Regret rarely arrives all at once. It gathers through memories, missed connections, and the realization that a desired future may have demanded too much. Son of Dior channels that feeling into Vienna, an intimate album centered on love surrendered for money, fame, and pleasure.
Released on August 21, 2026, Vienna features 12 songs across 28 minutes and 52 seconds. The project represents seven months of dedicated work and offers a revealing look at the underground artist’s creative growth.
The Price Hidden Inside a Dream
Tony Byaruhanga, known musically as Son of Dior, built Vienna around a deeply personal conflict. The album reflects his decision to give up love and focus on material success, public recognition, and temporary enjoyment. As time passed, regret changed the way he viewed those choices. That emotional shift became the foundation for the record.
The concept gives Vienna a confessional quality. Listeners hear the perspective of someone moving through the consequences of his own decisions. Pride, disappointment, longing, and self-awareness appear across the tracklist, forming a story that feels emotionally direct.
Vienna itself becomes a symbolic destination. The city’s name suggests beauty, distance, romance, and escape. Within the album, it can also be understood as the place Son of Dior hopes to reach after leaving an old life behind. Every step toward that destination carries memories of what he sacrificed along the way.
The short opening song, “Love IS A JOKE,” introduces the project with a sharp emotional statement. Its 57-second duration gives it the character of an opening monologue. “VALENTINA MNT” then pulls listeners into a darker atmosphere through haunting vocals, steady bass pulses, and gothic-rap production. The sound creates a strong sense of isolation that suits the album’s central theme.
Twelve Songs With Distinct Personalities
Son of Dior’s genre choices help Vienna remain unpredictable. Gothic-rap shadows meet neo-soul rhythms, grunge-hop distortion, and expressive balladic passages. These combinations allow the album to move through several moods within a concise runtime.
“FALSO AMOR,” featuring Red Luna, carries a soulful rhythmic foundation. Its African township storytelling influence gives the song an organic sense of movement. The performance adds warmth to a story about false affection, creating one of the album’s most culturally textured moments.
Collaboration plays an important role in the middle of the record. ELENA and OCHOA join Son of Dior on “HOW FUCKIN IRONIC,” bringing additional voices into the emotional conversation. Red Luna appears again on “YOU’RE THE WORST,” a three-minute-and-52-second song that gives romantic resentment space to develop.
“ESCAPE TO VIENNA” pushes the album into grunge-hop territory. Its distorted sound and raw delivery capture a desire for release. The track feels like a sudden decision to run toward something unknown, driven by frustration and emotional exhaustion.
“ERASE ME” reveals another dimension of the artist. Serene opening sounds create a reflective atmosphere before the performance rises into falsetto crescendos. The song’s gradual expansion mirrors feelings that have been held back for too long. Its balladic character also provides a thoughtful pause within the album’s darker energy.
At only 14 seconds, “TOE TO TOE INTERLUDE” offers a quick bridge into “TOE TO TOE,” featuring OPGBIG3. The full song restores the project’s momentum as it approaches its final chapter. “SEE YOU IN VIENNA” completes the tracklist with a sweet, uncomplicated tone. It sounds like a promise, a goodbye, or an invitation left open for someone who may never arrive.
About the Artist
Tony Byaruhanga has created music as Son of Dior for six years. Working as an underground artist has given him time to experiment, learn, and gradually define his own creative language. He considers the past three years especially important because his music has improved and grown closer to the vision he wants to share.
His commitment to Vienna reflects that progress. Tony invested seven months in the project because he believes in its story and musical direction. He now hopes the album will reach a wider audience and introduce more listeners to his evolving artistry. Vienna is available to stream on Spotify.
The Meaning That Remains
Vienna presents ambition as an emotionally complicated pursuit. Son of Dior fills its brief runtime with personal reflection, striking collaborations, and genre combinations that give each stage of the story a distinct sound.
The album leaves listeners with questions about success, sacrifice, and the relationships people carry in memory. For Son of Dior, it stands as an honest expression of regret and a confident sign of artistic progress.
We had the privilege of interviewing Son of Dior. Here are excerpts from the interview:
Hi, thank you so much for joining us today! Please introduce yourself and tell us what you do.
My name is Tony Byaruhanga, but I go by Son of Dior. I was born in Rwanda, Africa. Raised by my Mother, everyday was cheerful. I remember every day, she would have a big stereo radio playing music out loud for the neighborhood. Growing up, my neighbors were not rich; everyone was poor, but music brought joy to everyone. I grew up with a passion for drawing. It kept me happy, and it gained me some attention. I loved the attention because I was an only child, and the world was kind of lonely.
Please share your journey with our readers.
When I reached the age of 13, we moved to America to live with my dad, and everything changed. I didn’t know him that much, so accepting him in my life was different. For the next 4 years, it was hard; every picture felt rehearsed, every smile felt fake, and every second felt like a ticking countdown until I got kicked out.
At 18, I decided to use the little money I had and bought an interface and microphone. I was in a family that I didn’t feel like I belonged to, so music and art became my escape. In an African household, saying that you want to pursue music is a crazy idea; become a doctor or engineer, but music is not the way. But that was my only escape; I could talk about my feelings and paint how I felt. Since I was born, I never felt like anyone cared about my feelings, so I had shut down. Even now as an adult, I’m still quiet, and music is the only way I can say how I feel, and people listen. So one day, I got kicked out. Slept on the streets for a couple of days, then I had to go back because they were the only people I knew in the whole country. I started sneaking out of the house at 3 in the morning to record my music outside, not to wake them up or get in trouble.
What are the strategies that helped you become successful in your journey?
Honestly, I don’t know if I’m successful, but if I was to say one thing, consistency has helped me gain more people. Yes, I don’t have a lot of listeners, but I know that even if one person listens, I’m happy. I have to keep making music because I don’t have a shoulder to cry on. I’m surrounded by people, but no one knows how I feel or even cares, so music has become my best friend. I can pour all my tears and pain, and at the end of a song I could be happy.
Any message for our readers?
I know I’m not the only one who feels this way, and I don’t want you to feel alone. I make music so you don’t have to feel alone. Maybe this is my burden to carry so you don’t have to feel how I feel. I love each and every one of you, and I hope my music can bring you happiness.
Thank you so much for giving us your precious time! We wish you all the best for your journey ahead!
