Taking advantage of the town's proximity to the ocean, she began surfing at the age of 12. She competed in the National Scholastic Surfing Association (NSSA) High School Division and earned fifth place in the state title while still in middle school.
At 15, she was given a cassette of Ani DiFranco's 1993 Puddle Dive by her half-brother's friend. She played the album constantly and it still has great sentimental value to her. It serves as a reminder of when her musical ambitions started to blossom.
Inspired by DiFranco's music and due in part to her nature of being a self-described "nosy kid" she entered her parents' room and began playing around with her father's old acoustic guitar. Although her parents were initially angry with her for "taking" her father's guitar, they eventually became supportive of her interest in music.
She began playing in front of friends at their homes and they encouraged her to begin writing her own material. One night, while performing for some friends, an employee of the production company The Moonshine Conspiracy, run by surf filmmaker Taylor Steele and professional surfer Chris Malloy, heard her and asked Tristan to appear in the film the company was working on at the time entitled Shelter. Tristan's song, Anything At All was chosen to be on the soundtrack.
Prettyman began playing in clubs and bars throughout San Diego County before being invited to join fellow San Diegoan, and future boyfriend, Jason Mraz on his national tour.
Prettyman spent the winter of 2004 in New York collaborating with producer Josh Deutsch who had worked with Mraz and Lenny Kravitz.
Prettyman is half-sister to Cody McClintock, an independent film producer.
She is signed to Virgin Records, and put out her first major label album Twentythree on August 2, 2005. Tristan credits her half-brother with much influence on her thinking and the title of her debut album pays partial homage to the "23 enigma". A perceptual concept which refers to the abnormally high occurrence of the number 23 in daily life as described in the book Cosmic Trigger by Robert Anton Wilson, as derived from friend and fellow author William S. Burroughs.
Twentythree peaked at 24 on Billboard's Top Heatseekers chart.
In 2008 Tristan released her sophomore album, entitled Hello.
Toxic
Tristan Prettyman Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
I'm calling
A guy like you should wear a warning
It's dangerous
I'm falling
There's no escape
I can't wait
Baby, give me it
You're dangerous
I'm loving it
Too high
Can't come down
Losin' my head
Spinnin' 'round and 'round
Do you feel me now?
Oh,
The taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slippin' under
With a taste of a poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?
And I love what you do
Don't you know that you're toxic?
It's getting late
To give you up
I took a sip
From my devil's cup
Slowly, it's taking over me
Too high
Can't come down
It's in the air and it's all around
Can you feel me now?
Oh,
Taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slippin' under
With the taste of a poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?
And I love what you do
Don't you know that you're toxic?
Don't you know that you're toxic?
(Oh, oh)
Taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slippin' under
With a taste of a poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?
With the taste of your lips
I'm on a ride
You're toxic I'm slippin' under
With a taste of the poison paradise
I'm addicted to you
Don't you know that you're toxic?
Intoxicate me now
With your lovin' now
I think I'm ready now
I think I'm ready now
Intoxicate me now
With your lovin' now
I think I'm ready now
"Toxic" by Tristan Prettyman is a song about being dangerously in love with someone who is toxic. The singer warns the person that they should wear a warning like a hazardous chemical because they are dangerous and she's falling in love with them. Despite knowing their partner is toxic, they can't help but be addicted to them. The singer is experiencing a rush of emotions and feeling high and intoxicated every time they are with their partner. They are losing their head and spinning around and around, unable to escape the intoxicating feeling of their love.
The song also highlights the feeling of losing control and being unable to resist their partner's pull. The singer took a sip from their devil's cup, which is metaphorical for giving in to their desires and becoming addicted. The singer is aware that it's late and they should give up, but they can't resist their partner's pull. The taste of their partner's lips is like a poison paradise that the singer is willingly slipping under.
Overall, the song is about the dangers of being in love with someone toxic, and how it can feel like an addiction that's impossible to escape from.
Line by Line Meaning
Baby, can't you see I'm calling
I'm trying to get your attention.
A guy like you should wear a warning
You're dangerous, and people need to be warned about you.
It's dangerous I'm falling
You have a dangerous effect on me, and I'm falling for you.
There's no escape
I'm in too deep, and there's no way out.
I can't wait
I need you right now.
I need a hit Baby, give me it
I crave your attention and affection.
You're dangerous I'm loving it
Despite the danger you bring, I enjoy being with you.
Too high Can't come down
I'm too deeply in love with you to back out now.
Losin' my head Spinnin' 'round and 'round
My feelings for you have caused me to lose control and become dizzy.
Do you feel me now?
Do you understand the effect you have on me?
The taste of your lips I'm on a ride
Kissing you makes me feel like I'm on a thrilling ride.
You're toxic I'm slippin' under
Your love is like a poison that is slowly taking over me.
With a taste of a poison paradise
Being with you is dangerous, yet alluring like a paradise made of poison.
I'm addicted to you
I can't get enough of you.
Don't you know that you're toxic?
You're dangerous, and I can't resist you.
And I love what you do
I love the effect you have on me and how you make me feel.
It's getting late To give you up
It's becoming harder to leave you behind and move on.
I took a sip From my devil's cup
I knew being with you was dangerous, but I couldn't resist.
Slowly, it's taking over me
Your love is consuming me little by little.
It's in the air and it's all around
Your love is everywhere, and I can't escape it.
With the taste of the poison paradise
Being with you is like being in paradise, but it's also like being poisoned.
Intoxicate me now With your lovin' now
I want to feel your love and be immersed in it completely.
I think I'm ready now
I'm willing to take the risk and be with you despite the danger.
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: Cathy Dennis, Christian Karlsson, Henrik Jonback, Pontus Winnberg
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind