Sonique (musician)

Clarke was born and raised in Crouch End to parents of Trinidadian descent. The first record she ever purchased was Donna Summer's "I Feel Love". When Sonique was sixteen, her mother remarried and moved back to Trinidad. She refused to move with her mother and two siblings and instead stayed in London, moving into the YMCA.

At the age of seventeen, a youth worker commented that she had a nice voice and suggested she use it. She put together a reggae band called 'Fari', in which she ended up writing all the music. After Fari disbanded she set about getting a recording contract.

Sonique released the single "Let Me Hold You", published by Cooltempo, in 1985.{{cite web |url=http://music.yahoo.com/ar-296555-bio--Sonique |title=Sonique – Biography|access-date=16 April 2017 |work=Yahoo! Music|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080505062253/http://music.yahoo.com/ar-296555-bio--Sonique |archive-date=5 May 2008}} The single hit the top 40 on the UK Dance Chart.

In 1990, she was credited for the track "Zombie Mantra", which was included on the album Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass, the debut record of William Orbit's project Bass-O-Matic. Soon after, she teamed again with DJ Mark Moore, a few years after providing vocals for S'Express. The dance-pop duo charted on the UK Singles Chart with singles such as "Nothing to Lose". She maintained a friendship with Mark Moore after S'Express disbanded and, shortly afterwards, he gave her the gift of a set of turntables and a mixer with which she began experimenting.

For three years, she accompanied both Mark Moore and her childhood friend Judge Jules to their gigs. She eventually signed to London-based label Serious Records, where her first single was "I Put a Spell on You" produced by Chris Allen and ex-Wang Chung keyboardist Graeme Pleeth.{{cite web |url=http://uk.askmen.com/women/singer_60/97c_sonique.html |title=AskMen.com – Sonique pictures |access-date=13 May 2007 |work=AskMen.com |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210433/http://uk.askmen.com/women/singer_60/97c_sonique.html |archive-date=30 September 2007 }} She was DJ-in-residence at Club Manumission in Ibiza between 1997 and 1999.

In 1998, she came to the attention of UK promoters/label Fantazia and was asked to mix one of the discs on their album Fantazia British Anthems Summertime. The album was certified gold in the UK.

Sonique released her debut solo album Hear My Cry in 1998."Sonique." Contemporary Musicians. Vol. 45. Farmington Hills, MI: Gale, 2004. Retrieved via Biography in Context database, 16 April 2017. Also [http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/sonique available online via Encyclopedia.com] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170417072846/http://www.encyclopedia.com/education/news-wires-white-papers-and-books/sonique |date=17 April 2017 }}. Re-released in 2000, the album's hit single "It Feels So Good" topped the UK Singles Chart for three weeks in May/June of that year. After 14 weeks in the Top 40, it became the UK's third best-selling single of 2000. In 2001, after the success of "It Feels So Good" she announced that she planned to retire from the world of DJing to focus on her singing career. After finishing the album Born to Be Free, Sonique did return to DJing on a few special occasions.

In 2004, Sonique announced she was working on an album called On Kosmo. The first single was "Another World", which reached number 57 in Germany when released in 2004. "Why" (released Spring 2005), reached number 90 in Germany.

"Alone" was selected as the third single with which the album would be launched, but when the album got pushed back from the expected release date of February 2006, the single was cancelled. When the new release date of 29 September 2006 was announced, the track "Sleezy" was chosen as the single with which the album was to be released. However, "Sleezy" was also cancelled when the release date was pushed back once again. When On Kosmo was finally released, on Monday 13 November 2006, it failed to chart significantly in the UK. Nevertheless, Sonique was shown as a celebrity guest at 2006 edition of the World Music Awards, in London.

In 2007, when promotional work for her previous album, On Kosmo, was finished, Sonique announced she would continue touring Europe despite the flop of the album. A teaser from some of the new material she had been working on, titled "Better Than That", 'leaked' online on 5 October 2008. Due to the positive reception of this 'leak', the track was posted available to download on various legal MP3 download sites.

