Exposed Vocals: So tell us your story. Where did you grow up? What made you decide to become an artist?
Tonio: Well I’m from North Carolina. I was born in Durham, North Carolina and my family moved around a few when I was younger. Then we moved to Charlotte and that’s where I grew up. I wanted to become an artist because I’ve always loved music, all types. I’ve just always been passionate about music. I just want to make music that moves and makes people feel some type of way.
Exposed Vocals: How did you come up with that name? What was your inspiration behind it?
Tonio: From my middle name. My middle name is Antonio and my friend said I that my middle name was fly. So I just went with it.
Exposed Vocals: What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
Tonio: I feel like it helps get music out there to the people easier than say in-store album sales. All my music is free on my SoundCloud account. I’m just trying to get exposure right now. I’m not focused on selling any music at this moment.
Exposed Vocals: Since everyone was a start-up once, can you give any smaller or local bands or artists looking to get gigs and airplay some tips?
Tonio: I would say keep working and crafting your music and to push and promote your music a lot. Also to never give up and keep going after the things you really want.
Exposed Vocals: Do you ever make mistakes during performances? How do you handle that?
Tonio: I haven’t done any live performances yet. I’m looking to get some around the Charlotte area soon.
Exposed Vocals: Do you tour? Anything interesting happen on tour that you think our readers would enjoy hearing about?
Tonio: No, I do not tour at the moment.
Exposed Vocals: Where do you usually gather songwriting inspiration? What is your usual songwriting process?
Tonio: My inspiration comes from all the things around me and events I go through. I usually sit in my room turn on my lava lamp and sit at my desk and write.
Exposed Vocals: Do you have a band website? What online platforms do you use to share your music?
Tonio: No I don’t have a website but I have a Sound Cloud. That’s where I share all my music.
Exposed Vocals: What are some really embarrassing songs that we might find on your mp3 player?
Tonio: I don’t really know, I broke all my ipods.
Exposed Vocals: If you were given half a million dollars and a year off, what would you do? How would you spend it?
Tonio: I’d get an iMac and Pro Tools and I’d move out to France. I think it’d be nice to live there for my year off.
Exposed Vocals: Any planned studio upgrades? What are you working with now?
Tonio: Not at the moment. I’m working on a mixtape right now I can’t say when it will be released but it will be sometime in December.
Exposed Vocals: How do you find ways to promote your music? What works best for you?
Tonio: I promote my music through social media a lot and at parties and events. That seems to work best for me.
Exposed Vocals: If you could perform anywhere and with any artists (Dead or Alive) where and who would it be with? Why?
Tonio: I’d like to perform with Kanye or Lil Uzi or Tyler, the Creator. I’d just love to tour with them and perform. I’d like to perform with Kanye and Tyler because they are big inspiration to me and two of my all time favorite artists and I’d like to perform with Lil Uzi just cause his energy and his shows are always super lit.
Exposed Vocals: So, what’s next? Any new upcoming projects that you want to talk about?
Tonio: I’m working on getting performances at different venues and I’m also working on a mix-tape. This will be my first real project.
Exposed Vocals: If you weren’t making music, what would you be doing?
Tonio: Honestly I don’t know, I know I’ve just always wanted to be an artist.
Exposed Vocals: Do you remember buying your first album? Who was it? What was going through your head?
Tonio: The first album I ever bought was a Lil Bow Wow album with my birthday money when I was like seven.
Exposed Vocals: How do you juggle the rest of your responsibilities while trying to stay ahead in your music life?
Tonio: I just plan everything out that really helps me manage everything.
Exposed Vocals: What should fans look forward to in the next year or so?
Tonio: More music, some new collaborations, some new projects, some new items dropping from my clothing line and some fire visuals for my music videos I’m working on.
