DJ Name: Red Sonya
Real Name: Sonya Lynn
Location: Los Angeles, CA
Hometown: San Diego, CA | Austin, TX
Affiliations: Red Alien Invasion, Native Alien, Angel Eyewear, Lady Lush, Pocket Underground
Genres: House, Tech House & Minimal Techno
Residencies: Fresh Cuts – Fourth Saturdays @ Miso Harney Sushi, San Diego, CA
Biography:
Sonya Lynn, aka Red Sonya, spins fresh and firey beats that have the power to elevate the energy of the dance floor wherever she roams. She began spinning deep house music in 2001, and has since become known for her signature blend of minimal techno and tech-house with dirty bass lines and layers of tripped-out funk. Red Sonya can’t be missed with her mane of red hair, and her piercing blue eyes, this scarlet diva is packing them in wherever she is. From DJing, to hosting events, from dancing, to promoting, she’s a one person army pounding the dance floor with infections beats. She has been doing everything she can to have fun and have her music heard. For Sonya, DJing is a way of life.
Photo by Angel Rodriguez
Some history about DJ Red Sonya:
Red Sonya discovered her passion for DJing immediately after her move to southern California in 2000. After frequenting many massive “raves” and smaller underground deep house clubs, she became addicted to the music and the vibe that surrounded it. Once she stepped in front of her first pair of turntables, there was no turning back. It didn’t take long before Red Sonya took Southern California by storm, and she has not let up since.
From 2001 to 2006, Red Sonya and the Vinyl Elements Crew dj’ed, promoted and produced a multi-genre event “Reaction” which ran for over 4 1/2 years at the Honey Bee Hive, and also hosted an annual park party “Community” and several one-off events. During this time, she also held down other weekly and monthly residencies. She hosted a weekly Thursday “DIG!” at the Kava Lounge w/ Mark E Quark and Andy Boswell, where she played alongside DJs such as Q-burns, Greenskeepers, Wally Callerio, Hector Moralez, Jon Tejada, Juan Nunez, Lillyanne, Jamie Thines, Halo, and Dizzy. She also spent 2+ years at the Red C Lounge where she helped run “Tuestep”, which in time turned into her “Groove Tuesdays” project and a “Femme Fatale” monthly event which supported local DJ talent.
Other San Diego residencies Red Sonya held include “Soundspeed” at L5 and “Fresca” at the Marin Lounge. She has DJed numerous events hosted by Generations Events and Socal Selectress. Popular venues DJ Red Sonya has frequented in San Diego include the Onyx Room, Thin, On Broadway, Aubergine,The Flame, Rich’s, Kadan’s, and The Ruby Room.
In 2007, Red Sonya started Lady Lush, a production company featuring talented female DJ’s, Sonya’s promotions, and art direction from Andre Couturier Maitret. Art and fashion add a backdrop to the event with live artists like Billy Martinez painting life-size portraits and local boutiques such as Mesh selling their apparel. The event that originally started as a weekly at The Airport Lounge, found its way to other venues, from North Park nightclub AC Lounge, to bi-annual outdoor events at the infamous The Fire Garden.
Since then, Red Sonya has made guest DJ appearances at Southern California’s outdoor events and burner-type festivals Elysium, Magical, Wildlife, Decompression, Shade and Lightning in a Bottle. She also has been booked to perform at San Diego’s annual events, Earthdance and San Diego Pride.
In the Summer of 2009, Red Sonya teamed up with fellow DJ & Producer, Alien Tom, and made the move to Los Angeles to further her local and touring DJing career and start music production of her own. Shortly after her LA arrival, she appeared several times on SheTV for Sugar Hooker Entertainment’s Live Webcast event “The Sweet Spot” hosted by DJ Syrena, and guest DJ’ed at local LA events such as Technique at Zanzibar and Respect at The Dragon Fly. She also hosted Lady Lush events at Club Tatou downtown LA and Air Conditioned Supper Club in Venice.
