Fresh from the release of her debut single ‘Here to Stay’, singer-songwriter Sone is back again showcasing her inner thoughts in a rollercoaster of emotions on her new single ‘Happy’. Her mesmerising songwriting, enthralling production, and alluring vocal delivery drive this alt-indie offering.
We sat down with Sone to discuss her music and much more. Here is what she had to say:
Hey Sone, welcome to FLEX! How are you?
I'm happy to be here.
Congratulations on your brand-new song 'Happy' - what inspired this particular track?
I wrote this song when I was in a place that was far from happy, I wasn't enjoying anything. I had this feeling that I couldn't trust anyone around me and that I couldn't trust myself. It just got to a point where nothing was exciting me and I couldn't enjoy anything without questioning it out of existence. When the chorus comes in and I say "I let myself be happy" it was initially intended to be ironic. More like an "OK I'll play along with whatever social game and play happy" but as I worked on the song, it became more sincere, and I started to feel truly happy. When I say "Take a deep breath and don't look back" it means to just accept that things can suck sometimes but that does not mean that it has to cast a shadow on whatever joy the present moment can bring.
And do you have to be in a certain mood to write?
I don't really have a time or place to write, I usually just have a random idea pop in my head and then I jump on it and start writing the song. The outcome of the song depends on my mood. I think I write my best when I'm at the height of an emotion- if I'm devastated, there is no better time to express that other than when you feel it. Or extremely happy, writing the text in the middle of a high also helps to better get the message across.
How was the recording and writing process?
I have what I have been told is a strange process. Usually, I come up with the text first (so far so normal), and then a melody kind of presents itself in my head. Sometimes the melody comes with the text. The next step is recording. I go into the studio and I sing acapella, to a click track, and then after that's done, my producer and I will construct the song around that. Chord structure, instrumentation, etc. When I'm singing "acapella" it's kind of funny, because I don't feel it that way. I kind of hear the harmonies and background noises I want already, so it feels like I'm singing a complete song.
For viewers who don't know Sone, how would you describe your sound?
Pop, with some jazz influence, a splash of opera and occasional dizziness. But maybe it's better if you hear it and help me out with describing it.
And what are some of those activities that you engage yourself in when you aren't writing or recording in the studio?
I love to go running, I am currently training for a half marathon in late June and a full one in October. I also do a, what one could say, unhealthy amount of walking. Like 20km a day - I just try to avoid public transport at all costs so I walk everywhere. That's also when I catch up with friends, write emails, and of course, write songs.