Email:neill@outloudculture.com
Socials: @neillfrazer
Born in Greenville, South Carolina, Sophia has always wanted to share her love of singing with the world. Sophia made her journey to Memphis, Tennessee from California at the age of 5 where she auditioned for her first show. After blowing the judges away with her performance of Adele’s “Rolling In The Deep” she began working with infamous vocal instructor, Bob Westbrook, former teacher to Justin Timberlake, Britney Spears Lance Bass, Chris Young, Lucy Hale, Olivia Holt, Peyton List and many more! Sophia took her singing career to the next level with her performance in 2013 at various events including the Delta Fair. By 2014, Sophia won in the national competition, IPOP, and in 2017 found herself in the main showcase at the Mike Beaty Model & Talent Expo in Dallas, TX. After her many accomplishments as a young singer, she launched her path to creating original music with the support of Platinum Record music producer Marc Williams of Indasoul Entertainment, and Sony/ATV music producer Christopher ‘C-Ray’ Roberts of OnKey Entertainment! Additionally, she has been mentored by 2022 Grammy-Award Winner Autumn Rowe (Best Album for ‘We Are’ with Jon Batiste) for the last 7 years, who has worked alongside Sophia homing in on her writing skills and sound.
Sophia’s most notable hits include Kiss and Tell (2022),Close to Me, I’m Good (2021), Not That into You (2020), Beside Me (2019), and Can’t Stop Thinking About You (2018). Now, she’s thrilled to announce her first bilingual song, “Cuidado” – out now
Sophia feels passionate about both her Latina and American heritage and is striving to incorporate both languages into her music. She also feels strongly about including her personal experiences in her music to connect with her audience. Her hit single, Beside Me, was written to encourage her fans to feel empowered and always express their individuality! Sophia is an avid supporter of the Thirst for Life project- an organization that builds wells in Africa for people who do not have access to clean water. In addition to the Thirst For Life project, Sophia loves to perform and has gone on to sing the national anthem for the Memphis Grizzlies and the Memphis Redbirds!
Hi Sophia, it’s a pleasure to have you here at OLC! Can you tell us about your musical journey from auditioning for your first show in Memphis to where you are now as a singer-songwriter?
It’s all been a huge journey for me, and I’m thankful for every moment from the start to now. I started putting my name out there after my vocal coach, Bob Westbrook, took me out to a competition in LA called Ipop, and I won first place in singing. From there, I had many callbacks, and one of the producers I still work with to this day, Cray, was there. I have now released many singles and worked with many people, and I can’t wait to see where the rest takes me.
Who was your biggest inspiration in wanting to be a singer songwriter?
Autumn Rowe inspired me to start writing and saw that potential in me. Also, Benny Blanco’s songwriting is a huge inspiration to me, and I look up to his writing a lot.
What inspired you to incorporate both English and Spanish into your music, and how do you think it enhances your artistic expression?
I have always wanted to share both sides of me and write in both Spanish and English. Seeing artists like Karol G and Camilla Cabello be able to do both really inspired me to be able to share and create a song in both English and Spanish.
Your single “Beside Me” is about empowerment and individuality. How do you strive to convey these themes through your music?
I loved creating beside myself, and I love the message. In my upcoming music, I want to continue to convey meaningful messages.
Could you share your experience working with notable vocal instructor Bob Westbrook and Grammy-Award Winner Autumn Rowe and how they’ve influenced your development as an artist?
They have both immensely influenced me and my music. Working with Autumn and Bob motivated me to do better and work harder. They essentially both felt and feel like family to me, and I know they want the best for me and my music.
How do you balance pursuing your music career while also being a freshman at Clemson University?
For me, a college education was important and an experience I couldn’t pass up. Although it isn’t easy, I am still pursuing both. I have released music here, and I started making TikToks here as well. I have done a cover with a friend who also sings here on the football team. One of our covers got reposted by Gary Levox on TikTok. Social media has helped me keep up with my music career while also balancing school.
“Kiss N Tell” was produced by Grammy-Award Winner Autumn Rowe. How did this collaboration come about, and what did you learn from working with such an accomplished producer?
Kiss N Tell was Cowritten by Autumn Rowe and me and produced by Cray Roberts. I love working with them both. Autumn and I have a great relationship, and together, we write songs very fast. The energy in the room is amazing when we work together.
What message do you hope listeners take away from your upcoming bilingual single “CUIDADO”?
I overall just want my listeners to enjoy it and love it as much as I do and just have fun and dance it’s a super up beat song and I hope everyone has fun with it.
You’ve performed the national anthem for sports teams like the Memphis Grizzlies and the Memphis Redbirds. How does performing for large audiences like that compare to your own music performances?
I love performing in front of any audience; it is something I truly enjoy. Performing in stadiums with such big crowds has motivated me, and I hope to one day get that many people to come to watch me and my music performances.
Can you share your creative process when writing and producing music, especially drawing from personal experiences?
For me, it all starts with a conversation and an idea. Then, from there, I start writing and humming the melody and verse and chorus ideas. Once I’ve done all that, I love to get involved with helping create the track and how I want the song to feel. Then we lay it down and start recording. Being in the studio is one of my favorite things when it comes to being an artist.
As an advocate for the Thirst for Life project, how do you use your platform to support causes you believe in, and why is it important for you to be involved in philanthropic efforts?
I love working with the Thirst For Life project and helping wherever I can, such as by raising awareness on social media and spreading the word. I have also started working with the Jed Foundation, and being philanthropic truly moves me.
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