Sonny Whether
Author: Keriane Kellogg
Artist: Sonny Whether
Every now and then, you come across an artist that is truly unique; one that has not only a deep passion for creating beautiful music, but also possesses a sincere and humble spirit that commands both respect and admiration. Sonny Whether, is one such artist.
A solo rap artist and songwriter, hailing from Greer, South Carolina, Sonny Whether has possessed a deep love for music since he was a child. He started writing songs and poetry when he was around 12 years old and by the time he was 17, he had discovered a passion for rap music. Sonny says “Music is just in me...It is something I always gravitate towards. By the time I was 20, I threw it all out the window. When I was 28, I burned everything, but then about a month after, that I started writing again. Since then, it has been a wild ride” His stage name, Sonny Whether, was inspired by the moment when he threw his life into the fire. He says that in that moment, there was something that connected to sunny weather and he took that as his name. In that moment, he recognized that no matter what is going on around you, it’s all good.
When asked who inspires him in the music world, Sonny mentions such names as Tupac, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kid Rock, Yelawolf and Eminem, but his greatest inspiration comes from his mentor, Dame Grease. Sonny says that he met Dame Grease two years ago. His music is where Sonny draws most of his inspiration from and his “tough love” attitude gives Sonny hope that he can succeed in the music industry.
One thing that makes Sonny Whether unique in the music industry is his humility. He says “My signature is what I’ve tried to figure out for awhile. It’s the opposite of the new mumble rap… It’s lyrical. I used to say that my music is a beastie chili pepper stew with a dash of rage and Tupac. The message Sonny wishes to convey is a simple one. He wants to show the world how to use their own minds; to put faith in themselves and think for themselves and stop being sheep. While he enjoys all types of music but not all of every kind, Sonny’s favorite genre is definitely rap and rock and roll. While he has gotten some beats from Vacant Lot, Sonny handles most everything from songwriting to beats to social media himself. He says “My lyrics are my baby…they are how I express myself. I want to showcase my lyrics and stage performance at a top level and be able to do that live.”
When asked which song that he has written is his favorite, Sonny is quick to say “Rising Sun” because that song fits Sonny Whether. It is the embodiment of Sonny Whether and it is the first thing the young star did with mentor Dame Grease. The song is special to Sonny because it represents the first time he was given a chance as a musician to prove himself. When I asked Sonny what his favorite music memory was he immediately smiled and told me that his favorite memory was performing Old School Flow with Dame Grease as a featured singer.
Sonny’s greatest achievement as a musician has come from conquering his own self-doubt. His greatest challenge has been realized in how much he has sacrificed for the sake of his art. Sonny says, “I would rather fail while trying than fail to try.” When I asked him what his future plans were for his music career, Sonny told me that his immediate goals were getting in front of people, headlining events and getting paid. His long-term plans are a noble endeavor. He wishes to create a solid foundation for his children and he hopes that his music will open doors for them, should they wish to transition into the music industry. If they follow in their father's footsteps and pursue a career in music, he hopes to become their producer and guide them towards realizing their own musical dreams. His greatest wish is to use his gift to take care of his mother, his children and his siblings.
Sonny Whether’s mantra for his music is just be you. Whatever the weather its Sonny Whether. All things are good….just stay positive. Don’t measure your own worth by what other people do. Don’t let what other people say you can’t do it. Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot...either way, you are right."
I give Sonny Whether 10 skulls.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.
Author: Keriane Kellogg
Artist: Sonny Whether
Every now and then, you come across an artist that is truly unique; one that has not only a deep passion for creating beautiful music, but also possesses a sincere and humble spirit that commands both respect and admiration. Sonny Whether, is one such artist.
A solo rap artist and songwriter, hailing from Greer, South Carolina, Sonny Whether has possessed a deep love for music since he was a child. He started writing songs and poetry when he was around 12 years old and by the time he was 17, he had discovered a passion for rap music. Sonny says “Music is just in me...It is something I always gravitate towards. By the time I was 20, I threw it all out the window. When I was 28, I burned everything, but then about a month after, that I started writing again. Since then, it has been a wild ride” His stage name, Sonny Whether, was inspired by the moment when he threw his life into the fire. He says that in that moment, there was something that connected to sunny weather and he took that as his name. In that moment, he recognized that no matter what is going on around you, it’s all good.
When asked who inspires him in the music world, Sonny mentions such names as Tupac, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Kid Rock, Yelawolf and Eminem, but his greatest inspiration comes from his mentor, Dame Grease. Sonny says that he met Dame Grease two years ago. His music is where Sonny draws most of his inspiration from and his “tough love” attitude gives Sonny hope that he can succeed in the music industry.
One thing that makes Sonny Whether unique in the music industry is his humility. He says “My signature is what I’ve tried to figure out for awhile. It’s the opposite of the new mumble rap… It’s lyrical. I used to say that my music is a beastie chili pepper stew with a dash of rage and Tupac. The message Sonny wishes to convey is a simple one. He wants to show the world how to use their own minds; to put faith in themselves and think for themselves and stop being sheep. While he enjoys all types of music but not all of every kind, Sonny’s favorite genre is definitely rap and rock and roll. While he has gotten some beats from Vacant Lot, Sonny handles most everything from songwriting to beats to social media himself. He says “My lyrics are my baby…they are how I express myself. I want to showcase my lyrics and stage performance at a top level and be able to do that live.”
When asked which song that he has written is his favorite, Sonny is quick to say “Rising Sun” because that song fits Sonny Whether. It is the embodiment of Sonny Whether and it is the first thing the young star did with mentor Dame Grease. The song is special to Sonny because it represents the first time he was given a chance as a musician to prove himself. When I asked Sonny what his favorite music memory was he immediately smiled and told me that his favorite memory was performing Old School Flow with Dame Grease as a featured singer.
Sonny’s greatest achievement as a musician has come from conquering his own self-doubt. His greatest challenge has been realized in how much he has sacrificed for the sake of his art. Sonny says, “I would rather fail while trying than fail to try.” When I asked him what his future plans were for his music career, Sonny told me that his immediate goals were getting in front of people, headlining events and getting paid. His long-term plans are a noble endeavor. He wishes to create a solid foundation for his children and he hopes that his music will open doors for them, should they wish to transition into the music industry. If they follow in their father's footsteps and pursue a career in music, he hopes to become their producer and guide them towards realizing their own musical dreams. His greatest wish is to use his gift to take care of his mother, his children and his siblings.
Sonny Whether’s mantra for his music is just be you. Whatever the weather its Sonny Whether. All things are good….just stay positive. Don’t measure your own worth by what other people do. Don’t let what other people say you can’t do it. Whether you think you can, or you think you cannot...either way, you are right."
I give Sonny Whether 10 skulls.
© 2013 – 2016 Keriane Kellogg. All rights reserved.