LILLI - Anthropology

tydi:
A promise Unkept, A miracle And A Life Changed

Australian Christian Music News

July 2026

UPCOMING SHOWS:

Freedom Music Festival, .... (ACT)

OZ 5 CHART

1. FOR KING & COUNTRY - WORLD ON FIRE

2. Tarryn Stokes - Rubies & Gold

3. Aodhan King - Hallelujah (If Not For Your Love)

4. Justin Michael - Cannot See Tomorrow

5. Ethan Beer - Eyes For You

*Compiled by TCM based on Australian Christian radio airplay from the preceding month.

tyDi: A Promise Unkept, A Miracle, And A Life Changed

Aaron Duff, July 3, 2026

DJ, composer and trance music icon, Tyson Illingworth aka tyDi shares his testimony in coming (back) to Christ in this exclusive interview with Aaron Duff from Australian Christian Records

From chart-topping success to scoring music for Hollywood blockbusters, Queenslander Tyson Illingworth (tyDi) has witnessed firsthand the incredible highs of stardom in the music industry.

Bursting onto the scene as a teenager, tyDi quickly went on to consistently be voted one of the best dj’s in the world and recognised as the best in Australia (2008-09). Likewise, tyDi’s productions saw him become one of Australia’s most successful music exports from thereon with sophomore album Shooting Stars (2011) peaking #1 on the iTunes Dance music chart in the US, Australia and elsewhere.

Having reached the pinnacle of worldly success, the last few years have been a whirlwind of a different kind, with Tyson experiencing some deep valleys that led him to question his purpose and way of life.

After considerable soul searching and a subsequent life-changing experience, Tyson made a stand on one of the final days of 2025 and shared the following post on his socials:

Speaking with Tyson soon afterwards, his journey to faith is far from your standard testimony.

Attending a Lutheran school and raised in a loving family by his Christian mother and unbelieving father, Tyson was well aware of the key tenets of Christianity, but there were parts he didn’t quite believe in; from talking snakes, all the way to why would God send his son to earth to die? There were a lot of unanswered questions.

God was always there for Tyson though and looking back, a key moment in his life came at 15 years old.

“I was onstage getting ready to dj at the big Christian music festival Easterfest in Toowoomba. I probably shouldn’t have been performing there as while I had stated I was a Christian in my artist application, a lot of things in the Bible seemed too fantastical for me.

But here I was, a young kid in a big, empty tent 15 minutes before my time slot and the only other person on the floor was my dear Grandma. I was so nervous as this was one of my first ever gigs and so I prayed.

I said ‘God, if you’re real and fill this room up with people I will dedicate my dj career to serving you’.

It took just a minute or two and then the tent was packed. We all had a great time and that gig in front of a huge crowd became the kickstart that got me dj’ing other gigs all across Australia and launching my career.”

On Top of the World?

At 17, Tyson was signed by the King of Trance, Armin van Buuren to his Armada label, and was in hot demand dj’ing around the world, working with big name artists and mixing cd’s for Ministry of Sound.

Shining in the spotlight with a busy lifestyle, Tyson found himself quickly forgetting his promise to God, and began reading books on science and evolution from the new atheist movement. He began emulating those authors like Richard Dawkins, Sam Harris and others, actively seeking out debate to prove that God does not exist.

Simultaneously, he was in his own words, “leading a very hedonistic lifestyle, chasing girls and partying. While I don’t believe I was ever a bad person, I’m sure I got drunk far too many times.”

Losing his relationship with God, Tyson felt ‘soulless’ outside of music and it was music that had all he lived for. Inwardly though, Tyson still knew he remained loved for he was as a person by all his Christian family and friends.

Tyson on stage in 2008 soon after Easterfest

Falling on Dark Times

It took COVID to bring a stop to the international dj’ing circuit and Tyson returned home to Queensland. In what is now a well-known case, Tyson had a severe reaction to the COVID vaccine and woke up the day after the jab unable to move his legs, with his arms not much better.

At the hospital doctors told Tyson he may never walk again, but after a few days, the feeling started to return and he slowly got back to normal.

In a self-proclaimed act of stupidity, a few weeks later Tyson decided to get the follow-up jab and once again was paralysed. It was even more serious the second time, and Tyson was literally down on his knees and found himself praying to the same God he prayed to in the big Easterfest tent.

In what is a long story cut short, God did answer prayer and Tyson considers himself a walking miracle in that his body is back to where it once was; but then came the verbal attacks.

With the vaccines quickly becoming a controversial topic across Australia, Tyson was accused of being a liar, a drug-taker and suffered multiple attacks on his character.

According to Tyson, “I lost everybody. And I think that's what God does sometimes. I needed to lose absolutely everything, it was just the most awful thing.”

At that time, Tyson had what he describes as a supernatural experience.

"I was in my darkest moment, down on my knees and absolutely praying. In my vision I was thrown into another world. It wasn't hell, but it was dark and I could hear screams - it was a very horrible place.

I had spent my whole life demanding evidence, and in my prayer I had asked to see if heaven was real. Instead I was given a little taste of where I was otherwise heading.

At the same time both of my two phones stopped working with no signal, and I couldn't contact anyone.

Then I was in a different place. It was lonely, empty and there was no love there. It was horrendous. I was there for a while and I couldn’t contact anyone because my phones weren’t working.

It was a strange, supernatural experience and looking back I feel I got a taste of being in a place absent of God. I know people will call me crazy, but it doesn’t matter - it was enough to give this (previous) atheist evidence that ‘oops I’ve been wrong the whole time.”

It was through this experience that Tyson was completely healed and was able to move his arms and legs and walk again.

Sharing further, “Even though nobody else is likely to believe me, I was grateful to God for the evidence and promised God that I was not going to let him down again.”

So Tyson had found God, or maybe God had found him. In any case, Tyson made a decision then to not be a lukewarm Christian, but to research and learn as much as he could about Jesus’ teachings..

There was also a sense of shame for his past life where he had blasphemed against God and likely also led people astray. It was soon afterwards that Tyson made that December 29 apology on his socials.

One month later, he followed it up with a considered question to his fans asking them if they too have been deceived by evil and urging them to make the right choice.

tyDi

Moving Forward with Christ

This year Tyson has made some immediate changes in his life. In wanting to clean up his spirit he’s dead sober for now and not making a point of going clubbing every weekend.

On his music plans, he has had a comeback year and playing at some massive festivals in America and some releases on big labels.

“I want to focus on the music being positive now. Some of my past work was a bit dark, and while I’m not trying to be cheesy or write everything with a worship element, I want to be inspiring and share the new direction that’s in my heart.”

The Christian EDM Scene

Interestingly, going back to the very start of tyDi’s music career around Easterfest time, there are two other electronic artists he was making remixes for and collaborating with. One was Andy Hunter who has essentially become the godfather of Christian EDM (CEDM) with crossover success in the secular scene - particularly with placements in blockbuster films and video games.

The other was Topher Jones who like Tyson has since been on his own journey to faith, and after a successful secular career has ‘blown up’ around the world as ‘Rave Jesus’, and is supporting other Christian EDM artists like Australia's own AndyG in what is becoming a burgeoning scene.

Tyson reflects on his friendship with Topher,

“Topher's still a friend of mine and we’ve been texting about doing things together. I’m very proud of what he’s doing. I’ve always known him as Topher Jones, but seeing him as Rave Jesus worshipping God through EDM is pretty awesome.”

I think what he and others are doing in the CEDM scene is very much needed and an inspiration.”

New Music

Tyson is working on new music and has notably returned to his trance roots with his latest single The Shimmer. Keep an eye out for more music and collaborations to come!