Toni Childs is the powerhouse behind hits like "Don't Walk Away" and "Stop Your Fussin',". She isn't just a singer-songwriter; she's a force of nature. Listen to Toni's inspiring journey from open mic kid to international sensation. This episode is a testament to the transformative power of music.

Thanks to the 2023 Whitsundays Songwriter Festival for bringing us this episode today.

Timestamp:
2:42 - Exploitation is ok
6:32 - The Open Mic Moment
10:03 - The Evolution of Creativity
13:20 - The London Interlude
20:12 - A Meeting of Minds
22:26 - Shamanic Sonic Journeys
26:58 - The Publishing Puzzle
29:26 - Defiance and Destiny

About Toni Childs:
Toni Childs is an Emmy Winner and three-time Grammy nominated American recording artist. The celebrated singer-songwriter is known for her powerful voice, inspiring independent spirit and crafted storytelling. With fans in over 50 countries around the world, Toni has produced a list of international hits such as: Don’t Walk Away, Stop Your Fussin’, Walk and Talk Like Angels, Many Rivers to Cross, to name a few. Over Toni’s illustrious career she has opened for Bob Dylan and performed duets with greats such as Al Green and Peter Gabriel. She has toured the world over gaining a much loved fan base.

In 1997, Toni was diagnosed with Graves Disease, a hyper-thyroid condition that pulled her away from touring and music making. It was 19 years in between albums and by then the industry and the world had changed. Living on Kauai in Hawaii, it became crystal clear to Toni that she wanted to create innovative new works with more engagement and play that supports life and shines a light on environmental solutions in ways that inspire action.

Adding environmental activist, artistic director and installation artist to her bow, Toni has been bringing together the disciplines of music, film, 3D mapping, animation, lighting, set design and interactive components to three new works including an underwater concert, Reef 360.

Contact Toni: Website / Facebook / Instagram

Find out more and contact us at I Heart Songwriting Club & Francesca de Valence.

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Be inspired by Francesca on socials: YouTube / Facebook / Instagram

Theme song: “Put One Foot In Front Of The Other One” music and lyrics by Francesca de Valence

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