Tones and I is an Australian singer, songwriter and record producer best known for her global hit song “Dance Monkey.” Born Toni Watson, she rose from performing as a street busker in Australia to becoming one of the country’s most successful international pop artists. Her distinctive voice, unconventional style and energetic performances have made her one of the most recognisable Australian musicians of her generation.
Tones and I first gained major attention after moving to Byron Bay in 2017 to pursue a career in music. She performed on the streets while living out of a van and eventually attracted the attention of music manager Jackson Walkden-Brown. Her breakthrough came with “Dance Monkey,” which became a worldwide phenomenon after its release in 2019.
The success of “Dance Monkey” transformed Tones and I’s career almost overnight. The song topped charts in more than 30 countries and became one of the most-streamed songs in music history. Since then, she has released multiple projects, performed internationally and expanded her career as a songwriter and producer.
Tones and I Profile Summary
| Fact | Details |
| Real name | Toni Watson |
| Stage name | Tones and I |
| Date of birth | 1993 |
| Age | 33 years old |
| Birthplace | Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, Australia |
| Nationality | Australian |
| Profession | Singer, songwriter and record producer |
| Genres | Pop, electropop, indie pop |
| Best known for | “Dance Monkey” |
| Breakthrough | Street busking in Byron Bay |
| Debut EP | The Kids Are Coming |
| Debut album | Welcome to the Madhouse |
| Second album | Beautifully Ordinary |
| Husband | Jimmy Bedford |
| Marriage | 2023 |
| Children | No publicly confirmed children |
| Height | Not reliably documented |
Tones and I Early Life
Toni Watson, professionally known as Tones and I, grew up on Australia’s Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. She developed an interest in music at a young age and learned to play instruments including keyboard and electronic drums. Music eventually became an important creative outlet for her.
Before achieving mainstream success, Watson lived a relatively ordinary life and worked outside the music industry. She performed at local venues and developed her confidence as a singer and songwriter before deciding to pursue music more seriously.
In 2017, Watson travelled to Byron Bay to try street performing. She eventually spent around a year busking and living in a van while developing her songwriting and performance skills. The experience proved to be the turning point in her career.
Tones and I Education
Tones and I’s formal education has received relatively little attention compared with her music career. She attended school in Victoria and developed an interest in music during her teenage years.
Rather than following a traditional university or conservatory route into music, Watson developed much of her musical ability independently. She learned instruments and songwriting through practice and performance rather than relying on extensive formal music education.
Her time as a busker became an important part of her practical musical education. Performing for strangers every day helped her develop stage confidence, learn how to connect with audiences and refine the distinctive vocal and performance style that later became central to her success.
Tones and I Career
Tones and I’s professional career began to accelerate after she moved to Byron Bay and started busking. Her performances attracted attention from manager Jackson Walkden-Brown, who eventually helped her secure a recording deal and develop her career in the Australian music industry.
Her breakthrough single, “Dance Monkey,” was released in 2019 and became an international sensation. The song topped charts around the world and made Tones and I one of the biggest new artists in global pop music.
She followed the success with her debut EP, The Kids Are Coming, and later released her debut studio album, Welcome to the Madhouse, in 2021. Her second studio album, Beautifully Ordinary, followed in 2024, demonstrating her continued development as a songwriter and recording artist.
Tones and I and Dance Monkey
“Dance Monkey” is the song that made Tones and I internationally famous. Released in 2019, the track became one of the biggest global pop hits of the late 2010s and early 2020s.
The song reached No. 1 in more than 30 countries and became particularly successful in Australia, the United Kingdom, Canada and numerous European markets. Its unusual vocal delivery and catchy melody helped it stand out from conventional pop music.
“Dance Monkey” also became one of the most-streamed songs of all time. Its extraordinary commercial success transformed Tones and I from a relatively unknown Australian busker into an internationally recognised recording artist.
Tones and I Albums
Tones and I released her debut EP, The Kids Are Coming, in 2019. The project contained “Dance Monkey” and helped establish her as a major new voice in international pop music.
