Found in the Inbox: Sonny Mackenzi Wants to Be Your “New Crush

Sonny Mackenzi grew up in Littleton, Colorado, on parents’ Willie Nelson records, and has wanted to sing, write and perform since the age of three. The Rive Video Promotion campaign for “New Crush” traces the route: a successful teenage modeling career with the Donna Baldwin agency, set aside for a move to Los Angeles, where veteran Warner Bros. Records A&R executive Nick Haussling discovered the young singer, with plans to sign Sonny.

A first single about first love

“New Crush,” the first single and video from a four-song EP, is a spirited ode to first love. It was co-written by Hot Chelle Rae’s Nash Overstreet and RCA artist Kiana Brown and produced in Los Angeles by Craig King, whose credits include Kanye West and Ludacris. The EP team also included Grammy-winning engineer Phil Tan, Leslie Brathwaite, John Horesco and choreographer Cici Kelley.

Positive on purpose

“I want to be honest and put out positive vibes,” Sonny says. “Mostly I want to put out messages of strength and self-love, especially for my younger fans, so that they feel like they too can attain the things they want in life without sacrificing their core beliefs and morals.” And on the moment itself: “I’m in 100% artist mode right now. To be doing music 24/7 is a dream come true.”

Why it was in the inbox

The campaign describes Sonny as “a mischievous daredevil and the girl-next-door with an edge.” “New Crush” is that persona in three minutes.

Watch the official video

Quotes and release details from Rive Video Promotion’s campaign for “New Crush.” This feature updates Exposed Vocals’ original August 2016 post.