GET TO KNOW: Soni

Hailing from Memphis but sounding like the future, Soni is quickly emerging as one of hip-hop’s most magnetic new voices. With a sharp pen, unfiltered storytelling, and a delivery that commands attention, he’s building a sound that balances raw emotion with pure energy, and nowhere is that clearer than on his latest single 'Rich Dreams'.

A high-octane blend of melody, rhythm, and reflection, 'Rich Dreams' captures the contradictions of chasing success: the euphoria, the pressure, the disillusionment, and the hope. It’s a track that hits hard on the surface, but dig deeper and you’ll find a nuanced message about self-worth, trust, and the fantasy of wealth-as-salvation.

We caught up with Soni to talk about his origins and influences over the years.

What was the first band or artist you fell in love with? 

The first artist whose music I fell in love with was Isaiah Rashad. I had been inspired by a handful of artists growing up, but there wasn’t a single individual or group that had truly resonated with me until I listened to Isaiah Rashad’s “Cilvia Demo” in high school. It made me realize how much clarity music could shed on certain emotions and experiences that we may find difficult to articulate. The songs on that album gave voices to feelings I had always struggled to express. It forever changed me. I think I had subconsciously decided that I wanted to have that type of impact on people with my music as well.

Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like? 

I unfortunately never played in a band, but if I did, I would have wanted to sound like Last Dinosaurs. I love indie rock.

What has been your primary inspiration in writing music? 

My primary inspiration in writing music has developed recently from what it was when I first started. Before, I tried to escape myself and my reality through the lyrics I put to paper. It was a way to distance myself from my problems. However, I started realizing not too long ago that writing from that perspective only brought me dissatisfaction and emptiness. I would say that my primary inspiration now is to speak up for the version of me that I felt like wasn’t worth being heard due to self-doubt. I owe it to that person, and anybody else that may feel like him, to share those honest, authentic stories that have made me who I am. I don’t want to run from it anymore. I want to feel comfortable being wholeheartedly myself.

What is a song you wish you had written yourself? 

Honestly, there isn’t a single song out there that I wish I had written myself if I wasn’t a part of it. While I have several inspirations and artists that I have modeled parts of my craft after, I don’t wish that I had made their creations. I think that’s the part that makes it so fun, the fact that I haven’t written a song like Kendrick Lamar’s “Sing About Me, I’m Dying of Thirst” or OutKast’s “Hey Ya!” Knowing that I have a reference point for where I want to be and a level of prestige I want to reach makes the process of working towards it worthwhile. I want to end up writing the song that others would use as the answer to the question.

If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be? 

Anytime that I have had a group studio session with my peers is a moment that replays in my head constantly. It’s always my favorite way to make music, even though most of my albums have been pretty solitary pieces of work. I just love the atmosphere of creating something with people that can share your vision or compliment it in a way that you never thought was possible. It’s where I feel the most driven, inspired, and competitive when it comes to my art. Knowing that is what makes the environment we create so special. I wouldn’t trade that experience for anything else.

Which artist would you most love to share a stage with? 

Denzel Curry. Easy. He’s one of the people I look up to the most in music. He’s someone that exudes energy without sacrificing substance, which is a quality I’ve tried my hardest to adopt in my own craft. He’s one of the greatest to ever do it. I’d be honored to work with him one day.

And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well? 

Again, Denzel Curry. We’d make straight heat. I have no doubt in my mind.

Where do you see yourself in five years time? 

I don’t have many tangible desires for where I want this to go in that time frame, but I do know one thing that I want for certain: I want to be known as the greatest rapper to come from Memphis. If I achieve that, I’m good. Everything else would be a bonus.

Listen to Soni's new single 'Rich Dreams' below.