Sonique

Sonia Clarke (born 21 June 1968), known more commonly by her stage name Sonique, is a British singer, musician and disc jockey. She was the lead vocalist on two S'Express singles. She won the 2001 BRIT Award for British female solo artist. She was treated for breast cancer and given the all clear in 2010. Sonia Clarke was born and raised in Crouch End to parents of Trinidadian descent. The first record she ever purchased was Donna Summer's "I Feel Love". When Sonique was sixteen her mother re-married and moved back to Trinidad. She refused to move with her mother and two siblings and instead stayed in the United Kingdom moving into the YMCA. At the age of seventeen, a youth worker commented that she had a nice voice and suggested she utilize it. She put together a reggae band called 'Fari' in which she ended up writing all the music. After Fari disbanded she set about getting a recording contract. Sonique released the single "Let Me Hold You", published by Cooltempo, in 1985. The single hit the Top 40 on the UK Dance Chart. In 1990, she was credited for the track "Zombie Mantra" on the album, Set the Controls for the Heart of the Bass, the debut record of William Orbit's project Bass-O-Matic. Soon after she teamed with DJ Mark Moore in S'Express. The dance-pop duo charted in the UK Singles Chart with singles such as "Nothing to Lose". She maintained a friendship with Mark Moore after S'Express disbanded and shortly afterwards, he gave her the gift of a set of turntables and a mixer with which she began experimenting.