Cover SonaOne reflects on creative evolution and the next chapter of his music (Image: Universal Music)
SonaOne reflects on creative evolution and the next chapter of his music (Image: Universal Music)
1 / 1
From genre-fluid songwriting to a new album in the works, SonaOne opens up about authenticity, collaboration and pushing beyond creative comfort zones
For more than a decade, SonaOne has occupied a rare space in Malaysian music: an artist who moves effortlessly between genres while remaining unmistakably himself. From the sharp-edged confidence of his early hip-hop days to his increasingly experimental, genre-blurring recent work, his career has never followed a straight line—and that, by design, is the point.
See more: 40 years on, Dato’ Sheila Majid lives by her own rhythm
“I pull pretty much everything that I do musically from everyday moments—travel, conversations, people around me, random things I observe,” he says. For him, inspiration is not a fixed source but a shifting current, shaped by phases of life and the energy of the world around him. “If a place or a person has a certain frequency or vibe, it usually sparks something in me.”
That instinctive relationship with creativity has shaped how he approaches songwriting. Rather than chasing concepts or trends, SonaOne sees music as documentation. “I treat my music kind of like a diary,” he explains, “but not every page needs to be published.” The songs that do make it out into the world are those that feel expansive—stories or emotions that others can step into. “Whatever feels universal—something everybody can relate to or see themselves in—that’s usually what I turn into music.”
It’s this sense of intention that defines not only his songwriting but his entire creative process. Known for being deeply hands-on, SonaOne produces, mixes and often directs his own visuals, ensuring a continuity of vision across sound and image. “Being hands-on is the only way I know how to create,” he says. “From the drum selection to the chord progression, all the way to the colour grading of a video—everything has to play a role.” Wearing multiple hats, he adds, helps him protect his artistic identity. “Nothing gets lost in translation.”
That clarity has given him the freedom to move fluidly across genres without being confined by any one of them. Hip-hop, R&B, pop and electronic influences exist comfortably in his work, guided less by deliberate categorisation than instinct. “I never sit down thinking, ‘Today I’m making a hip-hop track,’” he says. “Some melodies arrive already dressed in a certain genre. The song will tell me where it goes.”
For SonaOne, a strong song should retain its emotional core regardless of form. A well-written melody can live as a piano ballad, a pop record or something more left-field without losing its meaning. Genre, he believes, is secondary to feeling.
This openness extends to collaboration, an area where his approach has evolved significantly over time. Early in his career, control was paramount. “When I was younger, I wanted everything to be perfect and tightly controlled,” he admits. Experience has since taught him the value of trust. “Now I’ve learned to trust the room and let other people’s strengths shine. The music becomes more exciting when you don’t try to force your own idea into everything.”
That mindset came into focus with his recent collaboration with Vietnamese artist Tlinh—a project that took years to come to fruition. What began as a pandemic-era demo eventually grew into a cross-border collaboration that felt organic rather than engineered. For SonaOne, working with artists from different cultural contexts has never threatened his identity. “Malaysians are already so culturally diverse,” he says. “The Malaysianness comes naturally.”
As someone born between cultures, collaboration feels like an extension of who he is rather than a strategic move. “You’re just bouncing ideas back and forth until you get something that’s truly unique,” he says. “Sometimes someone hears something you completely missed, and suddenly everything opens up.”
Looking ahead, that spirit of curiosity is driving him into unfamiliar sonic territory. Recently, SonaOne has been experimenting with electronic sub-genres, deliberately moving away from familiar trap structures. “If you stay in one lane too long, the environment starts to look the same,” he says. “Anything that I’m curious about—anything that sounds cool—will always pull me into something different.”
Read more: 5 reasons to try a high-protein diet in 2026
In an industry that moves at breakneck speed, authenticity remains his anchor. “Authenticity is when your work still sounds like you, even when you’re experimenting,” he reflects. “You’re not defined by a genre—you’re defined by your voice and your presence.” Trends, he believes, are fleeting. “Trends don’t build legacy,” he says simply. “If it’s real to me, it’ll resonate with someone.”
Beyond music, SonaOne has also begun exploring storytelling through visuals, with early experiments in short-film-style narratives and interconnected worlds. While not all of those ideas reached full fruition, the ambition remains. Film and longer-form visual projects are on his horizon, approached with the same patience and intentionality that defines his music.
As for what lies ahead, 2026 signals a new chapter. An album is in the works—still untitled, still evolving. “I have a story I’m trying to tell and a feeling I’m trying to capture,” he says. “I just haven’t captured all of it yet.” Alongside it, he hopes to pursue more meaningful collaborations, both locally and across the region, with an eye toward reflecting Malaysia’s creative future.
“And then,” he adds, “in the midst of all that, I want to have fun.”
After more than ten years in the industry, SonaOne is still chasing curiosity—not perfection—and it is that refusal to stand still that continues to define his evolution.
READ MORE
10 music-themed movies inspired by real bands
Alyph’s musical metamorphosis is an intimate storm
What Timothée Chalamet reads: the books behind his most noted roles
As Senior Lifestyle Writer, Aina writes across the lifestyle vertical, covering wellness, travel, arts and entertainment. Based in Kuala Lumpur, she previously worked at CLEO Malaysia, where she headed the lifestyle, culture and entertainment sections.
