Sonique is bringing her legendary sound to London this weekend

Following on from a momentous kick-off last season, False Idols is back. The festival aims to create an inclusive and celebratory experience for the LGBTQ+ community and beyond. Taking place on April 13, the event is held across three rooms at the Drumsheds in London, each with its own lineup. The eclectic billing features acclaimed DJs and live acts, including icons like Sophie Ellis-Bextor, Derrick Carter, FAFF, Bimini, horsegiirL and the legendary Sonique. 

Sonique has been a beloved figure on the dance music scene for decades, and her participation speaks to the event’s ability to bring together established and emerging voices, all of whom are there to celebrate the transformative power of music. Dazed recently had the chance to speak to Sonique about her career, how gassed she was to play at False Idols, and what club culture has taught her over the years. 

You can get 30 per cent off False Idols tickets with Dazed Club here. 

Hey Sonique! “It Feels so Good“ is one of your most successful hits. How did you feel when it became as big as it did following its release? 

Sonique: Not at all! My mum felt it. We had done all these different mixes, and I didn’t like all of them. I was living in Ibiza at the time, and I went into the studio and created Sonique’s Breakbeat Mix, which is the one we all listen to now. But the one I didn’t like was the one I was pushing. I then made very small changes, like the bass line and drums, because I wanted to make it good for me. My mindset was to create a track that was calm. I wanted to play a record that I could dance to but also relax to, and I think it really does that. My mum claimed it as well, she told me it would be a hit and I laughed at her at the time. But she was right, God rest her soul.

2001 was a big year for you, winning the BRIT Award for best British female solo artist. That aside, what other moments from your career have really stayed with you and why?

Sonique: One of the last gigs I did was in Earl’s Court. The gig had an orchestra and it made me think, ‘when I come back to music, I want to come back big’. This was 18 years ago. So, when I did my performance at Southbank the other day I had a real moment when I realised I was doing what I promised to myself all those years ago. The orchestra, the singers and the crowd just made everything come together and it was beautiful. Even my friend told me the moment I go on stage you can tell I become a different person.

You’re a long-time attendee of raves – in London, Ibiza and beyond. What is your essential rave pack these days? What can you not go without? 

Sonique: I like to bring my phone to share moments on Instagram and share with my fans where I am. I like to connect with my fans and also connect with people. Connection is what clubs are about. It’s all about choosing the right music, being with good company and going out with a pocket full of fun ready to have the best night. That isn’t meant to be a metaphor, but just an attitude – being ready to enjoy yourself and truly let go.

What’s your favourite corner shop snack? 

Sonique: Fruit these days! I try and be healthy. I know it’s definitely not a corner shop snack, but I absolutely love my Five Guys burgers, they are just so good! 

What conspiracy theory are you quite into actually? 

Sonique: I am not into any conspiracy theories! I have way too many things to do with my time. I always think that as a species, we could be so much more advanced if we just focused on the things around us and in our control. I take real people over conspiracies any day. I would rather learn how to grow closer to people and write a song about a deep emotion. I would far rather follow a path of facts when it comes to making decisions. I mean, if I don’t agree with someone, I will just meet with them and have a discussion as to why. You can also go down the road of protest which I would say is a very British way. I remember being younger and if my friends and I didn’t agree with something, we would protest! It was about getting out there in public and showing how you felt.

What’s your love language?

Sonique: Love is simple, no matter how we give or receive. Love is forever and gives constantly, even in the bad moments. It runs deeper than we can ever understand. I really appreciate quality time, and relationships in all their forms. Sometimes it’s sexual, sometimes it’s platonic. But for me, it is about the gift of being able to relate to people. I think it’s about honesty, and choosing how you show your love depending on who it is. Fundamentally though, love is forever, and it has no bounds. 

What lessons from club culture do you think we can learn from?

Sonique: I think we need to do more detaching from our lives and find pleasure in small moments. Music provides the space for this. I recently posted an Instagram reel of me on a night out with my friends having a good time, without inhibitions or mobile phones, and I think the video has got so many likes because it’s really connecting with people. I mean I look back on old videos from 24 years ago of me doing that and I think ‘wow, we were different’. It’s just that these days, we are not enjoying ourselves in the way we were previously. Now it’s performative, and I think it’s partially because of social media and mobile phones.

DJing made me realise that people were working hard all week just to be able to have this crazy night out. You could tell people worked hard to be able to enjoy that, and there’s a feeling of responsibility that comes with it. What I will always love about the club scene is that it becomes almost like a religion. The venue becomes a church because it’s a place of community, and you come out of there energised and ready to handle the next week. It revitalises people. Similarly, False Idols aims to use music’s unique power to bring people together and create a shared experience nobody attending will forget.  

You can get 30 per cent off False Idols tickets with Dazed Club here.