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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Indie Pop Newcomer Sonnet Simmons Breaks New Ground with Empowering Single, “Bang Bang”

For every pre-save of “Bang Bang,” Sonnet will donate $1 to the nonprofit Girls On The Run.*

Los Angeles, CA — September 22, 2023

Introduction

Arising from the ashes of an unconventional upbringing, born in Greece into a cult and a life dominated by people-pleasing, indie pop artist Sonnet Simmons is ready to shatter glass ceilings with her debut single, “Bang Bang.” “‘Bang Bang’ is more than just a song; it’s a rallying cry,” says Sonnet. “I wrote this as a permission slip for all women to stand comfortably in their skin, speak their truth, live untamed and stop playing small.” 

About Sonnet Simmons

Struggling against the challenges of growing up in a cult and engaged in the complex work of raising her own daughters, Sonnet is now commanding attention with her empowering message. As a transformative voice in indie pop, Sonnet hopes to amplify female strength and individuality.

Sonnet’s empowering indie pop style invokes Meghan Trainor, Elle King and Bishop Briggs while bringing her own soulful voice to the forefront. Skillfully crossing genres and the emotional spectrum, she invites you to bear witness to her soul, while convincing you to explore your own.

Musical Pedigree

Sonnet Simmons is no stranger to the music industry; her work has been featured in advertisements for industry giants like Coca-Cola, Volkswagen, and GoDaddy. With recognition from Kesha and Brad Paisley, her vocal abilities have been declared “entrancing” and “unlike anything heard before.”

About “Bang Bang”

Her debut single off her upcoming EP, “Bang Bang,” is an anthem for women and a call to arms against societal norms.”I wrote ‘Bang Bang’ as a personal manifesto to remind myself—and every woman—that it’s more than okay to take up space, to be bold, to be audacious,” says Sonnet. This song is for recovering people pleasers, cycle breakers, and all who have lost their voice along the way.

Personal Struggles and Triumphs

Growing up in a cult, Sonnet learned early on the risks of living a life dictated by others. Her unstable childhood left her without the skills to trust herself and her own ideas, so she conformed to the pressures around her. 

“My journey has been a laborious one, learning the hard way to speak my mind, live by my rules, and defy the status quo,” states Sonnet. “Growing up, I felt the pressure to be good, to smile, be nice, and pretty. I battled eating disorders and struggled with people-pleasing,” she shares. “Now, my music is my vehicle to empower women to use their voice, be unapologetically themselves, and take up space.” 

No longer ashamed of her unconventional childhood, Sonnet hopes sharing her story will empower other women and girls to be comfortable in their own skin. “I want them to shine,” says Sonnet. “Not be afraid of the gifts they have to share with the world.”   

Giving Forward 

For every pre-save of “Bang, Bang,” Sonnet will donate $1 to Girls On The Run, a nonprofit that supports girls at a critical stage, strengthening their confidence at a time when society begins to tell them they can’t. Their programs underscore the connection between physical and emotional health. This cause is close to Sonnet’s heart as running has been a part of her journey to finding strength in her body and recovering from eating disorders.  

“I wish I had this kind of guidance and support when I was younger. Now with two daughters of my own, it’s my mission to help girls own a sense of who they are unapologetically. Girls On The Run does this in such a fun and creative way. I’m excited that my music will go to support these programs that strengthen girls’ confidence.”  

Impact and Future Directions

“My music is not just songs but a movement. I want our daughters to grow up fearless, to know their worth, to claim their space, and to be undeniably themselves,” she adds.

Sonnet is set to release her EP, SPEAK, in Spring 2024, which will feature tracks co-written and produced by Billy Lefler. (Ingrid Michaelson, Avril Lavigne)  “I want ‘Bang Bang’ to resonate in the hearts of every woman. I want this song to be the soundtrack for when you’re training for a 5K or when you’re heading to work and need to get pumped for the day,” Sonnet elaborates.