In 2010, the locally loved Pocket Underground Crew welcomed Red Sonya into their DJ crew with open arms. Carrying a new affiliation behind her name, she has made several appearances at Area 33, and headlined LA Burning Man’s hosted NYE event, NEXUS at Lot 613.
After nearly 10 years of steady DJ gigs, Red Sonya feels as if she’s just getting started. Sonya has recently entered the music production realm with fiance Alien Tom by her side, and is enjoying her new home town, Los Angeles.
What is Red Alien?
Red Sonya and Alien Tom have been DJing together since they first met up in 2007. After years of working together, “Red Alien” was born. Their styles have come together in a way that’s no denying a party vibe. They are the ultimate DJ battle, playing one track each, song for song, both listening, both mixing, both dancing. When Red Sonya and Alien Tom hit the road, there is no denying a Red Alien Invasion. Together they have traveled to Hawaii, New Mexico, Colorado, and Texas, and internationally to Baja California, Mexico to spread their unique tech house vibe. They appeared in the San Francisco Love Festival Parade 2008 and 2009, and currently have a residency in Ensenada, Mexico and Mammoth Lakes, California.
Sponsors:
Red Sonya joined the Angel Eyewear Team in 2009, and appears in Angel Eyewear’s Fashion Sunglasses Advertisement Campaign on Angeleyewear.com.
Press :
DJ Red Sonya has appeared in publications such as Riviera Magazine, San Diego City Beat, and Revolt In Style, as well as numerous blogs, podcasts, and online magazines. View some snippets below:
“After the show, DJ Red Sonya provided the night’s killer soundtrack complete with ambient beats and techno bleeps, which was perfect for the random make-out sessions that broke out in the Weavers Touch rug-adorned cabanas (hey, we are in a hotel; get a room!).”
(Riviera Magazine | October 2008)
“On the DJ side of things, Red Sonya, half of the Lady Lush project that’s been ushering female DJs into venues across town for the past year, is making sure the club scene isn’t just one big sausage party.”
(San Diego City Beat | August 2008)
“With wavy, fire-red hair and crystal-blue eyes, DJ Red Sonya has all the elements to get the dance floor bumpin’ and booties bouncin’ at every San Diego club she graces with her presence.
While women may make up a large portion of club goers, it’s still rare to see them on the other side of the turntables. But being a lady in the DJ industry has pushed Red Sonya to promote and practice even harder to overcome any vixen and vinyl stereotypes that may stand in her way.”
(“Red Sonya is a Queen of Nightlife” | discoversd.com | November 2007)
“San Diego just might be the female DJ capital of the world and it seems everywhere we go, we run into some sexy new woman on “the wheelz.” Our favorites, Red Sonya can’t be missed – and with her mane of red hair, we mean that literally. From spinning trip-hop at Zenbu Lounge to funk at Aubergine, this scarlet diva is packing them in wherever she is.”
(“Sexy in San Diego” | Riviera Magazine | June 2007)
“Indeed, we’ve come a long way from the late ’80s, when the most visible female DJ was Spinderella, third wheel of the rap duo Salt- N-Pepa, or more recently, a celebrity model/DJ like Sky Nellor. Today, turntablists like Sandra Collins, DJ Irene and Misstress Barbara are prolific forces, and locally, the likes of Miss Lisa and Red Sonya come to mind.”
(SD Union Tribune | July 2006)
PT.NET:
What genres, styles influenced your DJ career?Red Sonya:
“I’ve always loved all styles of music, but something about house music really spoke to me in a different way. I loved the warm and welcoming vibe that surrounded it, everyone I met in the house scene influenced me in different ways. When I started seeking out the music for my own personal collection, it opened a new world for me. I found myself finding tracks, thinking, “why doesn’t anyone play stuff like this?” Then I’d play it, and people would respond in a way that’s addicting. After a couple of years of collecting records I started buying different genres. A lot of people don’t know that I also have a HUGE selection of downtempo, trip hop, funk, and soul. Being able to play different styles has opened up a lot of different opportunities to play in different venues, and took my skills to new levels.”(Interview | pseudo-tripp.net | December 2005)