Tonia’s “Afloat” Is Full Of Self-Reflection And Growth

Tonia’s “Afloat” Is Full Of Self-Reflection And Growth

Sometimes relationships showcase one’s own flaws and areas in need of growth. In Tonia’s latest single, “Afloat,” the artist pens a message to herself about how her own struggles with over-dependence on her ex led to the relationship’s downfall.

Listen to “Afloat” below:

Tonia further explains the personal meaning behind the song, 

“It sounds like I’m talking to someone else, but, with hindsight, Afloat is more a message for myself: I became very dependent on a relationship and struggled to stand on my own two feet. This became draining on the other person, and I also hated the way it made me feel. I couldn’t make any decisions or think for myself – I lost trust in my own decisions and thoughts.”

Tonia admits to her flaws throughout the song, such as these lyrics in the second verse, “When I was alone/ I couldn’t think/ I had to check with you/ On everything.”

 As a result, Tonia shares the lessons she learned from this relationship,

“I have been focusing on really learning to trust myself and truly knowing what’s best for me. All my friends will agree that I always second-guess myself, even if what I’m saying is right. I wrote Afloat at the perfect time. It was exactly what I needed to say to someone and also the realization of what was missing in the relationship. Maybe I realized slightly too late, but I learned that it is so important to be honest. Your own feelings are valid even if it means hurting someone you care about.”

This building realization and growth is apparent in the progression of the instrumental, as it begins as a simple instrumental, eventually bringing in a few more instruments until it hits the climax in the chorus. Lyrically, this aligns with how the verses discuss Tonia’s struggles in the relationship. At the same time, the hook represents her growing and learning from her past mistakes. 

Along with releasing the single, Tonia also recently dropped the music video for “Afloat,” which can be watched below:

Tonia is a singer-songwriter currently located in Liverpool. “Afloat” is the newest single from her debut EP, set to release on January 20, 2023. The artist dropped her first single, “Flux,” in 2021, followed by “Empty Conversations” and “Soft Focus” in 2022. To stay up to date on Tonia and her music, follow the artist on TikTok, Twitter, YouTube, Instagram, and Facebook.