Interview With Armenian Artist Tonee Marino

Who is Tonee Marino?

Tonee is a 21 year old Armenian/Italian independent Artist & Producer from New York with a variety of sounds in his catalog - from a unique mix of House and Rap, to Afrobeats, RnB, and Hip Hop.  Aside from writing his own lyrics, he also produces his own beats and co-engineers his tracks in the studio. Tonee is a multi-talented musician, producer, and songwriter. He has a passion for creating uplifting, inspiring, and thought-provoking music. His music reflects his personal experiences and strives to evoke emotion from his listeners. Tonee brings energy and enthusiasm to every show, from intimate live performances to significant festivals. Tonee released his single “Hayastan” in 2024 as a tribute to his heritage, bringing a new sound to the Armenian community, mixing traditional Folk Music with modern-day Club Music. In the Summer of 2021, Tonee released his EP "Where Was The Love," hosted by heavy-hitter DJ Drewski. The six songs on the project were hand-picked by Tonee and DJ Drewski to display Tonee's versatility as a writer, producer, and artist (Tonee Marino).

Interview

Can you tell me a little bit about your background and where your love for music came from?

"I’m Tonee, an independent musical artist and producer from New York. I started making music in 2016, and in 2019, I started to take it as a serious career path. Ever since 2020, I started to produce all my music, write all my lyrics, engineer in the studio, edit my music videos, and I also manage the business aspect of it as well. My love for music was just a God-given passion. Ever since I was a baby, music has been a huge part of my life. Growing up, I would always love to dance to music or just listen to it all throughout the day. It keeps me moving forward. Even now, music plays that same role in my life. Whether I’m working or at the gym, I’m always listening to music."

You have dropped different styles of music. What led you to release your single, “Hayastan,” which is an endonym for Armenia? Can you tell me more about this single? What inspired you? What creative processes did you use to create the music and the lyrics? Tell us how the song developed and what the meaning behind the lyrics are.

"So I was thinking to release an Armenian song for some years now, but I wanted to put my own spin on Armenian music, and not re-create something that’s been done before. Finally I got the idea to mix traditional Armenian music with modern dance/club music. I wanted to keep the song fun while also implementing the traditional elements of it and the patriotic spirit. My goal with this song was to bring attention to our people globally, as that is something we lack as a people unfortunately, and to also reignite the fire & pride inside the Armenian people, bringing us together with an uplifting and fun song. I purposely also kept the lyrics of the song mostly in English so people of all nationalities would listen to it and not just restrict it to Armenians - to bring us awareness as a people."

How has your heritage influenced your music style and the stories you tell through your songs?

"Being Armenian has definitely inspired me to get more creative in the studio and while producing. Mixing traditional instruments such as the Dhol & Zurna with modern club/dance beats is something different I tried, and I look forward to experimenting with more new ideas."

Can you talk a little about the importance of music in your life? Is music a big part of the Armenian identity or your Armenian identity? 

"Music plays a very big role in my life. It motivates me to lock in and work hard, and I feel like good music just creates the vibe, regardless of where you are. Especially as an Armenian, music is such a big part of our culture. If two Armenians are in the same room and there’s music playing, there’s almost zero chance that they wouldn’t get up and start dancing together. Armenian music is very passionate as well, and it brings us together as a people."

Can you tell me a little bit about the influence of your Armenian grandmother on your life? Is there a little bit of her in your music? 

"My grandmother, who was from Armenia, was my only real musical influence in my family. She never pursued music as a career, but ever since she was young, she was always very passionate about singing and dancing. Almost every time I would see her, she would sing, and she always uplifted the energy of any room she was in. It was very inspiring to see, and her energy was so warm. She definitely motivated me and inspired me to pursue my dreams as an artist."

What does being Armenian mean to you?

"Being Armenian to me is being a Christian, a strong follower of God, someone that is all about family, love, and respect."

Do you use music as a form of resistance or a form of conserving a depleting culture?

"I would say, I use music to uplift, inspire, and motivate people - and the purpose behind my Armenian music is to bring us together from all corners of the world, keep our traditions alive, especially with the youth, and to try to gain us recognition and attention as a people."

Can you tell me a bit about your view on the Armenian diaspora in the US (or NY)? 

"My view on the diaspora in the US is that we need to do everything we can to preserve our culture and to make sure we carry on our traditions to our children so that our people live on forever. It’s important to make an effort to be a part of the community."

Can you talk briefly about the relationship between the diaspora and Armenia? Is music a way to bring the two closer? 

"Music I feel like is a big way to bring the diaspora and Armenia together. With the release of this song, I’ve been getting so much interaction from Armenians from all over the world, including the ones in Armenia as well as Russia, Australia, France, the US and so on. The love and support I’ve been getting for this has been immense, and people have been telling me that this song makes them very proud to be Armenian, and that they’re happy to see that no matter where we are in the world, we will always be proud to be Armenian."

Do you plan to drop more songs that incorporate your Armenian heritage?

"I am currently working on more music like “Hayastan”, with the next release coming in late December or early January."

How has your music been perceived or received by the Armenian youth? 

"The Armenian youth has been nothing but supportive and it makes me happy to see that our people enjoy this song and take pride in it. The beautiful thing about this song though is that people of all ages have been writing me and messaging me, telling me how much they enjoy it."

Are you in touch/exchanging ideas or collaborating with other Armenian artists?

"I’ve definitely been in touch with a lot of Armenian talents, and it’s been great to connect with so many comedians, singers, dancers, and so on."

Where can we hear you? Where will you be playing next?  

"You can stay in tune with what’s going on in my career by following me on all socials @toneemarino. I will be having more shows all over the US, and potentially beyond in the coming year."