VIRTUOSO PIANIST & SOCIAL MEDIA PHENOMENON TONY ANN TO RELEASE SOPHOMORE ALBUM 360° IN 2025
SECOND EP “180°” IS OUT
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NEW MUSIC VIDEO HERE
23 AUGUST 2024 (TORONTO, ON) — Reaching yet another creative high watermark, piano virtuoso, multiplatinum songwriter, and social media sensation Tony Ann will unveil his anxiously awaited full-length sophomore album, 360°, on February 21, 2025 via Decca Records/Universal Music France/Universal Music Canada. Over the course of this year, he will share a new single from the project on a monthly basis. After releasing the first EP “90°” and then the two first signs following the summer solstice, Tony Ann concludes the second cycle with the release of the EP “180°” including “VIRGO ‘The Perfectionist’”.
Once again, he advances creatively on 360°. Each song functions as a meditation on a different horoscope, encompassing 12 keys at different meters and tempos. It plunges listeners into a living and breathing musical ecosystem punctuated by bliss and catharsis. He employs the full range of the piano to evoke the singularity of these respective astrological signs. The entire suite revolves around his virtuosic chops, melodic empathy, and electrifying energy. Once again, he redefines the instrumental pop space.
Regarding the concept for the full project and EPs, Aries is the first sign of the astrological year. It begins with the Spring Equinox. Next, the astrological signs follow the seasons, which are correlated with the earth's rotation around the sun (a 360-degree cycle). This offers four highlights: the Summer Solstice (90 degrees), the Autumn Equinox (180 degrees), the Winter Solstice (270 degrees) and the Spring Equinox (360 degrees).
With the sixth sign of the zodiac, VIRGO (nicknamed “The Perfectionist), Ann builds his composition around a cascading motif that rises and falls from a pedal that seeks to express the traits of a perfectionist trying to achieve their goals in a flawless manner. Written in the key of G# minor, Ann’s performance is expressive and richly dynamic with the piece’s repetition of the central theme effectively portraying the industrious and practical nature of this star sign.
The fifth sign of the zodiac, LEO (nicknamed “The Fierce”) opens in a subdued manner with a set of held chords pensively setting the mood. Known to many as the lion, Ann compositionally displays the regal and grand nature of this star sign through a piece that ebbs and flows with confidence. Written in the key of G minor, Ann cycles through a 4 chord sequence with the main motif falling offbeat in response to the left hand. The piece continues to build in layers climaxing through a brilliant passage that passes through a circle of 5ths in a way that seeks to showcase the admiration and strength of this sign. The composition draws to a close in bookend fashion with the dynamic returning to its opening meditative state just like a lion sitting proud and strong.
To begin the summer solstice, the fourth sign of the zodiac, CANCER (nicknamed “The Caregiver”) sees Ann bring warmer and brighter melodies to the fore with this piece featuring the pop sensibilities often associated with his more uplifting compositions. Written in the key of Eb major, a key often associated with love, Ann echoes the nurturing and compassionate tendencies of this star sign with a motif that focuses on the major 3rd interval, a sound that evokes a feeling of positivity and security. Ann breaks the mould harmonically through the use of the non-diatonic bVI with it acting as a moment of bliss and empathy reaffirming the strong altruistic characteristics of this sign especially in relation to humans and their emotions.
In other news, Tony embarks on an international tour throughout 2024 and 2025. It started on February 9 at Montreux Jazz Festival Spotlight in Montreux, Switzerland and then in Toronto, Canada for a sold out show, before continuing in Europe and in the United States in April. Check out the full list of tour dates below.
In 2023, Tony released his debut project EMOTIONS through a series of three EPs that already reached out over 55 million streams worldwide: EMOTIONALLY RED, EMOTIONALLY ORANGE and EMOTIONALLY BLUE. Last Christmas, he released a surprise EP 'Awakening', featuring his piano song ICARUS, which is enjoying endless buzz in 2024: +20M streams and +650k creations on social media.
