Sonique

Sonique is the stage name of Sonia Clarke, a singer, musician and DJ from Crouch End, London. She is associated with dance, pop and electronic music, and her work also spans breakbeat, dance-pop, eurodance and house.

Early life and first music work

She is born in 1965. Her background includes Trinidadian parentage, and she starts out with ambitions in sport before moving into music. She joins a reggae band as a singer at 17, and the band soon ends. After that, she receives a solo record deal and has an immediate club hit in the UK.

DJ career

Sonique develops as a DJ through contact with figures from the acid house scene, including Tim Simenon of Bomb the Bass and Mark Moore of S’Express. She writes and records with them, and later joins S’Express for their second album. She also studies DJing at home for several years before making her first public appearance as a DJ in 1994. In January the following year, she becomes a resident DJ at Swankey Mode in London. From 1997 to 1999, she holds a residency at Manumission in Ibiza, and she also plays guest DJ dates in many countries.

Recording work and collaborations

Alongside DJ work, Sonique writes, records and remixes dance-oriented and soulful material. She has three solo albums and more than 10 singles to her name. Her collaborations include work connected with William Orbit and Josh Wink, among others. Several record labels also release albums featuring live mixes of her DJ sets.

Best-known release

Her best-known song is “It Feels So Good”, which is re-released in 2000 and becomes a chart-topper in many countries. She is known for combining vocals with DJ mixing, often using live singing over her sets.