It is perhaps a sad indictment of modern culture that when
Lady GaGa arrived she was hailed a refreshing original who was shaking things up, if only on a visual level. Indeed, despite the internet's promise to bring us an endless supply of information from all corners of humanity, to expand our horizons and tastes, we've ended up with MySpace stars like
Justin Bieber and the piano cat. As with McFashion, it seems that the faster ideas are shared, sometimes, the more homogenized things can look. So brace yourself for
Tonetta, a true music outsider that makes
MIA and GaGa look like shameless corporate sell-outs.
Tonetta - real name Tony - is a fifty-something bedroom musician from Toronto who has produced and performed his own songs since the 80's. After you recover from the shock of what you're seeing on screen you may notice that the songs have real depth to them, dealing with subjects like racism, drugs, suicide, even Obama's election. But that's only half the story. Tonetta also makes remarkable videos for his music; crude VHS looking productions for which he styles often avant-garde, gender-bending looks. Two years ago he started posting these online, revealing a back catalogue to rival Prince in size. Unlike the purple one, however, the prolific Tonetta seems to create for his own enjoyment and has refused repeated invitations to perform live (there is now a "Tonetta live experience" but Tony sends out other people to perform as him). A genuine indie artist and outsider rebel then. Or as The Guardian put it, "Punk lives, and it's wearing a thong on YouTube."
After watching a few of
Tonetta's videos I was reminded that some day the internet will live up to its promise and we'll be rewarded with the first truly indie video superstar - a Madonna or GaGa or Michael Jackson - who completely circumvents radio, television and major labels. A Warhol "superstar" coming to its logical conclusion. Maybe this middle-aged perv from Toronto will inspire them.
Behold...