Son of Dior Makes an Impressive Creative Statement With the Soulful Album ‘Vienna’

Some albums document a season of happiness, while others preserve the moment when personal choices begin to feel heavier. Vienna by Son of Dior belongs to the second category, carrying listeners through attraction, ambition, emotional distance, and the slow arrival of regret.

Released on August 21, 2026, the album contains 12 songs with a total duration of 28 minutes and 52 seconds. Its compact structure makes every track feel like a scene from a private story that’s still unfolding.

First Impressions of a Restless Record

Son of Dior, the artistic name of Tony Byaruhanga, spent seven months developing Vienna. The project grew from an honest idea: he had given up love to chase money, fame, and pleasure, only to look back on that decision with regret. Instead of presenting this experience as a simple confession, he turns it into an atmospheric journey.

The name Vienna carries a cinematic quality. It sounds like a destination imagined during a difficult night, somewhere distant enough to promise reinvention. Throughout the album, that destination takes on several meanings. Vienna can be an escape, a dream of success, a lost relationship, or a meeting place that may exist only in memory.

“Love IS A JOKE” opens the record with a 57-second statement that immediately establishes its emotional temperature. The title sounds defensive, yet the wider album reveals the hurt beneath that attitude. “VALENTINA MNT” follows with pulsing bass and haunting vocals. Its gothic-rap character gives the song a dark, enclosed feeling, drawing the listener deeper into Son of Dior’s world.

“NIGHTFALL” and “DREADS (unmastered)” continue the nocturnal mood. The unmastered label attached to “DREADS” adds a sense of immediacy, as though the artist has allowed listeners to hear an emotion before it has been cleaned up or softened.

Sounds That Shift With the Story

Vienna blends gothic-rap, neo-soul, grunge-hop, and balladic elements. These styles give the project a changing musical landscape, and each one supports a different emotional shade. The production can feel shadowy, soulful, distorted, or peaceful depending on where the story has reached.

“FALSO AMOR,” featuring Red Luna, introduces neo-soul rhythms and an expressive storytelling quality. Its title, meaning false love, fits naturally within the album’s themes of mistrust and romantic disappointment. Rhythmic touches reminiscent of African township storytelling bring additional warmth and cultural character to the track.

The collaborative “HOW FUCKIN IRONIC” features ELENA and OCHOA. Multiple voices broaden the album’s perspective and bring fresh energy to its middle section. Red Luna returns on “YOU’RE THE WORST,” the longest track on the record at three minutes and 52 seconds. The song’s length gives its frustration time to settle, making it feel like an argument that has continued long after both people understood the outcome.

“ESCAPE TO VIENNA” serves as one of the album’s defining moments. Raw distortion and grunge-hop intensity transform the fantasy of escape into something urgent. The track sounds restless, emotionally crowded, and ready to break through its boundaries.

A different side of Son of Dior appears on “ERASE ME.” The balladic arrangement begins with serene sounds before rising into falsetto crescendos. That progression allows vulnerability to move to the foreground. The brief “TOE TO TOE INTERLUDE” then prepares the way for “TOE TO TOE,” featuring OPGBIG3, adding another burst of momentum near the album’s end.

Finally, “SEE YOU IN VIENNA” closes the record with a sweet and simple farewell. Its gentleness makes the ending feel personal. After so much tension, the song leaves behind a small sense of acceptance.

About the Artist

Tony Byaruhanga has been making music for six years under the name Son of Dior. As an underground artist, he’s spent that time discovering how his voice, writing, and production choices can communicate his experiences. Tony feels his work has grown considerably during the past three years, giving him greater confidence in the direction he’s pursuing.

Vienna reflects that development. Tony believes deeply in the project and hopes it can reach listeners who connect with emotionally honest music. The album’s varied sound also shows his willingness to experiment while building a recognizable artistic identity. Listeners can currently find Vienna on Spotify.

Where the Journey Settles

Vienna turns one artist’s regret into a focused musical narrative about the cost of desire. Its short tracks, genre changes, and carefully chosen collaborations keep the experience moving while preserving its emotional depth.

For Son of Dior, the album feels like a record of growth and a declaration of intent. For listeners, it offers a revealing trip through love, temptation, ambition, and the memories that remain when the chase finally becomes quiet.

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!