Sonny Mackenzi

Combining the theatrical flair of Britney Spears, Taylor Swift and Katy Perry, with the world-class pop diva appeal of Ariana Grande, Selena Gomez and Demi Lovato and delivering the vocal chops of a young Mariah Carey or Whitney Houston, Colorado-born Sonny Mackenzi offers a winning package of talent ready to take flight. Having dreamed of singing, writing and performing from the age of three, Mackenzi has put in her requisite 10,000 hours, putting aside her successful career as a fashion model while still a teenager to head to Los Angeles, where she was discovered by veteran Warner Bros. Records A&R executive Nick Haussling, who took her under his wing with plans to eventually sign her. With her brand-new, four-song EP, Mackenzi is positioned to be your “New Crush,” the first single/video from the collection, a spirited ode to first love that recalls Mariah Carey at her mid-‘90s sweetest “Honey.” The song, co-written by Hot Chelle Rae’s Nash Overstreet and RCA recording artist Kiana Brown, star of MTV’s Scream, was produced in L.A. by Craig King [Kanye West, Ludacris], and perfectly showcases Sonny’s persona – variously described as “a mischievous daredevil and the girl-next-door with an edge.” “I want to put out a truthful, positive message, and stay away from negativity,” she says about her musical approach, which includes a pair of co-writes on the EP in “Rewind” and “Rattle the Cage.” “I’m a real, honest woman who has gone through some stuff and want to tell those stories in my songs.” “Rewind”, which was a collaboration between Sonny, Matt Bubel, and Traci Hale [Brandy, Mya], has a modern electronic dance floor feel, as well as a hint of a tropical Caribbean island sound. “Kiss Someone,” written by Matt Bubel as well, included plenty of input from Sonny, who was involved in its metamorphosis from a ballad to a song with more of a dance edge. Of it’s message, Sonny says “it’s about letting go of a relationship by acknowledging it’s run its course.” “I like to sing about the human experience, even when it’s painful, as long as there is an underlying message of hope,” she says. “Lyrics that touch your heart and tell a story, so that you know exactly what that feels like.” “Rattle the Cage,” shows Sonny’s animal sensuality, as she flipped the script on the original, giving the woman in the song the upper hand, which is part of her ongoing quest to offer themes of self-empowerment in her music. “I’ve heard and seen a great many things in this industry,” she admits. “I’d like to put out a message of strength and self-pride, especially for my female fans, that they can attain the things they want without sacrificing their core beliefs and morals. I want to show how we can thrive even while dealing with adversity.” The new EP finds Sonny working with some of the industry’s most sought-after talents, including Grammy-winning engineer Phil Tan [Mariah Carey, Rihanna], Leslie Brathwaite [Pharrell, Future] and John Horesco [Janet Jackson] as well as her piano and vocal coach Peggy Johnson [America’s Got Talent, Stephen King, John Mellencamp] and choreographer Cici Kelly [Beyonce, Toni Braxton]. “I’m in 100% artist mode right now,” she says of the proverbial calm before the storm. “To be doing music 24/7 is a dream come true. I’m literally living the life I envisioned as a little kid.” Indeed, Sonny has been working towards her goal since she was a youngster growing up in Littleton, CO, not far from the famed Red Rocks Amphitheatre, where she was weaned on her parents listening to country artists like Willie Nelson. Shortly thereafter, she performed her first solo song, a cover of The Supremes’ “Stop! In the Name of Love,” and – with her educator parents’ permission – skipped college to pursue a career in entertainment. A stint with Colorado’s most successful fashion model agency Donna Baldwin led to her image being used for the mannequin displays at such retail outlets as Guess and Express, before giving it all up for her childhood ambition. Posting music videos on Facebook and YouTube – as well as an appearance on the “Ready to Blow” new talent showcase at Denver’s Gothic Theater -- Sonny attracted the attention of Dino Delvaille, a Senior Vice President of Urban Music at both Sony and Universal, where he signed Cash Money, working with Lil Wayne and Jay Z, and her current manager, Main Attraction Music’s Thomas Page. She has released a pair of singles, “Love Makes Me Stupid” and “Shoulda Never,” with the latter garnering exposure via NBC’s The Today Show. She was also the featured vocalist on DJ Luis Lopez’s international dance-floor hit, “God Invented Fridays.” Gearing up for her debut EP, Sonny is hard at work in her adopted Atlanta home, working on dance routines, ready to take her act in front of live audiences. “My favorite thing is seeing the fans react to the music, experiencing that energy,” she says. “Seeing the looks on their faces. That’s what made me want to be a pop artist in the first place, performing for people.” Now signed for marketing to Primary Wave Music, and set to release her EP digitally through TuneCore, Sonny barely has time for any other pursuits, let alone relationships, though she is working on a mystery novel. “She’s a go-getter, someone willing to take chances,” says her manager Thomas Page, who has been carefully grooming her for the last five years, using the Motown Records talent development as his model. “I’m proud of what we’ve done so far,” says Sonny. “Our message, our morals and our outlook on what we want to accomplish. It’s important for me to enjoy every stop of the journey. I’m just taking things one day at a time, perfecting my skills, trying to get better tomorrow.” Sonny Mackenzi is more than ready for her close-up. Make room for another pop diva about to seize stardom and not let go. Recording Artist, Model, Actress, Author