Artist info:
Also known as
Verified yes
GenrePop, Electronic, Dance, House, Trance
Rank6,567 (new)
Albums4
Songs29
AboutBiography: Childhood and Youth
Born as Née Sonia Clarke in North London's Crouch End, England on
June 21st, 1968 and also raised there. Sonique's formative years were
infused with the sounds of her mums's record collection. Every Sunday
the house would be filled with the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack,
Gladys Knight, Otis Redding and Denice Williams. "That was the day for
loud music, cleaning and nice-smelling food being cooked", she recalls
fondly. However, it was her own discovery that was most meaningful.
Another record made her crucial experience. "Music is something you're
born with," says Sonique. "I've always had this thing in me. The first record
I bought was Donna Summer's «I Feel Love», and that was the beginning
of my life and my musical experience. It reached a part of me other things
didn't reach. I had known then that this is the music I like and I never left"
she recalls. But had things been different one defining day during Sonique's
teenage years, we may never have heard her own music at all.
From the age of six, little Sonia had serious designs on the world of
professional athletics. Still in possession of a superfit physique, Sonique
explains: "I dreamed of being the world's best pentathlete. Trained every
single day. I guess I was pretty obsessed." But, at the age of 15, all that
came to an abrupt halt: "I came second in a race", she says matter-of-
factly. "Wasn't used to losing." Which pretty much sums up Sonique's life
philosophy: Be the best or don't bother. With her music career, she's
certainly put that theory into practice.
At the age of 17, a youth-worker told Sonique she had a beautiful voice,
it was natural to apply her characteristic determination to making music
instead. She has joined a reggae band called Fari which did more than
hone her singing skills. "I thought they'd already have some tunes for me
to sing", Sonique laughs at the memory, "but, when I turned up the first
day, the rest of the band were like, 'So - brought some songs?' They
hadn't written a note between them!" Cue a crash course for Sonique in
song-writing.
The band was also what kept her going through what was to turn into one
of the toughest periods of Sonique's life. Her mum had just returned to her
native Trinidad to re-marry. Being the eldest of three with no father figure
around, Sonique thought she'd already learned to look after herself and
insisted on staying behind. A few months later, circumstances conspired
against her and she wound up homeless, surviving on crisps and sleeping
on mates' floors and - when those ran out - the streets. "That made me
realise life wasn't a joke - I could have died on the street." She figured it
was time to take things more seriously and, with Fari disbanded, promptly
went about getting herself a record deal.
First Experiences as a Recording Artist
Sonique's career as a recording artist began when she was signed to
Cooltempo Records while still a teenager, resulting in an immediate club
hit with «Let Me Hold You». The record entered the top 25 in the UK dance
charts without any promotion. It was Ernie McKone, an old school-friend
with connections to the music industry, who offered to write with her this
song. Later, on Bass-O-Matic's debut album Sonique earned a credit for
the track «Zombie Mantra». She began writing more songs and was put in
touch with Tim Simenon (Bomb The Bass). They recorded some tracks
together but, before they could even be released, his mate, a certain Mark
Moore, poached her for his own project. However, it was both as the singer
and a songwriter for Mark Moore's S'Express that Sonique first entered the
limelight, featuring on the minor hits «Nothing to lose» and «Find 'em, Fool
'em, Forget 'em» in 1990 and 1992, respectively. "S'Express needed a
singer and a songwriter, so I was asked to collaborate on the album
«Intercourse», and I created my own style and identity," she says. "I didn't
realize what was happening, but I was proving myself. S'Express taught
me I could command a stage and from Mark I really learned how to write -
he's a very clever songwriter." But, after finishing this project, Sonique
decided to go it alone. "I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, I just
knew I wanted people to look at me, listen to me, feel me, relate to what
I was doing - every- thing." It was Mark Moore who gave her the first
turntables and a mixer too.
Starting a DJ Career
"It was about taking control of my life. A lot people wanted me to sing for
them but I wanted to do my own thing and when I saw Mark DJ-ing, I
thought it looked so cool and decided, 'I want some of that.' And you know
what? I was dreadful!" But, in true Sonique style, that was no deterrent.