ABOUT TONY ANN:
Following stints at both Cleveland Institute of Music and Berklee College of Music, the classically trained solo pianist has consistently unveiled viral content at a prolific pace. His online imprint consists of nearly 6 million total followers, while he has generated several billion total views. Along the way, he has instituted fan favorite series such as “play that word” where viewers suggest words, and he crafts his own original compositions with letters on the keyboards.
A virtuoso by trade, Tony Ann is a solo pianist with big ideas. He fuses the styles of both the new and the old to breathtaking effect. As a self-proclaimed harmony connoisseur, Ann is always thinking of ways to not only push the boundaries of neoclassical and instrumental music but also popular music. While Ann may be limited to music without words he successfully uses all eighty eight keys to his advantage with original compositions steeped in emotion, technique and range.
Away from his solo work, Tony loves collaboration in which he has released tracks with Don Diablo, Wrabel and L.Dre showing his musical elasticity and willingness to immerse himself into different genres such as EDM, Lofi and Pop.
In addition, Ann has enjoyed working with The Chainsmokers, having a hand in co-writing both the platinum US singles ‘Sick Boy’ and ‘Call You Mine (feat. Bebe Rexha)’ as well as the gold US single ’Side Effects (feat. Emily Warren)’. Ann also had the pleasure of touring with them as their official keyboardist for their “Memories: Do Not Open” North American arena tour which also included performances on SNL and Good Morning America.
TOUR DATES
30.08 KAOHSIUNG, TW Da Dong Art Centre
01.09 TAÏPEI, TW Park No.4 Performing Art Hall
04.09 BEIJING, CN Blue Note
05.09 SHANGAI, CN Blue Note
07.09 SINGAPORE, SG Theater at Mediacorp
27.09 SAO PAULO, BR Auditorio Simon Bolivar
29.09 SANTIAGO, CL Coliseo Theater
09.10 BOSTON, US Arts at the Armory
10.10 NEW YORK, US Town Hall
11.10 WASHINGTON DC, US Miracle Theatre
12.10 CHICAGO, US Park West
15.10 VANCOUVER, CA Hollywood
17.10 SAN FRANCISCO, US August Hall
18.10 LOS ANGELES, US United Theater
22.10 MEXICO CITY, MX Lunario Del Auditorio Nacional
27.10 OSLO, NO Cosmopolite
28.10 STOCKHOLM, SE Nya Cirkus
29.10 COPENHAGEN, DK Bremen Teater
31.10 HELSINKI, FI Temppeliaukio Church
02.11 LONDON, UK EartH SOLD OUT
03.11 LONDON, UK EartH SOLD OUT
04.11 PARIS, FR La Cigale SOLD OUT
07.11 AMSTERDAM, NL Het Koninklijk SOLD OUT
09.11 LISBOA, PT Teatro S.Luiz
10.11 PORTO, PT Casa da Musica Hall 2
18.11 BERLIN, DE Theatre Des Westens
19.11 KÖLN, DE Theatre Am Tanzbrunnen
20.11 LEVERKUSEN, DE Leverkusener Jazzstage
21.11 MUNICH, DE Carl-Orff-Saal
23.11 BARCELONA JAZZ FESTIVAL, ES
25.11 MADRID, ES Mediolanum Concert Series
27.11 GENEVA, CH Alhambra
29.11 PRAHA, CZ Palác Akropolis
13.12 MONTREAL, CA Beanfield Theatre
14.12 TORONTO, CA QET
2025
05.04 VIENNA, AT Beanfield Theatre
06.04 BRUSSELS, BE Royal Circus
07.04 PARIS, FR Olympia
10.04 LILLE, FR Sebastopol
11.04 NANTES, FR Cité des Congrès
12.04 TOURS, FR Palais des Congrès
13.04 BORDEAUX, FR Théâtre Femina
16.04 NANCY, FR Salle Poirel
05.05 HAMBURG, DE Elbphilharmonie
06.05 UTRECHT, NL TivoliVredenburg
08.05 BREMEN, DE Die Glocke
07.06 TOULOUSE, FR Halle aux Grains
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