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Sonnet has a significant imprint in both the commercial and artistic realms. She’s had her music featured in ads for major brands and has captivated audiences as a top contestant on ABC’s Rising Star. “My songs are invitations to be introspective while dancing and singing your heart out. It’s been a while since my last release. I’ve been a new mom and busy with other projects, but now I’m back full force, ready to share my heart with the world,” she asserts.

“Bang Bang” is the opening act for her much-anticipated EP, SPEAK, expected to debut in Spring 2024.

Availability

The single “Bang Bang” is available for streaming and download across all major platforms from September 22, 2023.

* up to $2,000. She invites others inspired by her song to donate too.

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Is your voice tired by the end of the day?

I heard a story the other day of a teacher who told his students, he couldn’t answer their questions on break, he needed to rest his voice for lecture because he was experiencing vocal fatigue. I have another yoga teacher who came to see me with a similar problem, she couldn’t get though a class without feeling vocally exhausted, strained, and hoarse. And what about teachers who teach 8 hours a day with bad acoustics, having to speak over the disruption of kids in class? I had another client once who was in sales, and halfway through her day, she didn’t want to make any more calls her voice was so tired. Vocal fatigue and soreness can be experienced in a lot of professions, but it doesn’t have to be a “part of the Job” any longer.

Tired Voices Sonnet Music

So what can you do about it? If you feel vocal fatigue and hoarseness at the end of your work day, chances are you need some vocal rehabilitation and to learn how to use your voice properly to support the sound you are making and eliminate pain and fatigue. I will give you 3 tools you can use today to start rehabilitating your voice and strengthening it for good.

Vocal fatigue can become a serious problem. As a singer, if my voice starts giving me signs of fatigue, I back off because I know, singing on tired swollen vocal chords can cause more long-term damage. The same is true for continuing to speak day after day without proper vocal support. The compounded result of using your voice incorrectly and pushing though the pain can cause long-term damage and sometimes require surgery. So…let’s learn how to use that voice and breath support to have a pain-free dynamic experience speaking each day.

3 Vocal Tools to eliminate vocal pain and fatigue when speaking.

  1. Support:

Not going to get out of this one people. BREATHING. I mean it is everything. You cannot make sound without breath…it is what makes the sound through your vocal chords and it is what you need to support your voice when you speak.

When you speak powered by your diaphragm, not your throat, you will find your true voice and be able to project rather than yell to increase your volume. Connecting your voice to your breath is number 1 in my book for increasing your vocal strength and eliminating fatigue.

Watch my video here for a quick easy breathing exercise to get you on your way to diaphragm breathing. Practice this exercise daily, and start to be aware of when you are breathing correctly and when you are not. You want the power of your voice to come from your diaphragm, not your throat.

  1. Relaxation:

Okay so now we need to get your voice to relax and rehabilitate. How do we actively relax the voice besides just not speaking? The humming exercise below will help you relax your vocal chords and strengthen the connection of your voice, as well as help you find resonance for your speaking voice.

  1. Strengthen:

So now we want to connect the breath work to the sound. Vocal warm ups and exercises are vital for this part. A great one to start off with is Humming. Humming is an amazing, accessible and relaxing exercise to get your voice to open up and also start connecting your voice to your breath. You can watch my video here for an example. Humming using your proper breath support learned above and feel the vibration in the mask of your face, not in your throat, that is where we want the sound to resonate!

You can look up other warm ups online, see my videos, find a local vocal coach and start practicing your vocal warm ups for vocal strength and connection. Remember, always use proper breath support when you are doing any of these exercises.

AND one more tip for good measure – Drink lots of water. The vocal chords vibrate extremely quickly even making the smallest sound. Water helps your throat stay hydrated and helps mucus production keeping the chords lubricated and moving with ease.

This information is not a substitute for medical advice. If you’re voice continues to feel strained and in pain and you are constantly hoarse, please visit an ENT for more personalized attention.