With the same determination and precision that she applied to earlier
achievements as an athlete, Sonique trained to be a DJ for a full three
years at home before stepping out in 1994. "I'd seen him do it so I knew
it was physically possible", she grins. "I knew I had to be really good as
soon as I started. I am a woman, and I felt people were waiting to laugh
at a woman who made mistakes. They wanted to see what I'd do next.
Then I broke all records for the rate of success as a DJ. I was pulling in
the crowd, making everybody dance. The party would turn into something
else." To get work in the highly competitive DJ world, she'd tell bookers
about her singing ability. Singing and DJ-ing and being a woman was quite
a sensation at the time. "I knew once they'd heard and seen me, they'd
want more." And she was right. Sonique has since made her mark as a DJ,
partly helped by her unique improvised singing over her own uptempo
House sets at clubs such as Cream in Liverpool, Gatecrasher in Sheffield,
and Manumission in Ibiza (where she was a resident DJ from 1997 - 1999),
but also in Germany, USA, Singapore, Hongkong, Jamaica, Australia, Italy
and Norway. This connection with global music fans strengthened her own
understanding of what people like and how it effects them. "In England the
pop records start at the clubs," she explains. "You hear the mix in the clubs
first. Being a DJ helps me to see what people want when they go out
partying." Sonique's unique skills are spellbound on a number of UK
compilations, including "Introspective of House", "Third Dimension"
(both 1997), "Fantazia British Anthems , Summertime" (1998) and the
Serious/Virgin release entitled "Serious Sounds of Sonique" (February
2000). The latest pearl in this chain is the double CD "DJ Sonique - Club
Mix" (out since July 9, 2001). Sonique provided half-an-hour hot mixes on
Pete Tong's show on BBC Radio One. She has had the "Full Frontal" show
on KISS FM and Skyline Radio London broadcasted live DJ and vocal sets
of Sonique.
The Hit Records
In the meantime Sonique enjoyed two club and dance music chart hits with
"I Put A Spell On You" and "It Feels So Good" on Manifesto Records. "Spell"
was originally released in the UK in June 1998 and peaked at #36 in the
official single charts while "It Feels So Good", charted in December the
same year, climbed up to #24. The track has grown to a mainstream hit
in the US, breaking into the national Top 10, and belatedly gave her a UK
chart-topper in May 2000. On its first week of release it sold 195,000
copies, compared with the 32,000 total of the first time around. Overthere
in the US a club DJ in Tampa, Florida began spinning her song from an
import 12" before several other clubs in the US joined in. This led to
explosive requests for the song at radio and retail, so Republic Records
jumped in and signed Sonique right away. But the success was laced with
personal tragedy. As the single blew up and an album deal with Serious
was brokered, Sonique lost the baby she'd been carrying at eight months.
"The worst, most devastating, awful thing that's ever happened in my life."
As the grieving singer tried to cope with her loss, she was told she had 40
days to start and finish the album. Somehow she managed it, producing
what is now one of the most successful dance albums ever: testament
indeed to Sonique's talent and determination. The album finally came out
on February 14, 2000 and went platinum in the UK and Ireland, and gold
in Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Sonique's debut album has now sold
over half a million albums in the UK alone. "Hear my cry" went on to
become the UK's 42nd best selling album in 2000.
The subsequent singles, "Sky", an ode to her lost baby boy effortlessly
debuted at its peak at #2 in the UK single charts in September, and the
re-released "I Put A Spell On You", nestled into the top ten at #8 in
November 2000. The single "It Feels So Good" became the third best-
selling single in 2000. "Sky" and "I Put A Spell On You" became 70th
respectively 179th best seller in the UK the same year. Furthermore
Sonique was recognised by the Guinness Book Of Records as the first
female solo artist to be #1 for 3 consecutive weeks - the first in 22 years
since Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" in 1978.
With these successful single releases and a UK top ten album in her hand,
Sonique topped other respectable nominees like Dido, Jamelia, PJ Harvey
and Sade at the Brit Awards 2001. Pictures below showing her performing
respectively in winning pose after receiving the honour as Best British
Female Solo Artist.