She was diagnosed with breast cancer in June 2009, for which she underwent surgery at a London clinic. Following her operations, Sonique opted to receive 5 months of chemotherapy in an effort to prevent a recurrence.{{cite web |url=http://breastcancer.about.com/b/2009/07/06/sonique-steps-up-for-chemotherapy.htm |title=Sonique Steps Up for Chemotherapy |publisher=Breastcancer.about.com |access-date=26 April 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111005194656/http://breastcancer.about.com/b/2009/07/06/sonique-steps-up-for-chemotherapy.htm |archive-date=5 October 2011 |url-status=live }} She was given the all clear in 2010 and celebrated by appearing on a cover version of the Cyndi Lauper song Girls Just Want To Have Fun, which was released to raise funds for the Cancer Research UK charity.{{cite web|url=http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Girls-Just-Want-To-Have-Fun-Sonique-Records-Cancer-Charity-Single-After-Beating-Breast-Cancer/Article/201004415619906?lpos=Showbiz_News_Third_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region__9&lid=ARTICLE_15619906_Girls_Just_Want_To_Have_Fun%3A_Sonique_Records_Cancer_Charity_Single_After_Beating_Breast_Cancer|title=Girls Just Want To Have Fun: Sonique Records Cancer Charity Single After Beating Breast Cancer|publisher=Sky News|access-date=26 April 2010|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120717083336/http://news.sky.com/skynews/Home/Showbiz-News/Girls-Just-Want-To-Have-Fun-Sonique-Records-Cancer-Charity-Single-After-Beating-Breast-Cancer/Article/201004415619906?lpos=Showbiz_News_Third_Home_Page_Article_Teaser_Region__9&lid=ARTICLE_15619906_Girls_Just_Want_To_Have_Fun:_Sonique_Records_Cancer_Charity_Single_After_Beating_Breast_Cancer|archive-date=17 July 2012|url-status=live}}

The single "World of Change" was released on 23 October 2009 and the official video was posted by Sonique's label on YouTube.

The year 2011 brought the release of the album Sweet Vibrations, which contains the previously released singles "Better Than That" and "World of Change".

In March 2024 Sonique sold out her own show at the Royal Festival Hall with special guests Baby-D and Rozalla and added a string-section and choir to her band.{{Cite news |last=Dalton |first=Stephen |date=2024-03-18 |title=Sonique review — high-energy dance-pop given the high art treatment |newspaper=The Times |url=https://www.thetimes.com/culture/music/article/sonique-review-high-energy-dance-pop-given-the-high-art-treatment-500ltxrdw |access-date=2024-03-18 |language=en |issn=0140-0460}}

On 27 June 2024, Sonique performed a DJ set on the Silver Hayes stage at the Glastonbury Festival.{{Citation needed|date=April 2025}}

In February 2025, She annouced a tour to celebrate 25 years of her debut album 'Hear My Cry' {{Cite web |date=2025-02-11 |title=Sonique announces ‘Hear My Cry’ 25th anniversary tour with live band |url=https://djmag.com/news/sonique-announces-hear-my-cry-25th-anniversary-tour-live-band |access-date=2025-04-17 |website=DJ Mag |language=en}}

|rowspan="2"|1998

| 36 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|rowspan="5"|Hear My Cry

|-

!scope="row"|"It Feels So Good"{{Ref label|note_b1|B|}}

| 24 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"It Feels So Good" (re-release)

