Tones and I to quit music after worldwide success of Dance Monkey

Tones and I is preparing to kiss her career as a live performer goodbye to work behind the scenes of the music industry instead.

The 27-year-old, known for her worldwide hit Dance Monkey, told Gawndy & Maz she plans to step away from the stage because of the toll it takes on her mental health. 

‘I don’t know how much longer I’m going to be Tones and I for,’ she said, adding that she wants to become a songwriter for other artists in the next few years.

Taking a step back: Tones and I is preparing to kiss her career as a live performer goodbye to work behind the scenes of the music industry instead 

‘I mean, realistically, I’m going to give myself another four years [of performing] and then I want to be a songwriter,’ she continued. 

‘As soon as my mental health isn’t wanting to do this, I’m stopping. I’m not pushing through this, I want to be happy.’

Last week, the songstress revealed that the first year of her global fame led to her feeling like she was ‘gross’ and unattractive. 

Retiring: The 27-year-old, known for her worldwide hit Dance Monkey, told Gawndy & Maz she plans to step away from the stage because of the toll it takes on her mental health

Retiring: The 27-year-old, known for her worldwide hit Dance Monkey, told Gawndy & Maz she plans to step away from the stage because of the toll it takes on her mental health

The musician, whose real name is Toni Watson, become an overnight success upon the release of her 2019 single Dance Monkey, which shot to No. 1 across the globe. 

But afterwards she was left struggling with crippling self-doubt and anxiety. 

She told the Carrie & Tommy radio show on Friday: ‘People kind of want you to hate yourself a little bit. [When you’re] busking, no one cared what you looked like.

‘I never looked at myself and thought anything. And through that whole first year [of mainstream success], I thought, “I am gross, I am not good looking, I am just gross, I should hate myself.'” 

Fears: Tones and I recently revealed that the first year of her skyrocketing fame led to her feeling like she was 'gross' and unattractive.

Fears: Tones and I recently revealed that the first year of her skyrocketing fame led to her feeling like she was ‘gross’ and unattractive.

Tones said she had to work hard to talk herself out of that negative thinking. 

‘I thought, “No, you shouldn’t think like that, don’t be stupid. Don’t throw away your integrity. Don’t change anything about yourself.”

‘But it was a long time and I don’t think anyone is prepared for that. I was really caught off guard.

‘Not being able to go to the grocery store on your own because I get super bad anxiety. Not being able to go busking, which was my ultimate goal at the start.

‘Things I cant do that people think you can, because I have anxiety.’

She added: 'I don't think anyone is prepared for that. I was really caught off guard. Not being able to go to the grocery store on your own because I get super bad anxiety. Not being able to go busking, which was my ultimate goal at the start'

She added: ‘I don’t think anyone is prepared for that. I was really caught off guard. Not being able to go to the grocery store on your own because I get super bad anxiety. Not being able to go busking, which was my ultimate goal at the start’

Tones and I just released her debut album, Welcome to the Madhouse.

On Friday, she spoke to Today’s entertainment reporter Brooke Boney about the creative struggles she faced while recording the album last year. 

The Fly Away star explained she felt pressure to complete and release her album by a certain date, which impacted her songwriting and creativity. 

Better attitude: Toni says she worked hard to talk herself out of that negative thinking but it has continued to affect her life. 'I thought, "No you shouldn't think like that, don't be stupid. Don't throw away your integrity. Don't change anything about yourself'

Better attitude: Toni says she worked hard to talk herself out of that negative thinking but it has continued to affect her life. ‘I thought, “No you shouldn’t think like that, don’t be stupid. Don’t throw away your integrity. Don’t change anything about yourself’ 

The hitmaker said that her debut album was meant to be released last year, but she decided to postpone it because she didn’t think it was ready. 

She revealed that eight tracks she wrote were not good enough for her, so she went ended up reworking them.

‘I was writing for the album in a way that was so unhealthy. This song finished, it doesn’t matter how good it is, put it on the album,’ she said. 

‘I was going to go full honest with this album, be completely open and raw and that’s what I did,’ she proudly added. 

How it started: Tones And I began busking in Byron Bay in September 2017. It was during her days as a street performer that she met talent manager Jackson Walkden-Brown

How it started: Tones And I began busking in Byron Bay in September 2017. It was during her days as a street performer that she met talent manager Jackson Walkden-Brown