Born as Née Sonia Clarke in North London's Crouch End, England on
June 21st, 1968 and also raised there. Sonique's formative years were
infused with the sounds of her mums's record collection. Every Sunday
the house would be filled with the sounds of Marvin Gaye, Roberta Flack,
Gladys Knight, Otis Redding and Denice Williams. "That was the day for
loud music, cleaning and nice-smelling food being cooked", she recalls
fondly. However, it was her own discovery that was most meaningful.
Another record made her crucial experience. "Music is something you're
born with," says Sonique. "I've always had this thing in me. The first record
I bought was Donna Summer's «I Feel Love», and that was the beginning
of my life and my musical experience. It reached a part of me other things
didn't reach. I had known then that this is the music I like and I never left"
she recalls. But had things been different one defining day during Sonique's
teenage years, we may never have heard her own music at all.
From the age of six, little Sonia had serious designs on the world of
professional athletics. Still in possession of a superfit physique, Sonique
explains: "I dreamed of being the world's best pentathlete. Trained every
single day. I guess I was pretty obsessed." But, at the age of 15, all that
came to an abrupt halt: "I came second in a race", she says matter-of-
factly. "Wasn't used to losing." Which pretty much sums up Sonique's life
philosophy: Be the best or don't bother. With her music career, she's
certainly put that theory into practice.
At the age of 17, a youth-worker told Sonique she had a beautiful voice,
it was natural to apply her characteristic determination to making music
instead. She has joined a reggae band called Fari which did more than
hone her singing skills. "I thought they'd already have some tunes for me
to sing", Sonique laughs at the memory, "but, when I turned up the first
day, the rest of the band were like, 'So - brought some songs?' They
hadn't written a note between them!" Cue a crash course for Sonique in
song-writing.
The band was also what kept her going through what was to turn into one
of the toughest periods of Sonique's life. Her mum had just returned to her
native Trinidad to re-marry. Being the eldest of three with no father figure
around, Sonique thought she'd already learned to look after herself and
insisted on staying behind. A few months later, circumstances conspired
against her and she wound up homeless, surviving on crisps and sleeping
on mates' floors and - when those ran out - the streets. "That made me
realise life wasn't a joke - I could have died on the street." She figured it
was time to take things more seriously and, with Fari disbanded, promptly
went about getting herself a record deal.
First Experiences as a Recording Artist
Sonique's career as a recording artist began when she was signed to
Cooltempo Records while still a teenager, resulting in an immediate club
hit with «Let Me Hold You». The record entered the top 25 in the UK dance
charts without any promotion. It was Ernie McKone, an old school-friend
with connections to the music industry, who offered to write with her this
song. Later, on Bass-O-Matic's debut album Sonique earned a credit for
the track «Zombie Mantra». She began writing more songs and was put in
touch with Tim Simenon (Bomb The Bass). They recorded some tracks
together but, before they could even be released, his mate, a certain Mark
Moore, poached her for his own project. However, it was both as the singer
and a songwriter for Mark Moore's S'Express that Sonique first entered the
limelight, featuring on the minor hits «Nothing to lose» and «Find 'em, Fool
'em, Forget 'em» in 1990 and 1992, respectively. "S'Express needed a
singer and a songwriter, so I was asked to collaborate on the album
«Intercourse», and I created my own style and identity," she says. "I didn't
realize what was happening, but I was proving myself. S'Express taught
me I could command a stage and from Mark I really learned how to write -
he's a very clever songwriter." But, after finishing this project, Sonique
decided to go it alone. "I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do, I just
knew I wanted people to look at me, listen to me, feel me, relate to what
I was doing - every- thing." It was Mark Moore who gave her the first
turntables and a mixer too.
Starting a DJ Career
"It was about taking control of my life. A lot people wanted me to sing for
them but I wanted to do my own thing and when I saw Mark DJ-ing, I
thought it looked so cool and decided, 'I want some of that.' And you know
what? I was dreadful!" But, in true Sonique style, that was no deterrent.
