TikTok sensation reaches the charts with debut album
It's hard to imagine bands like Metallica or AC/DC being covered by a harpist, but that's what one former Moncton, N.B., musician has done, and she's found great success.
Kristan Toczko loves to entertain — whether it’s in front of a live audience or to her millions of followers online.
Now, she’s on the charts.
The harpist uses her classical training to cover some classic rock favourites.
Her debut album "Rock Echoes" was released on Feb. 16.
It reached number 8 on Billboard’s Classical Crossover chart this week.
“Honestly, I really had no idea that was even something that little old me could achieve,” said Toczko from her home in St. John’s, N.L.
“It wasn’t even on my radar to try to strive for something like that, so I was quite speechless. I feel so honoured to have my music streamed so many times that it made the charts.”
The classically trained harpist started playing when she was nine.
After graduating from Harrison Trimble High School in 2006, she studied at McGill University and then went to Yale for her master’s degree.
Norval McConnell, her former high school principal, recalled a time when Toczko performed at an assembly.
Kristan Toczko poses for a portrait, harp in-hand. (Megan Cary Photography)
“Imagine an empty stage with a young student hardly anyone really knew in front of over 1,000 students with her harp. We were awestruck,” said McConnell. “A very special moment in time as principal there.”
Toczko became a social media sensation during the pandemic when she was stuck at home in Arizona and had nothing to do but make videos.
“I just had such a longing to perform again. I really missed it,” she said.
She discovered the social media app TikTok and starting covering themes from movies and video games.
Her first song was from the film Finding Nemo.
“I arranged it. I played it. I shared it and it got a little bit of traction. I was like, this is nice, and people were giving really nice compliments. Like, ‘This sounds so beautiful. I love hearing you play the harp,’ and it gave me the kind of sense of what I had after I would perform a live concert and talk with the audience afterwards,” said Toczko.
One of the next videos she posted went viral receiving several hundred thousand views.
“I kind of got hooked after that,” she said.
Requests from online followers started pouring in and she began to cover classic rock and alternative bands, some songs more challenging to cover than others.
Kristan Toczko poses for a portrait, harp in-hand. (Megan Cary Photography)
Toczko has made around 1,800 videos in the past few years and now has 2.5 million followers on TikTok.
It’s not uncommon for some of the artists she’s covered to reach out and pay a compliment.
“Many tend to write comments on the videos. So Metallica themselves have seen my videos. I recently shared a video of Muse’s ‘Uprising,’ and they saw the video themselves and re-shared it on their Instagram story,” said Toczko.
For now, she’ll continue doing her online gigs but plans on doing a little bit of travel work this year.
“There’s going to be a few occasional performances here and in St. John’s that I’ll be doing as well, but I just love what I’m doing online. I feel like I can reach such a large audience doing what I’m doing,” said Toczko.
For more New Brunswick news visit our dedicated provincial page.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
![](https://www.ctvnews.ca/polopoly_fs/1.6976926.1721883767!/httpImage/image.png_gen/derivatives/landscape_800/image.png)
LIVE @ 11:15 A.M. MT Extent of Jasper wildfire damage still unknown; Alberta Wildfire hosting update
Officials are waiting to learn Thursday morning the extent of wildfire damage in the Jasper townsite of Jasper National Park, which flames began to eat away at the night before.
Jasper wildfire burns buildings, while poor air quality forces some fire crews out
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced on social media that Ottawa has approved Alberta's request for federal assistance after a fast-moving wildfire hit Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday.
Jennifer Aniston criticizes JD Vance for 'childless cat ladies' remarks: 'I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children'
Jennifer Aniston is criticizing JD Vance for comments he made in his past about women without children.
Canadian women's soccer team staffer given suspended prison sentence over drone incident, prosecutor says
A Canada women's soccer team staffer has been given an eight-month suspended prison sentence after flying a drone to film the closed-door training session of the New Zealand team on Monday, the prosecutor's office said in a statement.
'Sick to my stomach': People grieve Jasper National Park by sharing favourite photos
As an out-of-control wildfire roared through Alberta’s famed Jasper National Park and its townsite late Wednesday, many are fearing the worst as officials warned of 'significant loss' within the area.
Prince William made $42 million from his newly inherited estate last year, reports show
Newly released financial reports show that William, the Prince of Wales, drew a salary of $42.1 million last fiscal year, his first since inheriting the vast and lucrative Duchy of Cornwall.
Sale of envoy's NYC condo 'expected to exceed' $9M: government
The current official residence for Canada's representative in New York City is 'being readied for sale,' according to a spokesperson from Global Affairs Canada.
'I'm so broke': Two Toronto women speak out after losing $76,000 in romance scam
Two women from the Toronto area are speaking out after losing thousands of dollars to a romance scam, including a single mother who lost $62,000.
Barrie-Innisfil MPP 'blacked-out' and crashed car into window of child care centre
Staff at a Barrie child care centre say they are frustrated by what they call a local MPP's inadequate response after a car crashed through a window in one of the toddler rooms.