He has a voice of gold and the wisdom that only life’s experience can teach. Southern Soul recording artist Tonio Armani is a legend in the making, and his strong faith in God is paving the path to his success.
The Fleet Mag reporter, Celebrity DJ Cat-X, sat down for a conversation with Armani. They discussed his groundbreaking record deal, combating adversity in the tough music business, and much more.
Tonio Armani is from Columbus. GA, but currently residing in Raleigh, North Carolina. While serving his country, this U.S. veteran developed a love for music while doing cadences in the military. He credits the military for instilling in him the confidence to be a leader and the determination to tackle life’s challenges head-on, through hard work and trusting in God.
After serving in the military, Armani hit the ground running, pursuing his dream of being a successful recording artist. Initially, he began his musical journey as a rapper but later transitioned into singing. This was a great decision as his soulful voice is unique and stands out from other artists. This uniqueness captured the attention of fans around the globe, as well as music industry icons, like Snoop Dogg. Armani was contacted by Snoop himself after coming across his music online. Snoop was also impressed with Armani’s work ethic, which led to an amazing opportunity. Shortly after speaking with Tha Doggfather, Armani flew to California to ink a deal with Death Row Records, making him the first Southern Soul recording artist to sign with a major record label.
“I definitely appreciate him (Snoop Dogg). He’s giving me an opportunity for the people in the South. We got a lot to say and he like how I’m doing my thang. So we got something coming for you real soon.” Armani said.
Armani admits the music industry is a tough business, and one minor setback he faced was not getting support from his own city. This led to him moving to another location to get the well-deserved support needed as a recording artist. He offered some great advice for other artists facing the challenges he’s experienced.
“Trust in God and know that he gave you a gift, and keep working your gift. This music ain’t for everybody. What you do, somebody might not like it over here, but somebody might love it over there. Go find the people who love it over there, don’t worry about who not rocking with you, your family might not rock with you, friends might not rock with you, but when you get there, everybody is gonna say they know you.” Armani also stressed the importance of having dreams and working towards bringing them to fruition, “People don’t dream no more and I’m praying to God that I’m showing people that dreams do come true. No matter how old you are. No matter where you from, it don’t matter what you do, but if you believe in yourself and put God first, anything can happen.”
With over 10 million views online, Armani has already reached milestones that many recording artists can only dream of attaining. He has mastered the art of writing attention-grabbing lyrics and selecting catchy, head-bobbing beats to create hot tracks. With songs like “Country Girl,” “Sooner or Later,” and “Help Me Find My Drawls,” he has accumulated a huge fan base, and they support him every step of the way. When asked how he comes up with such great songs, he stated:
“I write about how I feel, and a lot of men don’t write about their feelings.” He went on to say, “I’m giving you what no one is talking about. I’m talking about what’s real. What’s going on in the real world, I’m talking about sooner or later, a change will come. But while we waiting, we are working towards the opportunity for God to bless us.”
Armani was asked if he could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be? He quickly replied, “Favoritism.” He feels there is too much favoritism in the music industry, and many push the same artists and overlook others who are exceptionally talented. This is a common complaint among recording artists grinding to make their mark in the music industry. This further emphasizes the importance of finding your target audience and connecting with them.
When asked how he balances his family life and career when he’s on the road so much, Armani gave the perfect response.
“I bring them all with me. It’s a family affair. I got a car, I got a truck, a van, and I got an RV. So I got to make sure my family come with me. At the end of the day, this is who it’s for. For me to be able to spend time with them, I got to bring them with me.”
Tonio Armani is just getting started, and the sky is the limit for his success. With his superb vocals, immaculate songwriting skills, and mentorship from music icon Snoop Dogg, he will soon dominate Billboard charts and headline tours globally. He’s also working on a project with rapper Lil Jon, so stay tuned for that. I’m sure it will be fire, just like all of his music.
Follow Tonio Armani on social media and catch him performing in a city near you.
Interview by: Celebrity DJ Cat-X / Written by: JP Showtime