As always, please comment and questions are welcome.

Happy Healthy Speaking and Singing!

Sonnet Simmons

 

 

 

 

 

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Allow me to introduce Joseph Eid, a prolific and profound songwriter and singer based in the Los Angeles area, but can be seen on tour worldwide. Joseph has been named one of the 100 Hottest Live Unsigned Artists of 2012, 2013, and 2014 by Music Connection Magazine. You can hear what the well-deserved buzz is all about on his debut album Human. Joseph’s warm and honest voice brings the listener into his thoughtfully sweet and cuttingly insightful lyrics. I’m excited to share his professional insight and tips on singing and songwriting with all of you!

SS: Do you have a process to your songwriting you have found to be the most effective? If so, what is it?

 JE: I don’t really.  It is a great mystery.  Sometimes I will get a concept and then I’ll sit down and start playing a chord progression and words will just start to come out.  Instead of trying to think about it, I let whatever wants to come out come out and sometimes record it.  The subconscious is an ocean. I like to approach songwriting in that way first.  Once I get the idea, then I bring in my brain to try to make sense of it all. But I let it start in the unknown first.  But there are times where I will sit with a strong feeling about a situation and try to write about it too. No formula. just being present.

SS: What would be your tip for other aspiring songwriters out there on how to write a song?

JE: Write what you know. write from your own personal experiences and the things that are uniquely you.  The more personal a song is, the more universally it connects.  Don’t write for others.  Write for you and watch how others will connect.  We all feel the same things and go through the same experiences so people connect to the truth.

SS: Do you have a favorite songwriter and why?

JE: Yes. The band Indigo Girls – Amy Wray and Emily Sailers.  They write from the heart but their songs are more than just songs about love and life.  There are deep messages in the songs that teach.  I love songwriters that teach me things and their intent was never to do that but the songs that come through them are bigger than them.  They are universal truths that can be a road map for others.  That’s the mystery I love about songwriting.  Sometimes you write something and go “wow i can’t believe I wrote that…it’s wisdom.”  and hey, maybe you didn’t write it alone.  We are working with a greater source.

SS: Do you have any rituals before you perform to get your voice ready?

JE: Yes.  The day of my show I make sure I do a solid 20 minute warm up working out all of my range. I do this not right before I perform but a few hours before the show.  Then before I play i do a quick 3 to 5 minute warm up, whether it be lip trills or a couple of scales.  If the venue, situation, or time doesn’t allow for that then I know I’m still OK because I did my workout earlier in the day.

SS: What is your go to vocal trick?

JE: The Ventriloquist. . . learned this from my vocal coach Roger Burnley.  You can do it anywhere, anytime.  I try to get the notes and sounds out that I want without moving my lips, or any muscles on my face.  That always gets me vocally in the closer to the place i need to be.

SS: What have you learned about your voice you didn’t know 5 years ago?

JE: I learned that I can sing and sing and sing for hours and not get tired or hoarse. Years ago I used to think that the voice gets tired after singing for an hour or so and needs a break or that it’s painful to sing night after night for hours.  Since then, with a little more technique and experience under my belt, I find that the voice only gets strong and better the more you use it.  I recently had to play two back to back 2 hour shows, solo, just me and my guitar.  I can honestly say that I never got hoarse, tired, and my voice kept getting even stronger.  It’s how you sing.  If the technique is right you should be able to sing on and on.  Valuable lesson for me and it broke the old myth I used to believe that the voice needs to be saved and rationed.

SS: Any advice for other singers on how to maintain and improve their voice so they can sing and sing and sing?

JE: I really am a strong advocate of finding a voice coach that you trust and enjoy working with.  Even if you just go in for a tune-up once a month or once every two months (whatever you can afford), it’s worth it.  Because to have a voice technician watch what you are doing and make you aware of any bad habits is priceless.  They can give you tools to help you preserve your voice and make sure you are not doing something that later down the line is going to give you problems.

