Every month Brave Island runs a Young Creative of the Month fund, where we spotlight a local young creative with an interview on our blog, and support them with funding of £100. For June, its musician and DJ, Sonnie Venier aka Woody! This fund launches at the beginning of every month, you can apply to be Young Creative of the Month for July here.

Please can you tell us about what you do creatively?

Hello! My name is Sonnie, but I am better known as Woody. I have played drums since around 8 years old and I have always loved music. About 4 years ago, I joined a local indie rock cover band called The Missing, playing venues such as The Anchor and the Garlic Festival. In between gigs like these, we often messed around with ideas for originals and even managed to get some studio time. At the same time as all of this, I attended a Brave Island DJ workshop and I instantly got attached to dance music and more specifically, DJ’in. Since then, I have played Camp Bestival on the mainland, and I am soon to be DJ’in at this year’s Isle of Wight Festival. Additionally, I also am the drummer of Fugo Kid – another local Island musician who produces jazz rap songs and is soon to be playing the main stage of this year’s Isle of Wight Festival.

However, on top of all of these I have started to write some of my own dance music – tying in old ideas from the indie rock music from The Missing, skills from my DJ’in and jazzy/hip hop beats from Fugo Kid. I look forward to sharing my music.

What’s the biggest difference in your mindset when you’re alone producing a track vs when you’re live in front of a crowd?

I like to use the analogy of baking a cake when it comes to producing vs playing. 

I find producing/writing to be like baking a cake for the first time: you typically follow a recipe but put your own spin on things to find out what tastes best. There isn’t really any pressure and it’s a lot more laid back but takes quite a bit of time to get right.

Then I like to think of performing a song as like baking a cake for someone’s birthday. You’ve made the cake plenty of times but now the pressure is on to get it perfect to show someone else.

Personally, I do find the pressure soon goes when playing live as soon as you hear the roar of the crowd. There’s no better motivation.

What are your plans with your music shaping up to be this year?

My main goal is to release my first song. I have a couple songs that aren’t ready to release but are very close. I am in the midst of my A Levels and as soon as they are done I plan to start promoting some up and coming projects.

Where can people find your work if they’d like to support you?

I don’t have any socials out there yet, but keep watching for Woody on Instagram and Spotify.

However, you can follow Fugo kid on Instagram @maybefugokid to see some local Island talent.

Thanks from hearing from me and keep an eye out in future!