Edit history

Toni Janke is a contemporary female singer/songwriter who lives in Magandjin (Brisbane), Australia. She is a celebrated First Nations artist and proud descendant of the Wuthathi, Yadhaigana, and Meriam peoples of Cape York and Murray Island. She has had a remarkable career spanning more than 35 years working in music, arts, and the First Nations space. Growing up in Cairns and Canberra, Toni began performing and writing music at a young age, releasing her original songs on her independent label, Toni Janke Productions. Her discography includes Hearts Speak Out – EP (1993), The Brink (2000), Jewel of the North (2004), Eternal (2021), and a single release which she co-wrote, performed, and recorded with Maeve Louise Heaney, On This Sacred Ground (2022). Toni has won national awards (a Deadly Award) and performed at several major festivals and events. She is the Chairperson of QMusic’s Bigsound Goolwal Goolwal program, Brisbane Powerhouse’s First Nations Advisory Committee, member of the National Indigenous Media Awards (NIMAs) Leadership Group and a member of the Indigenous Advisory Council of Lion Corporate. Beyond music, Toni has worked across various sectors including government, community organisations in media, education, and the arts. She runs a Brisbane-based consultancy as a coach, mentor, and leader. In 2024, she received an Australian Women in Music Award (AWMA) for promoting inclusion and cultural diversity for First Nations women in the music industry. Toni continues to inspire with her creative projects, including an upcoming play about her life and music called ‘Inheritance’ which will premiere in Brisbane theatres in April and May 2026.