SONNY Releases New Single 'THE PLACE I LOVE' | We Chat Socially Distanced Gigs & Wasp Attacks
Stirring timeless influences with modern pop, 21-year-old Sonny offers something a little different in the current landscape. It’s a sound that has seen him reach 20 million streams at Spotify within just a handful of releases, including his breakthrough ‘Princess’.
While he’s currently best known for his laidback ballads, his new single ‘Place I Love’ presents a much bigger sound. That spirited, mature-beyond-his-years vocal once again stands out with its strong-armed soul. It adorns a potent pop-rock anthem with resounding live energy and an undercurrent of contemporary country. The single is accompanied by an animated lyric video.
Sonny’s lyrics are a heartfelt tribute to his hometown of South Shields. The line “back to the land of the sanddancers” refers to the local slang term used to describe the town’s people. It’s believed that the sanddancers term originated as a reference to South Shields’ long golden beach.
Sonny first started gigging around the Newcastle area when he was just 14-years-old. His influences were broadly drawn from his parents’ love of music, covering vintage R&B, soul, folk and country. That gave him the foundations to build a following from a young age, with his EPs ‘Hopeless Romance’ (2017), ‘Northern Nights’ (2018) and the all-acoustic ‘Beech Road’. He also collaborated with Hannah Grace for two tracks in 2019.
Sonny is just as accomplished as a live performer. He has toured as guest to James TW, Gabrielle Aplin and Saint Raymond, and headlined the Servant Jazz Quarters in London and The Cluny in Newcastle. Festival dates have included The Great Escape, the final Secret Garden Party and Barbour International’s stage at Malle Mile
The single ‘Place I Love’ is about in your home town South Shields what events inspired you to write this song? The video is an animated collage lyric video, how was this conceptualised?
We actually had a music video planned for ‘Place I Love’ where I’d be walking around my hometown with my mates and having a party in a venue etc. But unfortunately, due to coronavirus restrictions, it couldn’t go forward. So we found a great team of people to make an animated version of me walking past key landmarks in the northeast. They smashed it
As an emerging artist, collaboration is important to increase your awareness following and opportunities when that can happen again who would you love to tour with?
I’d love to tour with Ed Sheeran! Both ginger, both play the guitar. And he could teach me how to use his loop pedals.
What are your long-term goals for your future as an artist?
My long-term goal as a musician is to always write and release good music. Put out a killer album and sell loads of them, then walk happily into the sunset.
What’s the funniest story from your time as an artist touring and playing festivals?
I was playing an outdoor gig once supporting James Morrison and a huge wasp would just not leave me alone mid-song😂. It got to the point where I was running around the stage playing the guitar trying to get rid of it.
What were your key musical influences growing up?
My key musical influences have always been the soul and acoustic artists! The likes of Stevie Wonder, Etta James, James Morrison, Paolo Nutini.
The first record you brought (honestly)
I think it was Taio Cruz - Dynamite 😂 I loved that song when I was younger.
What are you working on right now?
At the minute I’m writing every day trying to build a great EP. We’ve got a few tunes already which are sounding great! Exciting times.
What’s been your experience of lockdown? And how are you keeping yourself connected and motivated during this time?
Lockdown can get very boring and hard at times but I’m lucky to have such a great family to isolate with. The first lockdown I tried to sort my fitness out because it really helps to get me motivated. Ended up losing 2 and a half stone which I’m really proud of!
What’s your go-to party trick?
I don’t really have a party trick BUT when I’ve had a few beers I have an alter ego - ‘Uncle Steve’ don’t ask me why but it just happens. That’s my party trick. My sisters now pregnant and told me I’m never allowed to let uncle Steve loose.
What’s next for you in the immediate future any live streams or socially distanced gigs coming up that we should know about?
I can’t wait for gigs to come back man. I’m always doing live-streams on my Instagram @sonnysocials so people should deffo tune in! Just continuing to write more music. That’s what makes me happy! \
Connect with Sonny
Interview by Danielle Burbidge