Check Out Sonnet Simmons Matthews’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Sonnet Simmons Matthews.

Hi Sonnet, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstory.
How do you marry mom life, entrepreneur life, and music life?

There is an evolution that comes with becoming a parent. You rebuild yourself in ways to use the time you do have to create what really matters and become who you really want to be for your children.

Hi, I’m Sonnet… singer, songwriter with songs in countless commercials and TV shows, co-podcast host of Not Your Mother’s Podcast, and co-founder of Raising Children You Like.

I was born in Athens, Greece to American parents who were living abroad for 10+ years trying to save the world through “missionary work”, or something like that. We moved to India where my sister was born. And when I was three, my mom took my sister and I back to the states, leaving my brothers with their dad to grow up all over the world.

We moved to LA and moved with my grandma. From as far back as I can remember, singing was what brought me joy and purpose. My preschool teacher told my mom I could no longer make up songs for my turn with show and tell because my songs we too long. That pretty much sums it up. Whoever would listen, I was singing and making up songs.

We moved quite a bit through grade school. And we settled around the time I hit high school. I went to Hamilton Music Academy and UCLA for Jazz and Opera voice.

My 20s were filled with playing live shows with my band, writing love songs and heartbreak songs and hoping to be discovered.

I licensed one of my first songs, “You’re So Good For Me” to a Coca Cola commercial campaign accidentally. It felt like luck.

A few years later, I found myself as one of the top contestants on ABC’s Rising Star with Josh Groban. When I came off the show, I was heartbroken. I was tired of the industry, I felt like music had failed me, I worried I was getting too old, and I was ready to give up.

I soon after met my now husband, got married, and had two little girls.

I started working in music licensing with Cathy Heller, who inspired and taught me so much about how to show up for what you want in life.

Having children changed my goals. Music was still a part of my core, but so was a huge drive to show up for my children as the best parent and human that I possibly could be.

I started a podcast with a fellow new mom friend, Veronica Frieling, called “Not Your Mother’s Podcast.” As new moms, we would go on walks, exclaiming over all the things that people didn’t talk about when it comes to motherhood. So we decided to start a podcast and interview experts to find these answers.

This is where our inner work really started to unfold.

We partnered with LMFT and parenting guru Bryana Kappadakunnel and founded Raising Children You Like. An online toddler parenting program that has changed the way I show up every day for myself and my children.

So yes, I’m an entrepreneur in many spaces, but first and foremost, I am a mom. And I strive to model for my children, I can do hard things, I can do new things, I can show up for myself, I can show up for them, and that they can do the same.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
We all have our ups and downs in this life.

One of the greatest challenges for me has been my love affair and deep heartache with music. I felt betrayed by music. I felt like I was getting older and things we not working out how I had dreamed and planned. I used to think there was no room for an artist over 30, who was a mom, in the industry.

When I surrendered my limiting beliefs around success, and I started to see where I could show up differently for my career, my passions, and my voice – I saw my career change on every level.

I stopped blaming the industry and my age. I started putting myself out there and writing and pitching my songs for TV, film, and Ads. I started doing my inner work…and that is where I saw things shift.

I suppose this is how it is in any place of your life. We don’t have control of what we come up against, all we can do is control how we show up, and by doing so, the story changes.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
When I let go of what I thought my career should look like and stepped into a new way of being with my music and business, I started to see new successes.

I’ve had my songs licensed to commercial spots like Coca Cola, Overstock, Go Daddy, Lee Jeans, Venus Clothing, Nivea, T-mobile, and more… And TV shows like Riverdale, Younger, and Katy Keene.

I am finally releasing new music this summer that I have been writing over the last five years that have been featured in all these spots. Stay tuned!!

AND what I am so excited about right now is my online Toddler Parenting Program with Veronica and Bryana called Raising Children You Like.

We teach parents how to take charge of the toddler years in mindful and effective ways, how to tame tantrums, discipline without yelling, and meet your kiddo where they are at. And then, we guide parents on how to examine their own past wounds and heal these old patterns so as to not pass them on to their children. It is deep and rewarding work.

I don’t know where my career will go from here, but I’m going to keep showing up, offering what I can to meet the needs of people in the industry and my listeners, and see where this journey takes me.

My days are filled with running after my beautiful little humans, teaching them the world, guiding them through their big emotions, and being as present as I can for the moments.

What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
I’ve learned two things on my journey that I feel have made a difference in my career and my spirit. I don’t always get them right, but I keep striving to direct my efforts back to these two points.

One – Just keep showing up. Bring your whole self to the table. Don’t blame, don’t point fingers, don’t worry about what others are doing… just keep showing up in your most authentic self.

Two- Solve a problem. Business is about being of service and solving a problem… When you can find what you can offer, in your most authentic way, that solves a problem – that is where you get paid for doing what you love.

You have to figure out what is authentic for you when you solve problems. You have to bring your heart to the solution. This is what sets you apart. We don’t all offer the same solution.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.sonnetmusic.com, www.Notyourmotherspodcast.com, www.Raisingchildrenyoulike.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/raisingchildrenyoulike/
  https://www.instagram.com/sonnetmusic
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/sonnetsings

Image Credits:
Photo Credit: (Black and White photo with piano) – @THE Musician Shift Photo Credit: Solo shot of Sonnet on floor – @The Boho House