Edited By : Leah Seed
When you first meet Sonni Mills, there’s an instant warmth — the kind that makes you feel like you’ve known her longer than you have. She speaks with an easy honesty, grounded in her South Yorkshire roots, and carries herself with the quiet confidence of someone who’s spent years learning to trust her own voice.
“I’m Sonni Mills. I’m an artist and a singer. I’m 25, and home to me is Barnsley, South Yorkshire.”
It’s a simple introduction, but it tells you a lot: creative, clear about who she is, and proudly Northern.
Sonni started singing young, but it wasn’t until her late teens that music stopped being just a private passion and became something more.
“I’d been singing from a young age, but it wasn’t until my late teens that I felt like there was a possibility I could bring life to the original songs that had just been sitting in my voice memo app,” she says. “I remember hearing my song ‘Monochrome’ after it was recorded at Chairworks Studios and thinking – this is a memory I’ll never forget. I should do everything I can to pursue this.”
That moment — hearing her own voice reflected back through speakers in a real studio — was a turning point. From there, Sonni’s path started to take shape, one that blends music, visual art, community, and an unwavering sense of self.
By 13, Sonni was already stepping onto local stages, providing her early performance opportunities that shaped her stage presence.
“At first I used to get sooo nervous, weirdly, more so in the few minutes after I’d finished,” she laughs. “But I genuinely feel in control, yet free at the same time when I’m singing. And being quite stupid in every other way, it’s a nice feeling!”
A turning point in Sonni’s journey came with her friendship with Wakefield band Skinny Living.
“Skinny Living were a huge support and wonderful friends when I first started out,” she says. “They gave me the tools to release my own music and believe in myself. We’re both so busy now, but they’re a huge part of why I have the confidence I do today.”
They also taught her how to blend her visual art and style with her music – something she once felt unsure about.
“They showed me how to bring my art into my music – through lyrics, melody, style, and even my physical artwork. That was something I was too scared to do before I met them.”
Much of Sonni’s identity as an artist is shaped by where she’s from – and she speaks with affection about Barnsley and the wider Northern scene.
“I think my hometown runs through everything I do. I’m proud to be from a small town that may not have the biggest platform for artists, but over time has really nurtured the arts. There’s a huge warmth in the community.”
She’s also proudly kept her strong Barnsley accent when speaking to audiences.
“There’s no point trying to be something you’re not. That honesty is part of what makes the Northern music scene so special.”
Sonni believes that Northern artists bring something distinct to the wider UK music scene, though she’s careful to note the importance of diversity and inclusion across the board.
“There’s something about the sense of community and honesty here. Not being afraid to be proud of where you’re from. But ultimately, it’s everyone’s different backgrounds that make UK culture so rich.”
She names Sheffield’s Richard Hawley, Leeds’ English Teacher, and Arctic Monkeys as dream collaborators – along with legends like Amy Winehouse, David Bowie, and Frank Sinatra.
“Me and my boyfriend love Richard Hawley – you can’t get much cooler. And obviously the Arctic Monkeys... but if I could go way beyond? Sinatra. Winehouse. Bowie. Unreal.”
Looking back at that 13-year-old nervously stepping onto a stage, Sonni has a few words of wisdom:
“Don’t be scared. You’re better than you think you are. Don’t let insecurity get the better of you. And stop playing with your hair while you’re singing!”