Her debut studio album, Welcome to the Madhouse, was released in 2021. The album explored themes of fame, relationships, personal experiences and the emotional pressures that accompanied her rapid rise to international success.
In 2024, she released Beautifully Ordinary, a project that showed a more mature side of her songwriting and musical identity. The album further established her ability to create music beyond the sound associated with her breakthrough hit.
Tones and I Recent Career
Tones and I has continued to release music and collaborate with other artists following the global success of “Dance Monkey.” Her collaborations have included work with artists such as Macklemore, Switch Disco, David Guetta, Teddy Swims and Fisher.
Her song “Gone Gone Gone,” released with David Guetta and Teddy Swims, became another international charting release. She also collaborated with Fisher on “Favour,” further demonstrating her ability to move between different areas of contemporary pop and electronic music.
In 2026, Tones and I expanded her television career by joining The Voice Australia as a coach. The role introduced her to a new generation of Australian television viewers while allowing her to share her experience with emerging singers.
Tones and I Trending: Why Is Tones and I Famous?
Tones and I is famous primarily because of her worldwide hit “Dance Monkey,” one of the most successful Australian songs of the modern era. The song turned her from a street performer into a global superstar and remains the defining release of her career.
Her rise is also notable because of how unconventional it was. She left her previous life behind, moved to Byron Bay, lived in a van and performed as a busker before being discovered. Her story became an example of an independent musician achieving extraordinary international success.
Tones and I has also remained in the spotlight because of her continuing music career and her move into television as a coach on The Voice Australia. Her personal life has generated renewed attention as well, particularly following reports in 2026 that she and her husband Jimmy Bedford had separated.
Tones and I Personal Life
Tones and I began dating Australian bricklayer and former footballer Jimmy Bedford around 2020. Bedford later stopped working in bricklaying and became involved in Watson’s touring career as her stage technician and touring audio engineer.
The couple became engaged in December 2021 and secretly married in Bali in March 2023. Watson announced the marriage publicly after the ceremony, describing Bedford as her best friend.
In 2026, reports emerged indicating that Tones and I and Bedford had separated. The reports followed changes in their social-media activity and Bedford’s announcement that he and his new partner were expecting a child. Neither the circumstances surrounding the separation nor detailed reasons for it have been publicly explained by Watson.
Tones and I Age, Religion, Nationality, Height and Physical Appearance
Tones and I was born Toni Watson in 1993, making her 33 years old in 2026. Her exact date of birth has been the subject of conflicting reports over the years, and her birth year has also been reported differently by some publications.
Her religion has not been reliably documented in authoritative public sources, so a specific religious affiliation should not be attributed to her without confirmation.
Tones and I is Australian and grew up on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria. She is recognisable for her distinctive short blonde hairstyle, expressive fashion choices and unconventional stage appearance. Her exact height has not been reliably documented in authoritative public sources.
Tones and I Social Media Presence
Tones and I maintains a significant social-media presence where she shares updates about her music, performances, collaborations and personal life. Her online following has grown substantially alongside her international music career.
Her social-media platforms have also been used to announce new music and career developments, including collaborations and major professional appearances.
Her Instagram handle is @tonesandi, where she maintains a public presence connected to her music career.
Tones and I Net Worth
Tones and I’s exact current net worth has not been publicly confirmed. Her income has come from music sales, streaming royalties, songwriting, touring, live performances, publishing, collaborations and other entertainment-related activities.
The extraordinary commercial success of “Dance Monkey” has been a major source of her financial success. With billions of streams across digital platforms and extensive international exposure, the song continues to generate royalties years after its original release.
Based on her international music career, streaming success, songwriting income, touring history, record sales and commercial collaborations, Tones and I’s net worth can reasonably be estimated at around US$10 million to US$20 million. This is an informed estimate rather than a confirmed financial figure, as her personal assets, investments and current earnings have not been publicly disclosed.
