Sofía Valdés is a twenty-year-old singer-songwriter ready to take on the music scene with her dreamy style and honest lyrics. Raised in Panama, but educated in both the US and UK, Sofía is able to encapsulate her unique perspective through music. With a long and diverse list of influences, Sofia has created an individual, eclectic sound that fans around the world can’t get enough of.
While growing up in Panama, Sofía Valdés discovered her love of music as a young child. She wasn’t super interested in school, but would happily stay up all night writing songs. Looking for a way to further develop these skills, Sofía applied to Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan, unbeknownst to her mother. Upon moving from Panama to Michigan, she underwent a huge adjustment of course, but both students and teachers helped her settle in: “It was a liberal arts school so everyone was very understanding and accepting of others’ cultures. My teacher, Courtney, was always looking out for me and I felt like I had made good friends. It was obviously hard in other ways, like moving countries and feeling comfortable in a language you are not so used to.” Despite this discomfort, the experience really helped Sofía expand her English vocabulary, and of course her songwriting skills.
After attending Interlochen, Sofia’s artistic pursuits led her to the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts. Although she felt like an outsider at first, Sofía eventually found an encouraging group of friends during her second year at the university. Not to mention, she caught the attention of a music manager, and ended up signing with Warner Records, a label headquartered in Los Angeles. Since signing with the label, she has released two psychedelic singles, “Little Did I Know” and “Handful of Water,” with an EP on the way.
SHEESH! was lucky enough to have a chat with Sofía Valdés to learn more about her budding career.
Did you always intend to pursue music as a career?
Since I was a little girl my dream was always to do music. I’ve always known. I’m really bad at doing absolutely everything, so it’s not like I had a choice.
What are your favorite genres? Who are your favorite musical artists?
I love motown, soul and Brazilian music. From soul and motown music, what has influenced me the most is the harmonies that they add and how much they make the song so special. And on Brazilian music, I love the chord changes and how magical bossa nova can be. Some artists I like include Bobby Womack, Curtis Mayfield and his band The Impressions, Jorge Ben Jor, João Gilberto. More current artists I love [are] Lily Allen, Joy Crookes, Holly Humberstone, Phoebe Bridgers, Billie Marten. I have tremendous respect for all these women and their songwriting.
What is your favorite memory involving music?
This happened very recently but it was at my boyfriend’s grandma’s small birthday party and Buffy Sainte-Marie was there and sang a few of her songs. It was so inspiring and beautiful. Seeing her play reminded me of how I thought about music when I was younger. These past few years I started seeing music as a judgmental thing when really music is about opening up to others and sharing a story. I sang that day, too, and I’m usually a very nervous singer and hate it but I felt like I wasn’t singing to look talented or a good musician. I was just telling a story.
Has social media been helpful in getting your songs out there?
It has been so helpful to have a platform where I can reach a certain number of people. Most of them are from Panama and the support I’ve gotten from my country has made me the happiest cat. I love that I’ve been able to have a place where I can talk to the people that listen to my music. I try to always respond to everyone.
What’s your favorite song that you’ve written?
For sure! It’s called “Lonely.” I was really vulnerable while writing it. I was about to drop out of college and go back to Panama to become a yoga teacher. I bought tickets to [go to] Thailand a few nights before because I really needed to go somewhere I didn’t know. This song happened right before getting on that plane. I didn’t see anything special of it until I showed the song to my friend Ellie and on our train to the airport she had the song on repeat.
Has anyone in particular helped you reach your goals?
My mom is a superhero. She did absolutely everything in her power for me to be able to leave Panama. So many of her friends and a lot of family were trying to help out in whatever way they could. It was really hard for me to leave Panama; economically we were in no place to have the luxury of me living in another country to be a singer… she moved heaven and earth for me to get out.
Can you tell us a bit about “Handful of Water,” the song you released last week?
This is one of my favorite songs I’ve written in a session. I remember writing it and taking the train back to Liverpool from London and crying because it was the first time I heard one of my songs being properly produced. It is a special one. “Handful of Water” is about denying feelings when you deep down know it’s too late for you to believe your own lie. I hope people like it and dance to it.
Make sure to check out both “Handful of Water” and ‘Little Did I Know,” and follow Sofía Valdés on Instagram.
