Kiana Kazemi (KK): Hi Tonina! I'm so excited to connect with you today, and we're stoked to have you as part of our Earth Sessions series! I'm always so fascinated by what I like to call "origin stories", aka how someone has gotten to be where they are today. You are an incredible vocalist, bassist, and songwriter, and I'd love to know what your origin story is.
Tonina: My origin story oddly enough starts with my uncle, my mother's brother. He was a professional drummer and played for Reba McEntire. While on tour, he, along with his bandmates unfortunately died when his plane crashed into a mountain outside of San Diego. My mother went to the mountain to see where her brother died. My father was the San Diego Department Sheriff who led the search and recovery, taking the victim's family members to the site of the crash. That's how my parents met. They named me after my uncle "Anthony/Tony". I am here because of his tragic passing. He is one of the reasons I play music and continue to perform.
Your music is so expansive, spanning genres of Jazz, Soul, Classical, Folk, and Rock, and you have songs in English, Spanish, and Italian. As someone who also grew up multilingual and in a multicultural community, I always think about all the phrases and sayings that exist in one language, but not others, and how useful knowing several languages has been for me when processing my emotions or experiences. Have you found a relationship between language and genre of music, or do you find yourself gravitating towards telling certain stories in a particular language while telling others in another?
Tonina: I didn't grow up in a multicultural/multilingual community. I wish I did. I grew up in white suburbia going to a school with a 50/50 black white attendance. My mother's side is Sicilian while my father's is Black-Texan and Choctaw. However! I grew up learning Sicilian/Italian from my grandparents, being exposed to various Sicilian and Italian American artists like Luciano Pavarotti, Rosa Balistreri, and Louis Prima. These artists influenced my writing heavily. I feel like there's only so much I can express in the English language. It's a very cut and dry language which can come off emotionless at times. So that's when I choose to write in Spanish and am working on my Sicilian songwriting! My choice of Language in my songwriting is deliberate. When I'm telling a story influenced by Black American history or my childhood, I tend to write in English and sometimes cross over into Sicilian. However, other topics that I've written about like love, the climate, and capitalism are in Spanglish and Spanish. IDK why. Maybe to soften the blow when I'm complaining about shit!
KK: Speaking of storytelling, at IE we believe sharing stories of climate resilience is essential to building optimism in the climate movement, and art plays a big role in that. What stories have shaped your personal advocacy and resilience, and who are some of your favorite artists/storytellers?
Tonina: I am inspired by music from the African diaspora and various global folk traditions. Using music as a communication tool and political weapon has always interested me. I was taught at a young age from my father about the power of music during protest. Some of my favorite storytellers are Nina Simone, John Coltrane, Toni Morrison, Tracy Chapman, James Weldon Johnson, Solange etc. I think using my platform to bring some awareness to social change is paramount.
We built the Earth Sessions series to bring our community together IRL and create physical spaces that support the revival of revolutionary gathering. I believe communities that create space for celebration and rest help build change-making capacity. I love to host dinner parties and PowerPoint presentations with my friends (I know, very nerdy), and I've seen so many beautiful ideas, collaborations, and connections come to life as a result. How has community played a part in your journey as an artist, and do you have any community gathering rituals that you enjoy?
Tonina: I love when music can be the reason for people to gather. I recently fell back in love with jamming and that's where I've felt that sense of community most. Feeding off of everyone's energy and translating that into a bassline or melody is so enjoyable to me.
KK: Lastly, what are 3 books you would recommend to our community?
The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma - Bessel van der Kolk M.D.
Communion: The Female Search for Love - Bell Hooks
Good Vibes, Good Life: How Self-Love Is the Key to Unlocking Your Greatness - Vex King
