About
Sonia Clarke, widely recognised by her stage name Sonique, is a multifaceted British artist who has made her mark as a singer, musician, and DJ. She initially gained prominence as the lead vocalist for the 1980s electronic dance group S’Express, accumulating numerous Top 40 hits. Eventually, she launched a solo career that has been nothing short of exceptional. In 2001, she received the Best British Female award at the Brit Awards, besting notable artists like Dido, PJ Harvey, and Sade. The same year, her single “It Feels So Good,” from her number-one album “Hear My Cry,” won International Hit of the Year at the 46th Ivor Novello Awards. The album also featured other popular tracks such as “I Put A Spell on You” and “Sky.” With four solo albums, multiple singles, and a variety of collaborations ranging from William Orbit to Tomcraft, Sonique has crafted a dynamic career.
Sonique’s journey into music started when she joined a reggae band named Fari, an experience that sharpened her singing and songwriting abilities. As a teenager, she released “Let Me Hold You,” which quickly ascended to the top 25 in the UK dance charts, even without any promotional efforts. Her collaboration with Mark Moore’s S’Express brought her to the forefront of the music scene, featuring her contributions as both a singer and songwriter on tracks like “Nothing To Lose” and “Find ’em, Fool ’em, Forget ’em.”
Recalling her time with S’Express, Sonique noted, “Joining S’Express for the ‘Intercourse’ album, I was able to develop my unique style and identity. It was a transformative experience where I learned to own the stage and master songwriting.” After her stint with S’Express, Sonique chose to forge her own path. Mark Moore played a pivotal role by gifting her her first set of turntables and a mixer. “That was a moment of taking charge of my destiny. I saw Mark DJ’ing and felt an irresistible pull towards it,” she said.
The combination of singing and DJ’ing, especially as a female artist, was groundbreaking during that period. “Once people experience my art, they’ll want more,” she confidently stated. And she was correct, although it took her three years of training before she publicly showcased her DJ’ing skills.
As a DJ, Sonique has been a fixture in renowned clubs like Cream, Gatecrasher, and Manumission in Ibiza, where she served as a resident DJ for two years. Her international appeal has led her to perform in countries such as Germany, the USA, Singapore, Hong Kong, Jamaica, Australia, Italy, and Norway. She now continues to perform and DJ globally, gracing festivals, clubs, and private events.
Sonique’s tracks “I Put a Spell on You” and “It Feels So Good,” released under Manifesto Records, have had considerable chart success. Particularly, “It Feels So Good” found its way to the US Top 10 and later became a UK chart-topper in May 2000. Thanks to a Florida club DJ who began spinning her track, she quickly garnered significant attention in the US, leading to a contract with Republic Records. Her debut album “Hear My Cry” followed, featuring another hit, “Sky,” which debuted at #2 in the UK charts.
In addition to her various accolades, Sonique’s debut album has exceeded one million sales in the UK alone. She also made history by becoming the first female solo artist to maintain the #1 spot for three consecutive weeks in 22 years, a record previously set by Kate Bush’s “Wuthering Heights” in 1978.
With her accomplishments well-recognised, including a Brit Award for Best British Female Solo Artist and an Ivor Novello Award for International Hit of the Year, Sonique remains a force to be reckoned with in the music industry and there is some incredible new music on the horizon.