SS: Any dos and don’t for singing?

JE: My theory is if you can’t hit a note while you are quietly sitting in a chair and singing it softly, then you should not be trying to hit that note on stage.  If you don’t have the control to own it quietly then don’t scream it or push it out night after night.  That will lead to problems.  Once you know you own a run or a note or song and you can sing it softly, then you can kill it on stage or in a recording and know you got it…that you don’t have to rely on a trick or a certain emotion, etc.. to get it.  DO drink lots of water.  DON’T sing drunk or high.  When you are not sober, you tend to do things vocally like pushing and things in general that you wouldn’t otherwise do and then you wake the next morning feeling hoarse.  Oh and DON’T be in a loud bar the night before a show scream talking with friends.  The next day, you will feel it.

SS: Great advice on singing dos and don’ts. Who is your favorite singer?Singing With Sonnet Joseph Eid

JE: Ok so yeah, Bono is one of my favorite vocalists.  Everything he sings he sings with great passion and truth.  I believe every word.  There is a very unique quality to his voice that makes you know it’s undeniably him and I think that is a beautiful thing.  A voice is like someone’s soul and should sound like no other. He has great control and i love how all the notes are forward and resonate there whether he is singing high, low or anywhere in between.  It’s all connected all the time.

SS: Any upcoming shows? What are you working on now?

JE: I have been hosting my own night at a place called 55 Degree Wine.  It’s a night that I call The Song Village.  I book the night with 2 other artist and I also perform in it.  It’s a great vibe and right now it’s on every 3rd Tuesday of the month in Los Angeles (Atwater Village to be exact).  I’ll be going to NYC to do a show on July 2nd there and also a few other shows in that area.  Been writing a lot of new stuff and hoping to get back in the studio to start recording my next album later this year.

SS: Exciting!! Okay – Best piece of advice you have received about singing?

JE: Only sing what moves you.  Sing the songs that give YOU chills. Because that is the only way you can give others that feeling.  If you feel it, everyone else will.

SS: Of all your advice and singing tips, what is your #1 tip you would like to add to the singers tip page.

JE: Whatever you want to sing and want to master singing full out, first know that you can sing it softly and master it quietly.  If you can do that with control and hit every note and be able to move through the song with ease when you are quiet, then you know you will be able to nail it with any style and take it to the max.

I love writing songs.  It’s the most exhilarating part of the process for me.  It is a gift that I am so grateful for and a mystery that keeps unfolding.  I enjoy sharing the lessons and stories that come through me.

Thank you Joseph for sharing your personal experience, tips, and tricks. You have some real-life applicable tips and knowledge about the voice and songwriting that show your expertise and materful use of your talent and skill.

Want to see Joseph live? Follow his tour schedule, listen to his music, and say hi @ twitter,facebook, or IG or www.josepheidmusic.com.

Comment, join the conversation, share your tips…@sonnetmusic

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I had the pleasure of meeting and performing with Dina Valenz in Portland, OR last year for Matt Boydston record release show. It was a fantastic night of music and talented performers. Dina’s songs were playful and sharp and her voice carried her songs with strength and a beautiful sound all her own.

Dina is a Los Angeles based singer songwriter, who recently released her EP “With My Shades On”. If you get a chance to catch one of her shows, you will be in for a real treat. Here is what Dina has to share about her singing and songwriting.

SS: Do you have any rituals before you perform to get your voice ready?

DV: I do a couple vocal exercises and sing along to a few of my favorite happy songs to get psyched up for the show.

SS: What is your go to vocal trick?

DV: Not really a trick but I try to make sure I’m good and warm before a performance. That includes sipping on hot tea with honey.

SS: What have you learned about your voice you didn’t know 5 years ago?