| rowspan=3|2000

| 1 || 2 || 8 || 2 || 2 || 1 || 7 || 3 || 2 || 8

|

• BPI: Platinum
• BVMI: Gold{{cite web|title=Gold-/Platin-Datenbank: Sonique|url=http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=&strInterpret=Sonique|publisher=Bundesverband Musikindustrie|access-date=29 August 2012|language=de|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140523225934/http://www.musikindustrie.de/gold_platin_datenbank/?action=suche&strTitel=&strInterpret=Sonique|archive-date=23 May 2014|url-status=live}}
• IFPI NOR: Platinum{{cite certification|region=Norway|artist=Sonique|title=It Feels So Good|type=single|access-date=29 August 2012}}
• IFPI SWE: Platinum{{cite web |title=(Guld & Platina) ÅR 2001 |url=http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/ar-2001.pdf |archive-url=https://www.webcitation.org/69XLozUOu?url=http://www.ifpi.se/wp/wp-content/uploads/ar-2001.pdf |url-status=dead |archive-date=30 July 2012 |publisher=International Federation of the Phonographic Industry |trans-title=(Gold & Platinum) Year 2001 |page=5 |access-date=29 August 2012 |language=sv }}
• IFPI SWI: Gold
• SNEP: Silver{{cite web|title=Certifications Singles Argent – année 2001|url=http://www.disqueenfrance.com/fr/pag-259165-DISQUES-D-OR.html?year=2001&type=6|publisher=Syndicat National de l'Édition Phonographique|access-date=29 August 2012|language=fr}}{{dead link|date=September 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }}

|-

!scope="row"|"Sky"

| 2 || 8 || 22 || 11 || 10 || 6 || 48 || 13 || 18 || —

|

• BPI: Silver

|-

!scope="row"|"I Put a Spell on You" (re-release)

| 8 || — || — || 70 || 18 || — || — || 28 || 44 || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Can't Make Up My Mind"

|rowspan="2"|2003

| 17 || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|rowspan="2"|Born to Be Free

|-

!scope="row"|"Alive"

| 70 || 33 || — || 39 || — || — || — || — || 80 || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Another World"
(with Tomcraft)

| 2004

| — || 75 || — || 57 || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|rowspan="3"|Sonique on Kosmo

|-

!scope="row"|"Why"

| 2005

| — || — || — || 90 || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Sleezy"

| 2006

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Better Than That"

|rowspan="2"|2009

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|rowspan="2"|Sweet Vibrations

|-

!scope="row"|"World of Change"

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Only You"
(with Paul Morrell)

| rowspan="3"| 2010

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|rowspan="13" {{n/a|Non-album singles}}

|-

!scope="row"|"Don't Give a Damn"

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Givin' It Up"
(with Christian Luke)

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"What You're Doin{{' "}}
(with Paul Morrell)

| rowspan="2"| 2011

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Tonight"

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Carry On"
(with Johnny Gerontakis)

| 2013

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Don't Put Me Down"

| rowspan="2"| 2017

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Feels So Good"
(with Ramiro)

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Melody"
(with Mauro Picotto)

| 2018

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Shake"
(featuring Power of Muzik)

| 2019

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Keep On Lovin"
(with Dario G){{cite web|url=https://music.apple.com/au/album/keep-on-lovin-single/1572260895|title=Keep On Lovin - single on Apple Music|date=25 June 2021|access-date=27 June 2021}}

|2021

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"Prisoner"

| rowspan="1"|2023

| — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

!scope="row"|"It Feels So Good"
(with Matt Sassari & HUGEL)

| rowspan="1"|2024

| —{{efn|group=upper-alpha|"It Feels So Good" did not enter the UK Singles Chart, but peaked at number 29 on the UK Singles Downloads Chart.{{cite web|url=https://www.officialcharts.com/songs/matt-sassari-hugel-it-feels-so-good/|title=It Feels So Good - Matt Sassari, Hugel featuring Sonique|website=Official Charts|date=10 January 2025|access-date=10 January 2025}}}} || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || — || —

|

|-

|colspan="14" style="font-size:90%"|"—" denotes a recording that did not chart or was not released in that territory.

|}

{{refbegin}}

• A {{Note|note_a1}} "I Put a Spell on You" peaked at number 36 in the United Kingdom upon its original release in 1998; it was later re-released in 2001, and served as the third single from Hear My Cry in all other territories.
• B {{Note|note_b1}} "It Feels So Good" peaked at number 24 in the United Kingdom upon its original release in 1998; it was later re-released in 2000, and served as the first single from Hear My Cry in all other territories.

