Sonny Southon is a Singer, Songwriter, Producer, Wellbeing Coach, and Advanced Yoga Teacher
Sonny’s story is an invitation to be inspired, to dream big, and follow those dreams with relentless passion. In meeting Sonny, you meet not just a musician, but someone who has lived her life in bold colours, and who now seeks to paint others’ dreams with the same vibrant hues.
Samoan/Scottish born in New Zealand, her life has been filled with music, travel, and the pursuit of dreams. Leaving New Zealand at 17, armed with a passion for music, it would see her perform on stages throughout London, Europe and USA.
Sonny’s journey of incredible encounters and performances saw her working with legends such as Duran Duran, Bryan Ferry and Bob Geldof, performing at Wembley Arena, Glastonbury, the Royal Albert Hall, Knebworth, Ronnie Scott’s Jazz Cafe and the Montreaux Jazz Festival, and numerous European festivals, to name but a few.
Her career memories are filled with extraordinary moments such as, Joni Mitchell stepping onto the stage to perform alongside her in an LA bar, being asked to sing at Jack Nicholson’s milestone birthday party, recording with Bryan Ferry at his castle, jamming backstage with David Gilmour at a Pink Floyd after parties, and many more. These are not just memories; they are milestones in a journey of musical excellence.
Sonny’s love of songwriting caught the attention of Warner Chappell Publishing UK, and Virgin Records and she then recorded two albums in Los Angeles, ‘Falling Through A Cloud’, produced by David Kershenbaum, known for his iconic work with Tracy Chapman (Fast Cars), and ‘All the Colors’, produced by Jeff Lorber, showcasing her versatility and depth as an artist.
Sonny’s latest chapter brings her back to New Zealand, to refocus her music career, recording and self-producing a new album due for release in 2025 – folktronica with sprinkles of soul and the blues – and also starting The Music Seeds , to help nurture New Zealand’s young emerging talent, offering Mindset and Wellbeing Coaching & Artist Development Programs. Her dedication to music is matched with a passion for teaching yoga – an Advanced Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500 YACEP).
She is also currently working on various music projects, including TV/Film, and producing other Artists.
The Music Seeds offers Mindset & Wellbeing Coaching for Musicians and Artist Development programs.
The Music Seeds offers a 20 week program, nurturing and empowering musicians by helping them identify their values, set realistic goals, build resilience, cultivating growth mindset and understanding the importance of establishing healthy support systems in all areas of their life, that will sustain a successful career in the music industry.
Sonny offers her extensive knowledge and experience in the music industry that spans over a few decades. She is a Certified Professional Life Coach, Mindset and Wellbeing Coach, Advanced Yoga Teacher (E-RYT500 YACEP), Artist Development Mentor, has studied CBT and NLP, and Small Business Management.
“Enrolling in The Music Seeds program with Sonny has been an absolute game-changer for me. From the outset, I anticipated receiving valuable music advice, but what I found was so much more. Sonny’s coaching style is unparalleled; she effortlessly combines her vast knowledge with a genuine desire to see me succeed"
