Grammy-winning R&B artist Tone Stith is standing at a pivotal moment in his career. With the release of his new single “Fly”: a soaring, funk-laced declaration of self-belief, and his forthcoming album The Edge, the New Jersey–born multi-instrumentalist is entering a new era defined by freedom, intention, and creative trust. For listeners across Asia who may just be discovering his name, Stith’s story runs deeper than accolades or streaming numbers; it’s rooted in church pews, family harmonies, and years spent quietly mastering his craft in solitude.

In this conversation, Stith opens up about the moments that shaped him long before the industry entered the picture, the courage it took to walk away from expectations that no longer fit, and why The Edge represents more than just a title—it’s a leap of faith. From silencing outside noise to embracing a global audience without compromising authenticity, Tone Stith speaks with clarity, humility, and purpose, revealing the person behind the music and the conviction fueling his most personal work to date.

Bakchormeeboy: Growing up in New Jersey, what sounds, moments, or experiences shaped you before the industry did, and how do those roots still show up in who you are today?

Tone Stith: Growing up, different types of music shaped my sound. I grew up in church all the time, and my parents were both musicians. My mom is a singer, so I learned a lot from her. They [my parents] put me on to their era of music, and I think that’s what resonated with me the most.

Once I got old enough to search the internet for new music, I listened to so many different artists and genres all the time. It wasn’t just one genre. I’m an only child, so I spent a lot of time alone falling into music and learning everything I possibly could about it.

All my sources are really mixed. I pull from everywhere. If the song is a good song, then I’m going to like it.

Bakchormeeboy: ‘Fly’ feels like a declaration of freedom, breaking patterns and finally choosing yourself. Was there a specific moment in your life or career where you realized you couldn’t ‘slow down’ anymore?”

Tone: Yeah, I think that moment of knowing I couldn’t slow down and had to move forward happened in 2023 when I parted ways from my label, RCA. I was already in the middle of working on music that I felt was tailor-made to what I wanted to do in this industry and who I wanted to be as an artist, and it was 100% authentic to me.

The Edge, the album, and “Fly” all stemmed from that time. That’s when the feeling really started—like, I’ve got to put myself first and go after everything I want to do. It began at the end of 2023, and 2024, 2025, and now 2026 have just been about moving forward ever since. There’s no slowing down.

Now that “Fly” is out and the song is taking off, it really feels like it’s time to go. 

Bakchormeeboy: You’ve said The Edge represents the threshold of the music inside you. What did stepping onto ‘the edge’ actually require you to let go of—sonically, creatively, or even personally?

Tone: Yeah, it forced me to let go of any standard people try to hold me to. I feel like Black creatives, especially in R&B, are often told, “You’ve got to do this, you’ve got to do it this way to get here, to do that.” For me, that pressure of feeling like there was only one way to do things was something I would internalize, and then I’d try to please everybody.

I got to a point where I realized I don’t have the energy to live up to everyone else’s standards. What’s my standard? What do I want out of this career and my life? What message do I want to bring to people?

With The Edge, it’s about having faith and doing something that’s not expected, and trusting that it’ll still work out. The title references being pushed to the edge—feeling like I can’t take the standards people hold me to anymore. At the end of the day, they’re not me. I’m the one on that stage. I’m the one singing these songs. My face is attached to it.

So it became about taking that leap of faith and making the music that feels right for me.

Bakchormeeboy: ‘The song ‘Fly’ talks about ‘cutting the weight off’ and silencing the noise. In an era of constant opinions and metrics, how do you protect your instincts as an artist without tuning out the world completely?

Tone: I think it’s important to tune into what really resonates with you as a human being. We’re all human at the end of the day, and our feelings are aligned instinctively in different scenarios and situations. Outside of music and in life, that’s what you pay attention to—it’s what inspires the music. We all go through the same things emotionally.

The other part is betting on yourself and not really caring about opinions. I believe there’s a crowd and fans for everybody. As long as you stay true to who you are and what you represent, that’s what’s going to connect with the people who are like you.

Bakchormeeboy: You’ve been open about drawing from Michael Jackson, Prince, and Bruno Mars, artists who redefined pop and R&B. How did their fearlessness influence the risks you took on ‘Fly’ and the rest of the album?

Tone: Yeah, with them, they’re artists who I feel have broken barriers in musicianship, performance, and overall entertainment. When I watch them, I can see myself. There’s a certain standard I want to uphold with my music and my craft. When people look back on my legacy, when I’m not here on this earth anymore, I want that standard and quality to live in the songs—the influence of my artistry and, most importantly, the messaging. Having something to say is important to me.

Their fearlessness definitely rubbed off on me. They showed me that I’m a product of that, too, and I don’t have to be nervous or fearful because the industry or people try to hold me to a certain standard. Each of them is different and faced their own challenges, but they bet on themselves because they knew who they were and what they had. I feel the same way.

Bakchormeeboy: You’ve written Grammy-winning music for others, but ‘Fly’ feels deeply personal. How different is your mindset when you’re writing for yourself versus crafting songs for artists like Chris Brown or H.E.R.?

Tone: I would say with this project, this album, it’s the first time I really shut out writing songs for anyone else. I was completely in the mindset of working on my album. I knew there was a message I had to deliver, so I just focused on that and kept digging. Eventually, it turned into The Edge.

This was the first time I was strictly selfish about the music I was working on. Usually, I can multitask, but I felt like it was important to fully lock in on this album. I felt strongly about what I’m bringing to the table, and it deserved my 100% attention.

Bakchormeeboy: The track blends funk energy with modern R&B in a way that feels global. With your Asian fanbase growing rapidly, do you consciously think about how different cultures might connect to your music, or does that connection happen organically?

Tone: Yeah, I feel like the connection to other cultures, countries, and different people has always happened organically. I’ve never stepped outside of what I’m used to just to make music for a specific audience. I’ve always created from a place of honesty, authenticity, and being organic. I think that’s why it connects.

It’s never been about saying, “I need to create for this cultural fan base.” It’s always been, “Let me create what feels good to me and my soul,” and trusting that it will resonate—even with people who don’t speak the same language as me.

That’s what music is about. It’s global. We don’t all have to speak the same language to feel the same thing. I try to keep that integrity in my music.

Bakchormeeboy: Lyrically, ‘Fly’ sounds like someone who’s been ‘running for too long’ and finally stops looking back. If you could speak to your younger self at the start of your career, what would you tell him about patience, timing, and trust?

Tone: When I think about my younger self and what I would say to him, it’s that I’m proud. My younger self always had drive, was always motivated and inspired by music, always digging, setting goals, and trying to achieve them—even without fully realizing it. My younger self is the reason I’m here now. That engine is a big part of who I am.

The only thing I would say is: stay the course, but really perfect your gifts. Instead of focusing on the future and thinking, “I need one song to change my life,” I’d say, “Perfect your craft. Work on every aspect of it daily.” That way, by the time you get to where I am now, it all feels like second nature.

Other than that, I’m proud. I think my younger self would be proud and excited too.

Bakchormeeboy: For listeners in Asia discovering you for the first time, who is Tone Stith beyond the music?

Tone: Tone is a man who believes in treating people right—with respect and love. I believe in having patience, serving people, and making others feel welcome. It doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like. I always want people to feel love when they’re around me. I try to keep that at the forefront of who I am because that’s how I was raised.

Beyond the music, it’s about believing that all humans should be loved and treated with the same respect. I try to carry that through my day-to-day walk. That’s who Tone is beyond the music.

Listen to ‘Fly’ here. Connect with Tone Stith on Instagram @tonestith