We previously featured Sonny Southon for sharing her soul with the cinematic, trip-hop-infused delight, I’m In Love, so when we found out that Sonny was back with an album titled Rolling The Dice, we couldn’t wait to immerse ourselves in her universe once again, and share our experience.
Rolling The Dice opens with the title track of the album, drawing us in with a meditative frequency and textured drums. The prose is introspective and self-reflective as Sonny reminisces on her life and traumas that have brought her to this point, to a point where her head is above water, despite the turmoils and challenges. We appreciate the unfolding narrative which is highly relatable. Sonny’s vocals are sublime and full of raw emotion. We connect with her soulful nature and the optimistic message of taking chances with reference to the ebbs and flows of life as we know it.
Next up is Hold Hands, which taps into an almost dark-Americana energy as Sonny invites us to connect in the face of so much division. “Come dance with me, we can make it right, hold hands…” sings Sonny with a reflective tone and a call of unity. The message feels super zeitgeist and important, and naturally, we are in awe of the atmospheric production. The panning, choral chants intertwined with 60s ad-libs manifest in a cohesive anthem of vintage freedom with a contemporary edge.
This leads us to I Am Yours, where Sonny sings, “When the light falls down from the sky, and I am yours, I am, I am…” accompanied by a pulsating beat and cosmic, futuristic production. The song feels like a mantra, detailing with guitar motifs, reminiscent of early Fleetwood Mac, but again with a sentimentality that feels deeply present. We love the psychedelic and conscious energy that comes to life.
Rise Up opens with a reverberating guitar detail as Sonny shares reflections on how she is perceived. “I’m not gonna play small, just so you can stand tall…” sings Sonny assertively as she unveils a message of empowerment with the hook of the track, “I rise up again…”. The artist invites us to own our originality and not seek validation in being liked, but instead be authentic. By this point, it is clear who Sonny is – a conscious, spiritual artist who knows her worth and has created a cohesive body of work which is emotionally tender yet highly empowering.
Next is Oh Oh, which is an ode to her muse – a timeless song that we could imagine being featured in an episode of My Life with the Walter Boys. The chord progressions are sublime and truly tap into our heart’s centre. The hook is highly memorable and fans of Lana Del Rey would absolutely be able to connect with the more whimsical energy of this song.
Trying to Find Home is a reflective piece with a spiritual energy that feels cathartic and healing, inviting us to seek solace in our own comfort. Again, the song is sublime with layered vocals and a cinematic allure. The metaphor of feeling like a river trying to find home is beautiful.
This brings us to I’m In Love, which we previously featured. The song is an atmospheric, dreamy piece about loving someone deeply while accepting that they may need space or a different path. It captures the vulnerability of devotion and self-awareness. With trip-hop influences, Sonny’s signature cinematic production, and emotional vocals, I’m In Love creates a haunting yet intimate feeling of longing, passion and surrender.
Oh My Heart opens with the lyrics, “Tell everyone, go home now, cos I can’t sleep in my brain…”. This track is reflective and one of the most somber moments on the album. The strings arrangement has us in tears with 60s do-wop ad-libs and a gospel-adjacency that we could imagine in a movie like Sinners.
Setting the tone with a delicate acoustic guitar soundscape, We Need Saving feels like an interpersonal reflection as much as a culturally zeitgeist reflection on the state of society. It serves as a universal message of oneness, love and unity at a time when we, as a society, need it the most.
Finally, we experience Always Be Love, which opens with the lyrics, “I don’t care what you say about me, I don’t care what you’re fighting for, I know what I believe in, I know what I stand for, it will always be love…”. The piece expands with ethereal vocals and a captivating beat as Sonny paints a visual picture of society whilst cementing that her message and purpose is love.
All in all, Rolling The Dice is an album that rewards patience. It invites us into Sonny Southon‘s poetic and quietly compelling universe to better understand the beauty that lies in honesty, self-belief and the confidence of an artist who no longer feels the need to prove herself.
We are in awe, and have added songs from Rolling The Dice to our New Music Spotlight playlist, our TRIPPY playlist, our TIMELESS playlist, whilst we continue to stream Sonny Southon‘s exquisite wider discography and anticipate future releases from the visionary, multi-disciplinary artist.