NYELA RENNIE
Special to The Leader
Asia Toyryla is making waves in the national and international music scenes from the little Western New York town of Fredonia.
Toyryla is a student here at SUNY Fredonia. She is currently majoring in music industry and minoring in economics.
Her artist name is “Cornflake Car,” and with over 6,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and a song titled “clueless” with over a half a million streams, Toyryla is not your average college student.
She stands out for having a great capacity to juggle her academic endeavors with her own independent career in the music business.
Toyryla entered the music industry at a young age of 14. She was exposed to a variety of genres and instruments throughout her childhood because she was born into a family of musicians.
She is heavily inspired by her father and brother who are both successful within the music industry.
Her father Michael is the singer and guitarist for the band Tijuana Danger Dogs. Her brother Keagan has over 30,000 monthly listeners on Spotify, and a single that has grossed almost three million streams titled “misbehaving.”
Her passion for music expanded as she experimented with different instruments, but it wasn’t until she discovered her niche of songwriting that she realized her true calling.
She started singing at open mics and small venues in her area after her relatable lyrics and melodies immediately attracted the attention of friends and family.
When it was time to choose a college, Toyryla decided to pursue her passion for music by enrolling in SUNY Fredonia’s renowned Music Industry program. This program, founded by Armand Petri, former producer of The Goo Goo Dolls, is known for its comprehensive curriculum and industry connections.
Overall, the program was the perfect fit for her aspirations.
Toyryla wanted not only to hone her musical skills, but also to gain a deep understanding of the business side of the music industry.
How Toyryla has been able to balance her academic work with her blossoming profession as an independent musician is one of her journey’s most impressive features. This endeavor has been greatly aided by her lecturers and mentors at Fredonia.
Toyryla frequently mentions the encouraging environment at the university, as professors actively promote students’ aspirations while also serving as lecturers and industry professionals.
Toyryla’s coursework in the Music Industry degree covers a wide range of topics, including music marketing, copyright law and artist management.
Her capacity to apply these ideas to her own musical career distinguishes her from other musicians. For instance, she has utilized her marketing expertise to establish a strong and powerful presence, developing a dedicated fan base
through social media and multiple streaming platforms. Toyryla seems to master the importance of branding and how it can influence an artist’s success.
She has taken full advantage of the Music Industry major at SUNY Fredonia, while also being an active part of HAIL! Fredonia Records for two semesters.
Toyryla is currently an A&R (Artist and Repertoire) lead for a local band called Oscars Cash. Her dedication to her craft is evident in the professional quality of marketing and promotion of the band.
Toyryla has also been proactive in networking with fellow students and industry professionals.
She collaborates with classmates on music projects, creating a supportive and creative environment. Additionally, Toyryla frequently attends workshops and seminars organized by the university, where she learns from industry veterans and gains insights into the ever-evolving music business.
One of Toyryla’s most notable achievements during her time at Fredonia is her ability to balance her academic commitments with a thriving music career.
She got the opportunity to perform at the Local Lo-Down’s acoustic night last semester. As mentioned before, her singles have garnered thousands of streams on various platforms and even campus-wide.
Through dedication and hard work, Toyryla has successfully built a brand around her music, proving that she can apply what she learns in the classroom to the real world.
Toyryla is dedicated to giving back to the community in addition to her outstanding musical and academic achievements. Her music is a vehicle through which she frequently donates her time to play at neighborhood fundraising and charitable events.
The principles her family and her experience at Fredonia taught her are reflected in her dedication to using her talent for the benefit of society.
Toyryla dreams of an even brighter future as her academic career advances. Her goals for her music career include signing with a major record company, going on tour around the country and more. She intends to keep developing her music.
Toyryla has the knowledge and abilities necessary to successfully negotiate the difficulties of the music industry thanks to her experiences at Fredonia.
Toyryla’s social media accounts are as follows:
Instagram: @asiatoyryla
Spotify: cornflakecar
YouTube: cornflake car