Sofia B

Having previously recorded a bold and moving rendition of Jesse J’s ‘Do It Like A Dude’ (premiered on Gigslutz) and recently released a dance remix of her song ‘Untameable’, international artist Sofia is back with a new single. Half Venezuelan and half Lebanese, Sofia uses her music as a platform for promoting social change and world peace.

New track, ‘Ice Cold Love,’ is a moving account of the end of a caustic relationship, and the search for happiness that follows. Filled with Sofia’s soft, smooth vocals and folky, lilting melodies, ‘Ice Cold Love’ is a charming, catchy offering that will lodge itself in your ears for days after listening. - Gigslutz

As one particularly insightful Saturday Night Live skit showed the world this year, there’s a special kind of devotion that comes with being a fan of Beyoncé. Viewing people’s reports of “Queen Bey” and Jay-Z‘s recent On the Run Tour over social media, one might get the impression that seeing Beyoncé live is some kind of religious experience. One might think, then, that taking on the task of covering this world-renowned artist to be a daunting task.

Fortunately, an especially talented songwriter has taken up the challenge. Sofia, a London-born musician now based in New York City, has taken on interpreting Beyoncé, performing a stripped-down version of “Partition” off of last year’s Beyoncé. A Berkelee College of Music grad, Sofia’s musical chops are not in question; based on her choices in covering “Partition”, neither is her ability to put inspired spins on the work of other artists.

Her stripped-down, acoustic, and Auto-Tune accented rendition of “Partition” adds a darker dimension to the sexually aggressive lyrical passages, and her yearning vocal in the chorus adds vulnerability to the song. - Pop Matters

riendly Little Ghosts was written about the Berklee graduate's experience of Crohn's disease, and she hopes the song and its video will raise awareness and help others suffering with the same illness.

With folk/acoustic sound described as "kd Lang meets John Meyer", Sofia has a lyrical sensibility and pureness of tone that will win your heart. Her first single - Mum, I Like a Girl - she wrote for her mother. "I wanted to help her understand how I felt," she says, "And because I also realise, regardless of your sexual orientation, telling your parents you love someone is a beautiful and terrifying thing we all go through."

Not only talented but gorgeous too, it's no surprise that Sofia's been a big hit with queer media, including Curve, SheWired and The Advocate, and now's your chance to fall in love with her too, as Sofia is touring the UK for the first time in January with Norwegian folk artist, Siv Jakobsen. - DIVA Magazine

I got the chance to interview up-and-coming singer-songwriter Sofia recently. If you don't know who she is, you're going to want to. Think kd lang meets John Mayer.

I will share the full interview next week, but I am very excited to share something exclusive with you first. Sofia is letting ButchOnTap and HuffPost launch the worldwide premiere of her new single and video, "Friendly Little Ghost." You can be the first to see it here!

This song is very important to Sofia because it came out of her battle with Crohn's disease. So here is a snippet from our interview, about Crohn's:

Please explain your struggles with Crohn's.

I was at Berklee and had to withdraw from the semester because I started getting fevers every day. I was hospitalized a bunch of times in a couple of months. Three blood clots were found in my spleen because my immune system was so compromised, so I had to inject myself with blood thinners for about three months. Things escalated so much that I started to bleed internally and had to have like seven bags of blood in a week. I went back to school the next semester and somehow managed to graduate on time. It meant so much to me to be there at Berklee. I had a scholarship and was so grateful to be there, so I kept going even though it got really tough sometimes.

It was after I got sick when I wrote "Mum I Like a Girl." I came in second in the "Songs for Social Change" competition, and it was the first time in my life I had ever won an award for a song I'd written. So in a sense it felt like I was overcoming my health battle with music.

I inject myself every two weeks with an immune suppressant called Humira. It saved my life. Crohn's can be a really scary process; it's almost like having cancer, but it's not cancer. They use similar terminology: "in remission," "no appetite," "nausea." And I have a high risk of cancer in the future. It's really a crazy disease to have. I try to speak to my best friend Avery, who struggles worse than me, every day, and her experiences really gives me a lot of strength. It is hard to want to do anything and stay positive, but we do because we know that there are kids as young as 8 who get this. That's why it's important that we make it more accessible to talk about stomach problems and make it more comfortable to talk about food issues, including irritable bowel diseases. We would help a lot of people to feel more comfortable with the fact that there is nothing wrong with you. You just have a disease!

If you happen to have Crohn's like Sofia or just want to learn more about this disease, here are two resources: Crohn's and Colitis UK and Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America.

