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

Tones and I is preparing to kiss her music career goodbye to work behind-the-scenes of the music industry instead.

Speaking to Gawndy and Maz, the 27-year-old said that she’s ready to step away from performing and making songs in the next few years because of the toll it’s taking on her mental health. 

‘I don’t know how much longer I’m gonna be Tones and I for,’ she admitted.

Farewell: Tones and I is preparing to kiss her music career goodbye to work behind-the-scenes of the music industry instead

‘I mean realistically, I’m gonna give myself another four years 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.’

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

Tick tock: The 27-year-old said that she's ready to step away from performing and making songs in the next few years because of the toll it's taking on her mental health

Tick tock: The 27-year-old said that she’s ready to step away from performing and making songs in the next few years because of the toll it’s taking on her mental health

The singer, whose real name is Toni Watson, become an overnight smash success thanks to her 2019 number one hit song, Dance Monkey. 

Afterwards, the 27-year-old says 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. Busking no one cared what you looked like.

‘I never looked at myself and thought anything. And through that whole first year, 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.

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.”

‘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.

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’

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

Tones and I is currently celebrating the release of her debut album, Welcome to the Madhouse.

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

The Fly Away singer explained she felt the pressure to complete and release her album by a certain date, which impacted her song writing 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 recalled. 

‘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