Sydney's up and coming artist Sonia combines elements of R&B, jazz, and pop, along with her powerful storytelling lyrics to create a colourful sounds. She has just released her debut single 'Blue' taken from her forthcoming EP Lucky Stars. Tomatrax caught up with Sonia to ask a few questions.
What inspired you to become a musician?
I was such a drama queen when I was younger! I found myself really drawing out every possible emotion out of the smallest things and when you pair that with a love of music, being a musician and having music and writing as an expressive outlet just makes so much sense!
When did yo write your first song?
As soon as I could string together my own sentence i was always singing little made-up jingles and songs, but I wrote my first, proper song when I was 11... which feels like a lifetime ago!
You've just put out your first single, what's it like to have it out?
Insane! It's only been out for a few days now and the responses have been amazing! I've released songs in the past but never officially like this. Just seeing people love the song makes the vulnerability of personal songwriting so worthwhile!
You also have an EP coming out soon, how will the rest of the EP compare with your first single?
The Lucky Stars EP is a combination of songs about some stellar-and not so stellar-things that have happened to me over the last few years. I absolutely adore all the songs on the EP, and theres definitely a running theme in the EP... the intense love affair in 'Blue' is echoed by other intense aspects of relationships; falling stupidly, quickly and blindly for someone, abusive relationships and the ultimate assertion of yourself as your own strong, independent person. This is completely different to a 'young woman singing about love', its a bold and confident look into the absolute highs-and absolute lows-of my life, of late.
Where did the name Lucky Stars come from?
Lucky Stars is the name of one of the Tracks on the EP. The song is about my independence and strength as an individual and serves as a bit of a warning to anyone trying to enter my life: Count your Lucky Stars that I've let you get this far! The song is super playful and sassy, and a little bit cheeky. It means more than just how it stands in the song... over the last few years I've really struggled with finding the confidence in myself both in the industry, as an artist, and as a person, finding the power in myself. I'm also counting my Lucky Stars that I made it through some dark times to get to where I am now!
Where do you get the inspiration for your lyrics?
I write from my own experience. I can't lie and say that it isn't occasionally exaggerated for dramatic effect, but every song reflects a moment, person or part of my life and the way I emotionally responded to it at the time, or looking back at it.
When writing what comes first, the words or the music?
I don't love writing lyrics first just because I feel where the lyrics want to go as the song develops... sometimes you don't know what you want to write about until you hear a beat or a chord and then the mood just totally clicks. However, sometimes you sit down with such a clear idea about who/what you want to write about and everything just kind of spills out at once. My work flow is just everything happening when it happens!
Do you ever listen to your own music?
I've absolutely no shame... all the time! It's definitely a combination of critiquing myself and draft tracks, and also just really actually enjoying my own work, hey, if I don't even like it, who's going to?
What other music do you listen to?
I've always been a sucker for old school Jazz and RnB. But, I have a really broad taste in music so much that my current Spotify playlist consists of D'Angelo, Rihanna, E^ST, Anne-Marie, Kehlani and Tank. It changes up all the time.
What do you have planned once your EP is out?
Hopefully get back into the Live music scene with some shows... I love playing live and its a great chance to meet all the people who are supporting me! I'm also always working on more music, so collaborating with some really awesome people is on the cards too in the near future! Stay Tuned!
