Sonna Rele’s story is one of the most extraordinary journeys in modern British music — and in this deeply personal conversation, she tells the story behind the story.
Signed in America at just 14 years old, Sonna found herself recording music in the US, working with major names and navigating record deals at an age when most teenagers were still at school. But what happened next was a journey of incredible highs, devastating setbacks and repeatedly having to start again.
From her childhood in North-West London and learning to sing from her father, to signing major record deals, recording albums that were never released, touring with Joss Stone and being discovered by Ne-Yo, Sonna opens up about the reality of the music industry from an artist’s perspective.
🎙️ In this episode:
0:00 intro / title sequence
1:15 Drive Out now! Shizzio Ft Vivica Jade
1:54 welcome Sonna Rele / Naz PR
3:30 Born & raised NW
5:20 singing age 5 / strict dad
7:49 dad taught me singing
8:58 school / teaching others
10:23 no plan B / well behaved
12:10 grade A student / allowed out
14:27 getting signed at 14 in USA
18:13 contract details / money
19:42 USA moving alone so young
22:01 USA album recording hit factory
23:24 artist name / big collabs
23:46 album release complications
25:39 having a say at 16yrs old
26:44 single / album release doesn’t happen
29:11 leaving Universal records
30:24 who messed up?
31:26 mental impact of leaving label
32:38 I got signed again
34:05 Sony contract details
35:12 old songs / pop rock album?
39:07 album never comes out again
40:56 Joss Stone tour
42:11 musical direction confusion
43:25 frustration / lack of release
44:14 who’s fault is it album is not out?
45:20 racism / being Asian held me back
49:35 leaving Sony & starting YouTube
52:40 Ne-Yo gets in touch
53:44 Ne-Yo offers to sign me on stage / O2
57:07 Ne-Yo signing / Album deal
58:52 making the album with Motown
1:01:20 the album never came out again!
1:04:14 A&R / right team / Berry Gordy
1:06:37 is the music industry demonic?
1:07:43 leaving Ne-Yo label
1:08:19 shelved on purpose?
1:12:24 still amicable with Ne-Yo
1:12:56 back to independent artist
1:14:02 blowing up on instagram
1:17:12 another album EP deal
1:19:28 a single finally released / covid
1:20:24 ear injury details / SSCD
1:23:17 facing brain surgery / awareness
1:26:25 self curing myself from SSCD
1:31:05 why go on The Voice UK?
1:33:05 SSCD advocate Vs Singing career
1:34:08 chair turn pressure on the voice
1:37:22 song choice for the voice audition
1:37:54 Kelly Rowland was already a fan
1:38:42 picking a judge / Team Will
1:39:47 thoughts on Tom Jones getting sacked
1:40:17 does it matter if you win the voice? / contracts
1:42:24 the voice / I can’t tell you
1:43:25 new album is coming
1:44:28 healing frequencies
1:48:56 album / I won’t quit ever
1:51:31 working with Lauryn Hill
1:53:09 Eric Benét collab
1:53:51 Dr. Dre collab
1:55:52 Will Smith collab
2:00:40 AI Q’s / Ne-Yo / Ed Sheeran
2:02:54 mindset / signed young
2:03:57 Disney collab
2:04:37 talent vs business
2:05:54 marketing appeal / adapting
2:07:18 rebuild / industry
2:11:30 quick fire Q’s
2:12:16 meeting Stevie Wonder
2:13:03 quick fire Q’s cont
2:15:46 hitting the high note
2:17:40 quick fire Q’s cont…
2:18:57 I did Wembley stadium
2:19:42 quick fire Q’s cont
2:21:04 dating life
2:21:52 quick fire Q’s cont
2:22:02 thank you Sonna / flowers
