We Speak Music
Victoria Justice, Keke Palmer, Louisa Johnson + more feature on new Toby Gad “Piano Diaries” album!
Los Angeles, CA – July 19, 2024 – Toby Gad, the GRAMMY-award nominated songwriter and producer behind some of the biggest global hits ever written such as John Legend’s “All Of Me,” Beyoncé’s “If I Were A Boy,” and Fergie’s “Big Girls Don’t Cry,” is embarking on a new artistic journey with his project, PIANO DIARIES – THE HITS. After a remarkable career spanning multiple decades and amassing over 15 billion streams, Toby Gad continues to push the boundaries of modern pop music with this exciting new venture, available now on all DSPs and streaming platforms HERE.
PIANO DIARIES – THE HITS transforms Toby’s biggest hits into emotive piano-vocal masterpieces, featuring today’s stars like Victoria Justice, Keke Palmer & Aloe Blacc, Johnny Orlando, Louisa Johnson, Angelina Jordan, Celina Sharma, and more. This project offers a fresh take on his timeless songs, captivating a new generation.
Kelly Clarkson featured Toby’s premiere Piano Diaries Single, “Big Girls Don’t Cry” with Victoria Justice, on her talk-show alongside appearances on KTLA and Good Day New York. The positive reception laid the groundwork for the following singles:
- “Skyscraper”: A powerful rendition of Demi Lovato’s career defining song, featuring Universal Republic touring Artist, Camylio.
- “Little Do You Know”: With the original gaining over 1M+ Tiktok User Creates, the new version now features Keke Palmer and Aloe Blacc,
- “Untouched”: Australia’s anthem, originally written with The Veronicas, reinterpreted by online sensation Johnny Orlando.
- “Who You Are”: Written with Jessie J, now with the youngest winner of ‘X Factor UK’, Louisa Johnson.
- “If I Were a Boy”: Beyonce’s hit reinvented with Universal Republic’s 18-year-old rising star, Angelina Jordan.
On July 19th, Toby’s reinvented “All Of Me,” originally composed with John Legend, completes the PIANO DIARIES – THE HITS album, now featuring social media sensation Celina Sharma (7 Billion TikTok likes.)
Toby Gad expresses his enthusiasm for this project: “It has been an incredible journey to watch my songs evolve and reach new audiences. Working with such talented emerging vocalists has brought a fresh and exciting perspective to these tracks. I am proud of the artistry and emotion each artist has brought to PIANO DIARIES – THE HITS, and I can’t wait for the world to hear these reimagined versions.”
Each track in PIANO DIARIES is re-interpreted as a timeless piano-vocal masterpiece, performed by Toby Gad. To further expand the project’s reach and appeal, there will also be partnerships with DJs for high-energy remixes, providing fans with dynamic new versions of their favorite hits.
Toby has begun bringing Piano Diaries to the stage with well-received live performances in Los Angeles and London, featuring various established artists and telling his untold stories behind the songs.
PIANO DIARIES – THE HITS promises to be an exciting musical journey, offering unique insight into the meaning of songs that have become staples on American radio and around the world. The album’s stripped-down nature allows the raw emotion and lyrical beauty of each song to shine through, providing a new and intimate listening experience for fans old and new.
PIANO DIARIES – THE HITS Tracklist:
- All of Me feat Celina Sharma
- If I Were a Boy feat Angelina Jordan
- Untouched feat Johnny Orlando
- Big Girls Don’t Cry feat Victoria Justice
- Little Do You Know feat Keke Palmer & Aloe Blacc
- Who You Are feat Louisa Johnson
- Skyscraper feat Camylio
- Feel Good feat Paravi
London-based multi-instrumentalist and producer Waz-u returns with his second album, Preludes: Dusk Psalms, set for release on 16 May 2025 via independent label Biodiversity. The 15-track record further refines the artistic depth of his debut, blending electronic textures and classical compositional techniques in an intricate, immersive listening experience.
Ahead of the album release, Waz-u is dropping an exclusive vocal version of ‘Vermillion: G Major’ from the album, accompanied by its original instrumental version. ‘Vermillion’ with Lilyg will be released on 18 April 2025, evoking intimate indie-folk and pop and follows the release of a vocal version of ‘Lament’ with Tom Norrington. ‘The singles are a way to give a voice to the atmosphere of the record and to lyrically encapsulate some of the themes explored,’ explains Waz-u. ‘Lily and Tom are good friends of mine and have both been listening to early iterations of these preludes – it felt right to involve them directly on this record.’
‘Preludes: Dusk Psalms’ marks a new branch of Waz-u’s emerging sound, guided by the duality of tradition and innovation. Combining his musical roots in early ‘90s dub techno and classical music, the album weaves carefully layered synthesizers and electronics to evoke the ambience of sacred music — from the gentle timbres of a choir or an organ to the quiet, open, and reverberating spaces of a church. Also featured throughout the album is experimental musician G9 LUV, who creates textures and drones by bowing his bass guitar, resulting in cello-like sounds. The release follows Waz-u’s 2024 debut LP, Prayer For Dawn, which merged dub, techno, and electronica in an exploration of the ritualistic traditions associated with both organized religion and dance.
Bringing the album’s themes to life, Waz-u will celebrate the release of Preludes: Dusk Psalms with a special performance at Our Holy Redeemer in Clerkenwell, London on 14 May 2025. Set against the church’s resonant acoustics, the event will feature live performance arrangements, including a choir, with further details to be announced soon.
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