'I’ve Never Been More Shocked': Toni Pearen Talks Rollercoaster Pop Career In Aus

Thirty years ago, Toni Pearen embarked on a music career after signing with Mushroom Records to follow in the footsteps of her idols, Kate Ceberano and Kylie Minogue. But in the new episode of podcast A Journey Through Aussie Pop, the singer, actress and presenter reveals it wasn’t the first record deal she was offered.

A star of E Street since the age of 17, Pearen was approached by the creator of the Channel 10 primetime soap, Forrest Redlich, to put out a single on his label, Westside Records. Redlich had already propelled Melissa Tkautz to chart success in 1991 and proposed to Pearen a musical vehicle for her as well.

“Because my character was with Harley (Malcolm Kennard), the son of Reverend Bob (Tony Martin), he wanted me to record Son Of A Preacher Man,” she recalled. “I mean it’s a great song, but my manager said, ‘I think this would not be great for you,’ because she knew how much I wanted to pursue it. It would’ve been very gimmicky.”

Instead, Pearen released back-to-back top 10 hits through Mushroom in late 1992/early 1993. In the podcast, the singer recalls that her debut single, In Your Room, was a country song when it was first presented to her and that she had to fight to be able to record follow-up I Want You.

“I Want You wasn’t the obvious pop choice but I think it made people see I was serious about music,” she said. “I have to admire my tenacity.”

Pearen went on to work on her debut album in the UK, but the delay between those initial hits and further releases – a gap of some 18 months – was a major factor in momentum being lost. Changing personnel at Mushroom also meant she did not have the support of the team that had signed her in the first place.

When subsequent singles and her debut album, Intimate, did not chart as highly as her first releases, and a planned second album wasn’t progressing to Mushroom’s satisfaction, the label made the decision to drop Pearen from their roster. But the way in which she was informed of the decision still smarts.

“I can’t remember his name and I choose not to,” she said of the label rep who broke the news to her. “He called me to tell me that they were ending my deal. He just told me on the spot. No discussions. Nothing like, ‘Thank you for the success you’ve had with Mushroom Records.’ Just: ‘We’re ending your deal.’ And being a person who asks questions, I asked why and he proceeded on the phone to tell me that I didn’t think I could sing. I’ve never been more shocked and disappointed.”

Despite an abrupt end to her pop career in Australia, Pearen credits that experience, as well as years spent in the US pursuing a deal, as giving her the skills needed to survive in the entertainment industry.

“The one thing that it taught me is the hustle,” she said. “I can hustle my way in and out of anything. And just my determination – I’ll give anything a try.”

Listen to A Journey Through Aussie Pop on Apple, Spotify, Amazon and all major podcast platforms or at chartbeats.com.au/aussie.