Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi on Music, Storytelling, and Finding Creative Community

For Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi, music has never been only about performing a song well. It is about noticing the details people often overlook and finding a way to turn those moments into something others can recognise.

Now based in Chicago, the British vocalist and songwriter performs a mix of jazz and contemporary folk at intimate venues, private events, coffeehouses, and seasonal festivals around the city. Her work is shaped by two musical traditions that may seem different on the surface but share something important underneath: both depend heavily on storytelling.

“I’ve always been drawn to music that feels like someone is actually trying to tell you something,” Naqvi says. “A beautiful voice matters, but I think people remember how a song made them feel much longer than they remember whether every note was perfect.”

How did Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi get started in music?

Naqvi grew up in southern England in an environment where music, books, and the arts were a regular part of life. She began singing through school choirs and local community performances, experiences that gave her an early understanding of what it meant to perform alongside other people.

Her musical interests became broader as she got older. During her university years, she found herself increasingly interested in jazz and acoustic folk music.

Jazz introduced her to interpretation. Folk music showed her how much could be accomplished with relatively simple arrangements and strong writing.

“What interested me was that two singers could perform the same song and make it feel completely different,” she says. “That idea really stayed with me. A song isn’t finished just because the words and melody already exist. The performer still has to bring something honest to it.”

That approach continues to influence the way she works today.

Why Chicago became an important part of her creative life

Moving from England to Chicago introduced Naqvi to a city with a very different musical landscape. Chicago’s long history of jazz, blues, folk, and independent music gave her plenty to explore, but the smaller venues were what interested her most.

Rather than focusing only on large stages, she became comfortable performing in neighborhood jazz lounges, coffeehouses, private gatherings, and community events.

Those settings suit her style. They allow for a closer connection between performer and audience.

“In a smaller room, you can tell when people are really listening,” Naqvi says. “There’s nowhere to hide behind production. You have to be present, and I actually enjoy that.”

Her sets often combine jazz standards with folk-influenced material and original songwriting. She is particularly interested in songs about resilience, ordinary relationships, changing seasons of life, and the small routines that quietly shape people.

What inspires Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi’s songwriting?

Some of Naqvi’s creative interests happen far away from a microphone.

She enjoys walking through Chicago’s historic neighborhoods, studying architecture, taking street photographs, and spending time in independent coffee shops. She also reads widely, including classic British literature and contemporary fiction.

These interests all feed into her songwriting in different ways.

Photography, in particular, has encouraged her to pay closer attention to ordinary scenes.

“A photograph can be interesting because of one tiny detail in the corner,” she says. “Songwriting can work the same way. Sometimes the smallest observation gives you the whole story.”

Instead of beginning every song with a broad theme, she often starts with an image, a phrase, or an interaction that stays in her mind. From there, she develops the idea gradually.

Reading has also influenced her interest in character and perspective. She likes songs that reveal something slowly rather than explaining everything immediately.

Why youth music education matters to her

Naqvi’s interest in music also extends into community work. She volunteers with youth music education programmes in Chicago, helping with beginner songwriting workshops and vocal sessions.

For younger students, she tries to make creativity feel accessible.

A child does not need advanced musical training to write a few lines, create a melody, or experiment with their voice. Naqvi believes those early experiences can be valuable even if the student never decides to pursue music professionally.

“Children can be very creative before they start worrying about whether something is good enough,” she says. “I try not to take that freedom away from them.”

Her workshops often focus on simple exercises, such as writing about a familiar place, describing a memory, or creating lyrics from everyday observations.

The goal is not technical perfection. It is helping students understand that their own ideas are worth exploring.

Creativity beyond the stage

Away from music, Naqvi remains closely involved with Chicago’s local culture. She enjoys visiting independent music venues, supporting local artists, exploring different neighborhoods, and attending community events.

She also spends time around youth soccer and helps with coaching and team activities. Although music and soccer require very different skills, she sees similarities in the way people improve.

Both reward consistency. Both require listening. Both involve learning how to contribute without needing to be the centre of attention.

That mindset has shaped the way Naqvi approaches her own career.

She continues to perform, write, coach, volunteer, and explore the city around her without treating creativity as something limited to one part of life.

“I think inspiration becomes easier to find when you stay curious,” she says. “You don’t always need a dramatic experience. Sometimes you just need to pay closer attention to what is already around you.”

For Sundas “Sunny” Naqvi, that attention remains at the centre of the work. Music may be the form she knows best, but observation, community, and storytelling are what continue to give it meaning.