Macklemore reveals how Tones and I inspired him as he discusses their special bond

Macklemore has spoken about his special friendship with Tones and I after releasing their new song together.

The American rapper, 39, met the Australian singer, 28, when she was performing at a club in Seattle in early 2020.

Macklemore, whose real name is Benjamin Hammond Haggerty, told the Herald Sun, he instantly ‘fell in love with her personality’ and felt inspired by her show.

‘Inside that venue, there was some magic. I met her; she’s a fantastic person and I just fell in love with her personality,’ he said.

‘She took off her shoes on stage, she got really comfortable, I just thought she was hilarious and we connected. And I left the show inspired.’

The pair released their new joint single CHANT a few weeks ago, which explores their professional and personal struggles.

It comes after Tones, whose real name is Toni Watson, previously said working with Macklemore was ‘the biggest thing that’s ever happened’ to her.

‘That’s the biggest thing that’s ever happened to me, meeting Macklemore,’ the Dance Monkey singer told the Gold Coast Bulletin in 2020.

‘He ended up asking me to come back to Seattle and wanted to record with me, we wrote two songs together,’ Tones explained, adding: ‘From when I got there to when I left he was like a big brother.’

Tones, whose career took off in 2017, was discovered busking in Byron Bay.

Before finding fame, she slept in her van and earned money singing on the streets of Melbourne and Byron Bay.

She may now be a superstar, but only a few years ago she was selling $10 CDs from her makeshift stage.

It was during her days as a street performer in 2017 that she met talent manager Jackson Walkden-Brown who launched her pop career.