Meet Tiona Deniece

Today we’d like to introduce you to Tiona Deniece.

Tiona, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
I’ve been in love with music ever since I could remember. My mother used to sing in a gospel choir and while she was pregnant with me, would still sing and do shows. In grammar school, I would re-mix the words to my favorite songs to tell jokes in the lunch hall with my friends. I sang in the church choir and had solo recitals at my school almost every year. Music was and will always be a part of who I am and has always been in my life.

As I got older, I wanted to pursue singing more and more so I moved to New York City. While I lived there, I worked with various writers, musicians, and producers. At first, I wanted to be a songwriter, but as I got deeper and deeper into the industry, I realized that being a solo artist was my calling. After a few years of doing shows, I met new management. My manager at the time was in Atlanta, so I found myself traveling there frequently. One day I decided that it was time to pursue my music full time and I quit my job, packed up my car and drove down to Atlanta. The first few years of living here I went through a lot of tribulations. But the thing about tough times is that they don’t last forever and they make you stronger. I am still pursuing music, but I am also pursuing my other passion, sneakers and streetwear culture.

Has it been a smooth road?
When I first moved to Atlanta I didn’t have a job, I used majority of my money to build a studio, and when that failed, I took jobs that didn’t make a lot of money to make ends meet. For the first time in my career, I got fired! I lost friends and had a few people turn their backs on me. My father wanted me to come back home so he can help me get back on my feet. I told him no. I felt like there was a reason why God wanted me to go through this so I had to see it through. To add insult to injury, my father has diagnosed with stage 4 Cancer. I was torn because I wanted to go home to take care of him, but I also wanted to pursue my dreams. I would say if I had any regrets it would be that I didn’t go home and spend more time with him. When my father died, I had basically hit rock bottom. Not just financially, but mentally I felt regret, loneliness and was depressed. I gave myself a few days then I said that I had to get it together. My Father didn’t die in vain. I have to make it not just for me but for him too. That’s when things started coming together, I met new management, I got a new job, new car, new apartment and I started making music again.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a Singer-Songwriter, Sneakerhead, and Philanthropist. I created Tuff Diamonds as a way for me to mentor and work with the youth, especially young women. Teaching them how to love themselves and look at the positive is something that I hold dear to my heart. I think I am also known because of my sneaker collection, and my love for the overall sneaker community. I have gone to a few forums to talk about women in the sneaker industry. Little by little I am breaking barriers by showing people that you don’t have to be a size 2 to be beautiful, and you don’t have to be famous to make an impact. That I am most proud of, that I can be true to who I am and realizing that my voice matters.

Is our city a good place to do what you do?
Like any city, I feel like Atlanta has its good and bad points. I think for entrepreneurs it is a great place to get started, and to make a name for yourself. I feel like Atlanta is growing and with any growth, there are going to be some bumps in the road, traffic for example lol. I don’t think I would necessarily recommend them moving here, I would tell someone to know their target market and their creative niche and once they do that, it will be easier for them to figure out the best place for them to move.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.tionadeniece.com
• Other: https://www.tionadeniece.com/new-products/carry-on-mens-t-shirt-blackpink  //  url.co/ux4tx5  //  https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCVHuSbgAQio3lhILB02VvBw

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