A Chat with Sonnet (22.09.25)
Since her breakout success on The Voice Korea and The Masked Singer, Sonnet has been recognised as one of South Korea’s most formidable vocalists. Known for her soulful delivery and ability to move audiences with both power and nuance, she continues to push boundaries as a singer, songwriter, and producer. We chat with Sonnet about all things music below.
OSR: ‘Wishing for Rain’ is a song you wrote, composed, and produced entirely on your own. What inspired you to take complete creative control of this release?
SONNET: Right now, I’m working as an independent artist. Even back when I was with an entertainment company in Korea, I always dreamed of making music that truly satisfied me, music that could carry my own stories. But from the company’s side, of course, they needed something that could sell, so they wanted me to do more trendy, mainstream styles (haha). Honestly, though, being able to take full control now and release music on my own terms makes me happy. It feels like this is my colour, my identity as an artist.
OSR: The track was born from something your mother said on a rainy day. Can you share how that moment transformed into the lyrical heart of the song?
SONNET: One rainy afternoon, my mom was cleaning and said, “It feels so stuffy, if only the rain would pour down and wash everything away.” That stuck with me. It made me think about how great it would be if the pains, sadness, and struggles we face in life could just be washed away in a single moment. People often say, “time heals,” but when you’re right in the middle of it, those words don’t always help. That thought became the lyrical heart of the song.
OSR: Many fans know you for your powerful, commanding performances. In this ballad, however, your voice feels more restrained and intimate. Was that a conscious choice?
SONNET: Yes, absolutely. For this song, I wanted it to be easy to listen to, but also deeply emotional. To capture that weighty yet gentle acoustic sound, I felt a more restrained and intimate vocal approach was exactly what the song needed.
OSR: How did the emotional challenges you were facing in your personal life shape the sound and atmosphere of the song?
SONNET: I really wanted to bring out the atmosphere of rain. So I recorded everything acoustically, and when mixing, I tried to keep the raw textures and natural feel alive. I’ve always believed that sincerity in music is what moves people most.
OSR: The rain metaphor is central to the single. Beyond heartbreak, what broader emotions or experiences were you hoping listeners would connect with through this imagery?
SONNET: Whether it’s love, life, or relationships, when we fail, we grow, but at the same time, fear comes with it. For me, the more I sing this song, the more I feel my own difficult moments healing. I hope listeners can also let go of some of that fear and find comfort and healing through it.
OSR: Producing the track yourself must have been both liberating and demanding. What were the most rewarding and the most difficult aspects of self-producing?
SONNET: The hardest part is always asking myself, “What’s the right choice?” There’s no single right answer in music, and that can be tough. But I kept reminding myself: focus on the essence, stay true to the core. That mindset made the process rewarding, even through the struggles.
OSR: You’ve performed on huge stages like The Masked Singer. How does the process of creating a vulnerable studio ballad differ from performing live for a wide audience?
SONNET: Performing in front of a big live audience is nerve-racking, but in the studio, I feel an even greater pressure to deliver emotion. Listeners often love that feeling of a song being sung right into their ears, so I had to be extra careful, even down to the smallest breaths.
OSR: What do you hope listeners will feel or carry with them after hearing ‘Wishing for Rain’ for the first time?
SONNET: I’d love for the song to bring back certain moments, weather, people, scents, or memories for listeners. If it reminds them of past pain, I hope they can think, “I’m glad I’m okay now.” If they’re going through pain now, I hope it helps them realize they’re not alone and that with time, things can get better.
OSR: This single feels like a turning point in your artistry, more personal and self-directed. Do you see yourself continuing to write and produce more of your own music moving forward?
SONNET: Definitely. I already have quite a few songs written, and my goal is to gather them into an EP. I’m really looking forward to sharing more of my own music like this.
OSR: If ‘Wishing for Rain’ could spark one conversation among your listeners, what would you want that conversation to be about?
SONNET: I think it might spark conversations about people who’ve left us. Even if everything doesn’t feel okay right away, time passes, and somehow the weight of their absence softens. And then one day, you realize you’ve become okay again. That’s something I want listeners to feel and maybe talk about with each other.
Many thanks to Sonnet for speaking with us. Find out more about Sonnet on her Instagram, Spotify, YouTube, and Wikipedia.