Tones and I Legacy
Tones and I’s legacy is already strongly connected to “Dance Monkey,” which became one of the most successful Australian pop songs ever released. The song’s international success helped establish an Australian independent artist as a major force in global pop music.
Her rise from busking on the streets of Byron Bay to performing for international audiences has also become an important part of her story. It demonstrated that an artist could build a global career from grassroots performances and an unconventional path into the music industry.
Beyond “Dance Monkey,” Tones and I has continued to evolve as a songwriter, producer and performer. Her later albums, collaborations and television work show an artist attempting to develop beyond the single that first made her famous.
Conclusion
Tones and I, whose real name is Toni Watson, is an Australian singer, songwriter and record producer who rose from busking in Byron Bay to becoming a global pop star. Her 2019 hit “Dance Monkey” topped charts in more than 30 countries and became one of the most-streamed songs in music history, transforming her career. With multiple albums, international collaborations and a growing television career including her role as a coach on The Voice Australia, Tones and I has established herself as one of Australia’s most successful contemporary music exports.
Frequently Asked Questions About Tones and I
Who is Tones and I?
Tones and I is an Australian singer, songwriter and record producer best known for her worldwide hit song “Dance Monkey.”
What is Tones and I’s real name?
Tones and I’s real name is Toni Watson.
How old is Tones and I?
Tones and I was born in 1993 and is 33 years old in 2026.
Where is Tones and I from?
Tones and I is from Victoria, Australia, and grew up on the Mornington Peninsula.
What is Tones and I famous for?
Tones and I is famous for her global hit “Dance Monkey,” which became one of the most successful songs by an Australian artist.
What happened to Tones and I before she became famous?
Before becoming famous, Tones and I worked outside the music industry and later moved to Byron Bay, where she performed as a street busker and lived in a van while pursuing music.
When did Tones and I become famous?
Tones and I became internationally famous in 2019 after releasing “Dance Monkey.”
What is Tones and I’s biggest song?
Tones and I’s biggest and most recognisable song is “Dance Monkey.”
How many countries did Dance Monkey reach number one in?
“Dance Monkey” reached No. 1 in more than 30 countries.
Is Tones and I married?
Tones and I married Australian former footballer and stage technician Jimmy Bedford in Bali in March 2023. Reports in 2026 indicated that the couple had separated.
Who is Tones and I’s husband?
Tones and I’s husband was Jimmy Bedford, an Australian former footballer and bricklayer who later worked as her stage technician and touring audio engineer. Reports in 2026 indicated that they had separated.
Does Tones and I have children?
There are no publicly confirmed children of Tones and I. Her former husband Jimmy Bedford announced in 2026 that he and his new partner were expecting a child.
What is Tones and I’s nationality?
Tones and I is Australian.
What religion is Tones and I?
Tones and I’s religion has not been reliably documented in authoritative public sources.
How tall is Tones and I?
Tones and I’s exact height has not been reliably documented in authoritative public sources.
What is Tones and I’s net worth?
Tones and I’s exact net worth is not publicly confirmed. Based on her international music career, streaming royalties, songwriting, touring and collaborations, her net worth can reasonably be estimated at approximately US$10 million to US$20 million.
What is Tones and I’s Instagram?
Tones and I’s Instagram handle is @tonesandi.
What albums has Tones and I released?
Tones and I’s major releases include The Kids Are Coming, Welcome to the Madhouse and Beautifully Ordinary.
Is Tones and I on The Voice Australia?
Yes. In 2026, Tones and I joined The Voice Australia as a coach.
How did Tones and I get discovered?
Tones and I was discovered after performing as a busker in Byron Bay. Her street performances attracted the attention of music manager Jackson Walkden-Brown, who subsequently helped develop her professional career.
When did Tones and I start busking?
Tones and I moved to Byron Bay in 2017 and began performing as a street busker while pursuing a career in music.
Is Tones and I still making music?
Yes. Tones and I continues to release music, collaborate with other artists and perform internationally while also expanding her career into television.