Sonnee Lets Go, Feels Deep, and Finds His Voice on ‘Heartfalls’ with Khazali
- Tony Allen
- 7 hours ago
- 4 min read
Sonnee’s new single “Heartfalls,” featuring Khazali, is a reflection of the emotional journey between a difficult past and a hopeful future. It’s a track that perfectly captures the space between detachment and the longing for connection, weaving together organic textures and a pulsating club energy. With Khazali’s melancholic vocals, the track explores the tension between holding on and letting go, with the chorus — “I need to let it go, let it go / To make it up” — acting as an anthem for anyone navigating the delicate balancing act of moving forward. For Sonnee, it’s a track about releasing heavy feelings and allowing time to heal. He explains, “'Heartfalls' to me is about letting go of your spirals, your heavy feelings. It’s a reminder, maybe even a mantra, to move, to feel & to let time be a healer.” Buy/Stream it here: https://wmg.click/Heartfalls.
The collaboration with Khazali holds personal significance for both artists. Sonnee recalls the first studio session where they connected over life experiences. He reflects, “I remember the first studio session when the track came together just chatting about life and the need to let certain feelings go before you can start to actually move on. He captured that feeling perfectly within the lyrics. I’m so grateful he did.” For Khazali, the song marks a moment of emotional catharsis. He shares, “It was quite emotional listening to the track in the car together after the sessions, and it’s really exciting that other people out there are going to experience it, and hopefully relate to the feeling of going for what you want in life and putting what needs to go behind you.”
“Heartfalls” is the first single from Sonnee’s upcoming EP “innershy,” which will explore themes of self-acceptance and emotional growth. For Sonnee, this EP is a collection of firsts: a new approach to writing, his own club nights in Manchester and London, and a partnership with Warner Music. “'innershy’ is an EP of firsts for me. New writing processes, my own new club night in Manchester and London, and a new label partner in Warner,” he explains. “I’ve embraced my innershy across this collection of 3 songs.”
The emotional depth of “Heartfalls” and its dancefloor energy reflect Sonnee’s ability to blend the two worlds. He describes the balance as a natural fit, saying, “I think they kind of work together, as they both offer a release. Some of my absolute favourite moments on a dancefloor have been when say someone like Jamie XX creates this melancholic and thoughtful moment in the middle of a set.”
For Sonnee, the creation of “Heartfalls” was a deeply personal experience, and it ties into his broader artistic journey. As he prepares to release his debut EP, there’s a sense of gratitude and excitement about the response his music has received so far. “Honestly, I can’t really connect with those numbers, like I am incredibly grateful and humbled by those big numbers but I don’t think it influences me when I’m making the music,” he reflects. “I find performing in front of any amount of people much more pressured, as it feels a lot more ‘real.’”
While Sonnee’s sound has often been compared to artists like Fred again.. and Barry Can’t Swim, he’s focused on carving out his own distinct style. “Those comparisons are honestly crazy to me as they are the absolute icons of electronic music atm. My sound has changed a lot over the last year, I feel. I’ve definitely made this upcoming ‘innershy’ EP with a specific sound which I’ve been aiming for for a while and which I think ‘sounds like me,’ but also really develops on what I’ve been doing.” He adds, “There’s some different sounds coming, but I also like when people know it’s a Sonnee song without having to check the artist when it’s playing, if that makes sense.”
Sonnee’s Manchester roots and his connection to London also play a role in the direction of his music. “Manchester is home, it will always influence everything I make. London though has the big ‘big city’ energy and buzz that I love (and need), but it also has more greenery than Manchester. I think that comes through in ‘innershy,’ whether it’s the foley recording from Hackney in ‘Pollen’ or the summer festival energy in ‘U+I.’”
The success of Sonnee’s SOLAA club nights has further deepened his connection to his music and audience. As a DJ and curator, he’s been able to translate the energy of the dancefloor into his productions. “Creating SOLAA has been hugeeely impactful on my own music,” he says. “The third single on ‘innershy’ was made with the SOLAA dancefloors in mind. I wanted to make something that reflects the community and energy we have in the room for those nights, which the sound and lyrics in that one both reflect. I CANNOT wait to play that one out in London in a couple of weeks.” As for “Heartfalls,” Sonnee is already preparing a special “SOLAA edit” to play live. “'Heartfalls' was made a few weeks before I decided I wanted to start SOLAA, but I have a special ‘Heartfalls SOLAA edit’ ready to play out, so keep your ears open for that.”
Sonnee’s music is rich with emotional depth, and the journey through the “innershy” EP promises more of the same. He hopes listeners will experience a journey of self-discovery. “The title of the EP references a journey of acceptance of a type of shyness but more generally a connection to yourself. So I’d hope through this handful of songs, from letting go in ‘Heartfalls’, through the blossom of optimism in ‘Pollen’, to the focussed energy of ‘U+I’, there’s a chance to let go and embrace whichever version of you needs embracing.”
Community is at the core of Sonnee’s music and live experiences. He shares, “From the messages I get with people’s stories on how they connected with something I wrote, to the idea that people meet through my music, is still wild and very, very special to me. I went to such a small uni town that we only had 2 nightclubs, yet every weekend you would go, meet people, and still manage to build a community together through shared music. So that's what I want SOLAA to be. A place for people to be who they are, connect & let go.”
“Heartfalls” is available now via Warner Music Central Europe. The track marks the beginning of a new era for Sonnee, one full of self-discovery, emotional release, and exciting new sounds.
Sonnee
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