Sonnet is Still Going Strong

From winning The Voice of Korea to playing Elphaba, Sonnet reflects on many career milestones.

For those who have not heard your music before, how would you describe it to them? How would you finish the sentence “Sonnet is ___” or “Sonnet’s music is ___”?

If I could describe my music using one word, it would be “passionate.” I have had a long career, which has given me a lot of experience, which in turn has exposed me to a lot of genres. This makes my music hard to define, so my music is something that just comes out of my love of it and from the passion from my experiences.

Who or what first inspired you to pursue a music career?

There was a pop song contest at my middle school. My friends convinced me to sign up, and I had to find a song to sing for the contest and discovered Whitney Houston. I won the contest singing one of her songs and got an opportunity to sing at a festival. After having that experience of people watching me, cheering for me, and loving my singing, I decided to pursue a music career.

Although you won The Voice of Korea years ago, do you still remember what was going through your mind that day?

The first thing I remember is that I really wanted to win that show, but I had no expectations that I ever would. There were so many [contestants], and all of them were really good. I remember being very nervous doing the finals, because it was a live show and the people watching could vote. I never thought I would be standing at the end as the winner, but it [is] one of the best memories.

How did musical theater become one of your passions?

[The] first musical I ever did was playing Rachel Marron in The Bodyguard, which was Whitney Houston’s role in the movie. My manager called me and asked me if I was interested in doing musicals. After I heard it was The Bodyguard and I might be able to play Whitney’s role, it felt like fate to do it. During that musical, I started being more interested in musicals, and it became a passion from then on.

Which musical theater role has been your favorite to play, and why?

I can definitely say my favorite was Elphaba in Wicked. I found out that Elphaba and I [have] a lot of similarities. For example, she always [fights] for justice, which is something that is really difficult to do. I felt comfortable acting in [the] role, and it really touched the audience. [The show] gave them a kind of hope and encouraged them to follow their dreams.

Are there differences in how you approach rehearsing for concerts versus rehearsing for musical theater shows?

Yes. Concert rehearsals [are] mostly focused on me and the performances that I want to put on for the audience. [Musical theater rehearsals are] more focused on the stories and technical parts of the production, and finding the balance between the main characters and the ensemble cast.

Please talk about your newest single, “Wishing for Rain”!

One rainy afternoon, my mom was cleaning and said, “It feels so stuffy. If only the rain would pour down and wash everything away.” That stuck with me. It made me think about how great it would be if the pains, sadness, and struggles we face in life could just be washed away in a single moment. People often say, “Time heals,” but when you’re right in the middle of it, those words don’t always help. That thought became the lyrical heart of the song.

How has your live club tour been going?

The live club tour has been amazing for me, because it is more of an intimate atmosphere than concerts. In the clubs, the audience can eat and drink during the show, which makes it more connected and enjoyable for them, and it is very rare for performers to be able to drink on stage in Korea, but we have during this tour, which has made it that much more engaging.

Out of all of your OSTs, which one are you the most happy with, and why?

I think “Love Is So Mean” or “Bring It On.” They both hold a special place for me, and I’m especially happy with how well they’ve performed on Spotify!

Out of all of your career milestones, which experience changed you the most or taught you the most valuable lessons?

Winning The Voice of Korea was probably the biggest turning point in my life. It [has] allowed me to officially debut and share my music with listeners for the past thirteen years, which I’m deeply thankful for.

More recently, starting my journey as a musical theater actress has been incredibly meaningful, and releasing my latest single as an independent artist feels like another important chapter.

Through these experiences, I’ve learned so much, received help from so many wonderful people, and grown a lot as an artist. They’ve motivated me to keep developing my identity and to continue moving forward as a more authentic artist.

What are your short-term and long-term career goals?

In the short term, I want to write more songs that I can put into my future album, and I also plan to do more musicals. In the long term, it would be great to get more worldwide exposure. My ultimate dream is to get a song or album [on] the Billboard Charts.

Lastly, is there anything else you want to say about yourself or your music?

I think the only thing I can say is that I love making music and hope that other people feel the same way about it that I do.

Check out “Wishing For Rain” here!

Answers have been lightly edited and condensed for clarity. Photo credit: Instagram.