Curated Artist Library
Forge Brief
Tones and I
2018-present; commercial peak 2019-2020 (Dance Monkey global hit)
Theatrical, Australian-distinctive, electro-pop — pop as Mornington-Peninsula-via-busking theatrical-outsider ritual.
Genres
indie popelectro-popaustralian pop
Vocal character
Tones and I: distinctive Australian-accented contralto with nasal, theatrical projection and chest-voice belted chorus peaks. Conversational verses lifting to theatrical-pop chorus peaks; vibrato-restrained phrasing; never-conventional vocal aesthetic.
Production markers
Konstantin Kersting productionindie-pop + electro-pop foundation (analog-synth bass + 4-on-the-floor kick + handclaps + minor-key piano)multi-tracked vocal harmony stacksreverb-light intimate vocal productionelectro-pop arrangement with theatrical edgenever-conventional vocal-foreground mix
Lyrical themes
observation of street-busker life + escape from small townspecific named situations with theatrical detailfemale empowerment via independencecelebration of difference + outsidernessself-aware introspection
Signature moves
nasal-theatrical chest-voice belted chorus peakminor-key piano + analog-synth bass foundationmulti-tracked harmony hookbusker-life specific-named lyric
Avoid — off-brand for this artist
EDM drops without polishrap features as dominantmetal guitarauto-tune as crutchcountry productionlo-fi indie production
More like Tones and I
- Conan Gray
2017-present
indie popbedroom popsad pop - Gracie Abrams
2019-present
indie popbedroom popsinger-songwriter pop - Japanese Breakfast
2013-present
indie popdream popindie rock - Maggie Rogers
2016-present
indie popfolk popsinger-songwriter pop - MGMT
2002-present
indie popneo-psychedeliasynth-pop
Ranked by genre overlap + era proximity. Browse the full library →