance Monkey” the first top five Hot 100 hit solely written by a woman in over eight years. In Australia, “Dance Monkey” holds the all-time record for the most weeks spent at #1 on the ARIA Singles Chart, while in the UK “Dance Monkey” has made Tones And I the longest running #1 of all time by a female artist on the Official Singles Chart. The New York Times detailed the making of “Dance Monkey” in their Diary of a Song video series, speaking with Tones And I about her journey from local busker to global star.
“Dance Monkey” is featured on Tones And I’s RIAA gold certified debut EP The Kids Are Coming which earned her four major wins back home at last year’s ARIA Awards including: “Breakthrough Artist,” “Best Female Artist,” “Best Pop Release,” and “Best Independent Release.” Following the EP’s release Tones And I showcased her staggering voice across performances of “Dance Monkey” and standout single “Never Seen The Rain,” appearing on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, The Voice, The Ellen DeGeneres Show and The Today Show.
Originally from Australia’s Mornington Peninsula, Tones And I traveled to Byron Bay in early 2018 to take a chance at busking. On the first day she had crowds spilling onto the street. Tones quit her retail job and decided to make Byron her new home where she lived out of her van for a year, honing her songwriting and busking every weekend. A year later, she had one of the biggest songs in the world with her global smash “Dance Monkey.”