With the same determination and precision that she applied to earlier
achievements as an athlete, Sonique trained to be a DJ for a full three
years at home before stepping out in 1994. "I'd seen him do it so I knew
it was physically possible", she grins. "I knew I had to be really good as
soon as I started. I am a woman, and I felt people were waiting to laugh
at a woman who made mistakes. They wanted to see what I'd do next.
Then I broke all records for the rate of success as a DJ. I was pulling in
the crowd, making everybody dance. The party would turn into something
else." To get work in the highly competitive DJ world, she'd tell bookers
about her singing ability. Singing and DJ-ing and being a woman was quite
a sensation at the time. "I knew once they'd heard and seen me, they'd
want more." And she was right. Sonique has since made her mark as a DJ,
partly helped by her unique improvised singing over her own uptempo
House sets at clubs such as Cream in Liverpool, Gatecrasher in Sheffield,
and Manumission in Ibiza (where she was a resident DJ from 1997 - 1999),
but also in Germany, USA, Singapore, Hongkong, Jamaica, Australia, Italy
and Norway. This connection with global music fans strengthened her own
understanding of what people like and how it effects them. "In England the
pop records start at the clubs," she explains. "You hear the mix in the clubs
first. Being a DJ helps me to see what people want when they go out
partying." Sonique's unique skills are spellbound on a number of UK
compilations, including "Introspective of House", "Third Dimension"
(both 1997), "Fantazia British Anthems , Summertime" (1998) and the
Serious/Virgin release entitled "Serious Sounds of Sonique" (February
2000). The latest pearl in this chain is the double CD "DJ Sonique - Club
Mix" (out since July 9, 2001). Sonique provided half-an-hour hot mixes on
Pete Tong's show on BBC Radio One. She has had the "Full Frontal" show
on KISS FM and Skyline Radio London broadcasted live DJ and vocal sets
of Sonique.
The Hit Records
In the meantime Sonique enjoyed two club and dance music chart hits with
"I Put A Spell On You" and "It Feels So Good" on Manifesto Records. "Spell"
was originally released in the UK in June 1998 and peaked at #36 in the
official single charts while "It Feels So Good", charted in December the
same year, climbed up to #24. The track has grown to a mainstream hit
in the US, breaking into the national Top 10, and belatedly gave her a UK
chart-topper in May 2000. On its first week of release it sold 195,000
copies, compared with the 32,000 total of the first time around. Overthere
in the US a club DJ in Tampa, Florida began spinning her song from an
import 12" before several other clubs in the US joined in. This led to
explosive requests for the song at radio and retail, so Republic Records
jumped in and signed Sonique right away. But the success was laced with
personal tragedy. As the single blew up and an album deal with Serious
was brokered, Sonique lost the baby she'd been carrying at eight months.
"The worst, most devastating, awful thing that's ever happened in my life."
As the grieving singer tried to cope with her loss, she was told she had 40
days to start and finish the album. Somehow she managed it, producing
what is now one of the most successful dance albums ever: testament
indeed to Sonique's talent and determination. The album finally came out
on February 14, 2000 and went platinum in the UK and Ireland, and gold
in Portugal, Spain and Switzerland. Sonique's debut album has now sold
over half a million albums in the UK alone. "Hear my cry" went on to
become the UK's 42nd best selling album in 2000.
The subsequent singles, "Sky", an ode to her lost baby boy effortlessly
debuted at its peak at #2 in the UK single charts in September, and the
re-released "I Put A Spell On You", nestled into the top ten at #8 in
November 2000. The single "It Feels So Good" became the third best-
selling single in 2000. "Sky" and "I Put A Spell On You" became 70th
respectively 179th best seller in the UK the same year. Furthermore
Sonique was recognised by the Guinness Book Of Records as the first
female solo artist to be #1 for 3 consecutive weeks - the first in 22 years
since Kate Bush's "Wuthering Heights" in 1978.
With these successful single releases and a UK top ten album in her hand,
Sonique topped other respectable nominees like Dido, Jamelia, PJ Harvey
and Sade at the Brit Awards 2001. Pictures below showing her performing
respectively in winning pose after receiving the honour as Best British
Female Solo Artist.
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