DV: Don’t force anything. If I am performing a challenging song and I can sense that my voice isn’t at it’s best that day, I will readjust and maybe go into falsetto instead of belting out the high note etc. There was a time when I felt like I had to push through to get the best performance but as long as the energy is there and you’re not straining the performance won’t suffer.

SS: Any advice for other singers on how to maintain and improve their voice?

DV: It’s important to give your vocal muscles a good work out. Sing everyday but be sure you warm up first.

SS: Any dos and don’t for singing?

DV: Don’t be afraid to try new things.

Do let yourself feel the emotions of the song.

Don’t get too caught up in the technique.

Do have fun!

DV: My favorite singer of all time is Jewel. She has a very unique sound to her voice and has great range. The thing I like most about her is that she’s raw. She has an incredible voice but she’s not afraid to let everyone hear the notes that don’t sound so pretty. She lets her emotions come through in her performances and does not hide behind filters and auto tune even in the studio.

SS: Any upcoming shows? What are you working on now?

DV: I’ve been busy with the release of my newest EP “With My Shades On” which is currently available on itunes, amazon & streaming. I’ve been doing a number of shows in promotion of this record which have been really fun! The next big thing I have coming up is a showcase at the Orange County Fair on August 1st where I’ll be playing the Meadows Stage.

SS: Best piece of advice you have received about singing?

DV: Be yourself. Try not to sing like other people. If your voice has a unique sound, that’s great! It makes you different and helps you stand out in the crowd. It took me a long time to be comfortable with my own voice. Coming away from vocal classes I thought I should sound like the Disney princesses and thought I was doing something wrong because I didn’t have a strong soprano voice. I’m glad I met the right people along the way to guide me and help me feel confident with the big belty voice that I have. Now I feel like I can perform any type of music with the knowledge that I can make it my own.

SS: Of all your advice and singing tips, what is your #1 tip you would like to add to the singers tip page.

DV: Going along with the previous question I would say my #1 tip is not to get too caught up in technique. It’s important to know the fundamentals but be sure you are being true to your own voice and be proud of it.

SS: Do you have a process to your songwriting you have found to be the most effective? If so, what is it?

DV: I’m a melody person. I always have my cell phone near by so I can record anything that may pop in my head at any given moment. When I sit down to write I will usually go to my voice memos and see which melody stands out and go from there. The melody will give me the direction that the song needs to go and then I work on the lyrics and craft the story.

SS: Do you have a favorite songwriter and why?

DV: Yes! 3 and they’re brothers who were big in the 90s. Yea that’s right Hanson! lol I’ve been a huge fan of theirs since they came on to the music scene in the 90s and have continued to be a big fan of their music until now. The melodies that these guys come up with are incredible. Everything is hooky and that’s what I strive for in my own writing. Happy music that will stick with people and make everyone feel something.

SS: What would be your tip for other aspiring songwriters out there on how to write a song?

DV: Listen to a lot of music. I’m always really inspired by what I’m listening to at the time. Keep listening to music and look up lyrics to read along. It will help you learn what works and what doesn’t work in a song. If you can, get someone objective (other than your mom) to listen to your songs and have them tell you what they really think. Be open to constructive criticism and keep writing!

Visit www.dinavalenz.com to listen to Dina’s songs and catch her next show. You can follow her on twitter/IG/Facebook @dinavalenz.

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Best Love Song Sonnet Simmons

“Oh You’re The One” The soundtrack to your Valentine’s Day 2015.

Looking for a new Love Song for your Valentine this year? 

My gift to you…Free download of “Oh You’re the One” until 2.15.15.

Alessandra Simmons describes it best, “It’s been true for me and I know it’s been true for others too that romance can help us move from a place of fear to a place of marveling at the beauty of love and all the “unexpected” joys that come along with it.” CLICK here for full article

Share your Valentine Story with me on FB, Twitter, or comment below.

Every day is Valentine’s Day.

For more writing and creative inspirations by Alessandra – Visit her website here: http://alessandrasimmons.com