{{refend}}

{| class=wikitable

|-

! Year !! Awards !! Work !! Category !! Result !! Ref.

|-

| rowspan=9|2000

| MOBO Awards

| rowspan=2|"It Feels So Good"

| Best UK Single

| {{nom}}

| {{cite web | url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/entertainment/955993.stm | title=BBC News | ENTERTAINMENT | Mobo Awards: The nominations }}

|-

| rowspan=4|MTV Europe Music Awards

| Best Song

| {{nom}}

| rowspan=4|{{Cite web|url=http://www.ukmix.org/articles/2000/ema.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100923005816/http://www.ukmix.org/articles/2000/ema.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=23 September 2010|title=UKMIX – Articles – MTV Europe Music Awards 2000|date=23 September 2010|access-date=27 April 2020}}

|-

| rowspan=5|Herself

| Best New Act

| {{nom}}

|-

| Best Dance

| {{nom}}

|-

| Best UK & Ireland Act

| {{nom}}

|-

| NME Awards

| Best Dance Act

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web | url=http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/2000.html | title=Rocklist.net...NME End of Year Lists 2000 | access-date=18 February 2019 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303205439/http://www.rocklistmusic.co.uk/2000.html | archive-date=3 March 2016 | url-status=live }}

|-

| rowspan=2|Smash Hits Poll Winners Party

| Best Dance/Soul Act

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/32039892247/|title=Page 13 – Smash Hits – Issue 575 – 13th December – 26th December 2000|date=15 July 2018|access-date=27 April 2020|via=Flickr}}

|-

| rowspan=5|"It Feels So Good"

| Best Dance Choon

| {{nom}}

| {{Cite web|url=https://www.flickr.com/photos/57779449@N02/46067277895/|title=Page 12 – Smash Hits – Issue 575 – 13th December – 26th December 2000|date=4 February 2019|access-date=27 April 2020|via=Flickr}}

|-

| The Record of the Year

| Record of the Year

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan=10|2001

| BMI Pop Awards

| Award-Winning Song

| {{won}}

| {{Cite web |url=https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/534741 |title=BMI's Pop Awards 2001 Song List | Press |access-date=7 May 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170817083026/https://www.bmi.com/press/entry/534741 |archive-date=17 August 2017 |url-status=live }}

|-

| rowspan=2|Ivor Novello Awards

| International Hit of the Year

| {{won}}

|-

| Best Selling UK Single

| {{nom}}

|-

| Hungarian Music Awards

| Hear My Cry

| Best Foreign Dance Album

| {{nom}}

|-

| International Dance Music Awards

| rowspan=4|Herself

| Best New Dance Artist Solo

| {{won}}

|-

| DanceStar Awards

| DanceStar of the Year

| {{won}}

|-

| rowspan=4|Brit Awards

| British Female Solo Artist

| {{won}}

| rowspan=4|{{cite web | url=https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL0Kro0grO1E0TNJCe5KIVtI0YPjJIp2qP | title=BRIT Awards 2001 - YouTube | website=YouTube }}

|-

| British Dance Act

| {{nom}}

|-

| rowspan=2|"It Feels So Good"

| British Single of the Year

| {{nom}}

|-

| British Video of the Year

| {{nom}}

{{end}}

• List of artists who reached number one on the US Dance chart
• List of number-one dance hits (United States)

{{Reflist}}

• [http://www.soniqueclarke.com/ Official site]
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20170810205813/http://www.fantazia.org.uk/DJs/sonique.htm Sonique Profile on Fantazia]
• {{Discogs artist|Sonique}}

{{Sonique (musician)}}

{{Brit British Female}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sonique}}

Category:1965 births

Category:20th-century Black British women singers

Category:20th-century British women singers

Category:21st-century Black British women singers

Category:21st-century British women singers

Category:Brit Award winners

Category:English club DJs

Category:Black British DJs

Category:English dance musicians

Category:English electronic musicians

Category:English house musicians

Category:English people of Trinidad and Tobago descent

Category:English women DJs

Category:English women in electronic music

Category:English electronic dance music DJs

Category:Living people

Category:People from Crouch End

Category:Republic Records artists

Category:Singers from the London Borough of Haringey

Category:Universal Music Group artists

Category:ZYX Music artists