Tones and I’s collaboration with Jonas Blue on a remix of ‘Fly Away’ is an infectious, impassioned track headed straight for the dance floor. The Australian singer-songwriter has been flying high for the past two years or so since her international hit ‘Dance For Me.’ She’s been following up on her breakout success by delving inwards and crafting pieces that represent the full range of vocal and songwriting talents. ‘Fly Away’ was one such ballad that touched upon the electronic dance pulse but also incorporated some lovely gospel magic. 

What’s beautiful about Jonas Blue’s remix is that it manages to retain the rhythms that made the original a standout in Tones and I’s discography. There’s very little separating the two arrangements outside of the upbeat that builds over the course of the remix. It’s undoubtedly set at a quicker pace, but the instrumentation, particularly the synth chords, remain largely steady and on par with the original. Tones and I’s vocals remain as raw and abrasive as ever, each note roaring with emotion. The way she drags one sentence into another seamlessly through brief runs is nothing short of impressive. It’s no wonder that she’s taken the world by storm — her vocal work is readymade for the dance scene, containing equal measures of both zeal and recklessness. 

The singer wrote the original during the COVID-19 lockdown; it was produced by Tones and I and Dann Hume. Since then, she’s been taking this song over to different virtual venues and experimenting with different types of productions, from the gospel-heavy style to the stripped-down ballad production. It’s already amassed 65 million streams, demonstrating that Tones and I is most certainly not a one-hit-wonder and is slowly building her legion of fans. 

Speaking about what drove her to produce ‘Fly Away,’ she said, “Fly Away’ is about chasing your dreams, reaching your goals, and the realities that come with it. Being a busker, I obviously had bigger dreams. However, this song is inspired by the way I thought I would feel versus the way I actually feel.” From busking to breaking records, Tones and I has come a long way and still has plenty of gas left in her tank.

Author: Shaoni Das

Shaoni Das is a writer/editor currently based in Edmonton, Canada. She remains eager to inspect how the changing culture of music impacts upon the greater world.