It is very butch to take one's personal and painful struggles and turn them into art. Be butch. - Huffington Post

Welcome back to Fashion Rocks, a series that celebrates dapper musicians across the globe. This week we’re featuring Sofia, an international singer-songwriter based out of London. A graduate of the Berklee College of Music, Sofia has has been featured on a variety of LGBT platforms such as Curve Magazine and SheWired, as well as other more mainstream sites like The Huffington Post, For Folk’s Sake, Pop Matters and more. Sofia’s latest single, “Ice Cold Love,” will be released May 18th. The song is part of her upcoming record entitled “In The City,” which she wrote while living in NYC after a truly awful break up. To celebrate the launch of her new single, we sat down with Sofia to talk about style, inspiration, and what her fans can expect next.

dapperQ: Tell us about yourself.

Sofia: I grew up mostly in London, but I actually lived in Venezuela until I was five, because my mum is actually from there! We decided after things started to get a bit tense and dangerous to move here (London), so I’ve always been quite grateful to have had the opportunity to grow up in such a creative and diverse city. My Dad is from Lebanon, so my brother and I spent a lot of our summers here as well.

dapperQ: When did you start performing – and what or who were your early passions and influences?

Sofia: My dad’s side of the family is quite musical; he plays guitar and will actually be featured on the next record, which was recorded in Beirut. I always looked up to him and sort of followed in his musical footsteps and picked up violin at five and then guitar at 13, because he also plays both instruments. I went to a small all girls’ school in London, which at times did get difficult because I was gay. So, I ended up focusing completely on music and was in choir, orchestra, string quartets and just generally anything musical I could get my hands on!

dapperQ: How has your work evolved?

Sofia: I think that because I’m so lyrically motivated, my work evolves as a result of every new experience that I have in life. I always start writing on guitar, which hasn’t changed. But, I think I’m transitioning into a new phase musically, as I’ve started testing out ideas on electric guitar, because I used to only write on acoustic.

dapperQ: How would you describe your current musical style?

Sofia: The next record has a really relaxed and organic vibe paired with some really personal content. I grew up listening to Clapton, Bryan Adams and Elvis in my house, so I draw a lot of influence from them when I write.

dapperQ: Where are you based out of? Do you feel that your city/region influences your style? If so, how?

Sofia: I just moved back to London after spending some time in Boston/NYC studying and working. My style is very much influenced from what I see others wearing; urban fashion is sort of an unspoken passion of mine. Given that my parents are Venezuelan/Lebanese, I can’t deny that I draw influences from those cultures as well, because I feel most confident and proud when I’m dressed like myself.

dapperQ: What other artists are you listening to right now?

Sofia: The list really is endless, because I’m always discovering new things. Off the top of my head, I’m really into ‘Wet,’ which Kandylion actually showed me when I was still in NYC. Other artists that I’ve recently been really inspired by are Hozier, Caitlinn Rose, Lily and Madeleine and Jake Bugg.

dapperQ: Music and fashion have always been intertwined. Some of the biggest style icons have come from the music industry, from Gaga, Bowie, Madonna and Beyonce to Andre 3000, Joan Jett, Pharrell, and the Beatles. On the runway, the perfect song has the power to convey the aesthetic of a designer’s work. Alternatively, the perfect outfit or personal style has the power to convey the aesthetic of a musician’s work. How would you describe your personal style when it comes to fashion? Would you say it is influenced by your music? If so, how?

Sofia: To be honest, my style stems from many different influences. I’m inspired by urban, street, classic and preppy styles. It’s impossible to deny how strong the ‘Tomboy’ aesthetic is widely embraced in the UK, especially when one considers the fact that the recent election here resulted in record numbers of female Members of Parliament. It’s fun for artists to choose an outfit to associate with a song, but we also are trying to showcase authenticity. Ultimately, clothes are for insulation, it’s only recently that we are truly beginning to embrace the beauty and importance of females inspired by typically masculine forms of expression and career paths.

dapperQ: Has your clothing style evolved over the years?

Sofia: Growing up, I used to dress in a more feminine way. I wore dresses, skirts and the lot. Although, I often wonder if perhaps my schooling had anything to do with how long it took me to fully embrace my ‘Tomboy’ style, because we were required to wear dresses and skirts, and no trousers until we were 16. I started at my school at eight, so, I was there for quite a while, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. Ultimately, it shouldn’t and doesn’t matter what you’re wearing; it’s about being comfortable. The more comfortable in my skin I became, the more I dared to explore different styles.

dapperQ: Who are some of your fashion icons?

Sofia: Audrey Hepburn, Michael Jackson, and Rain Dove.

dapperQ: What is the one article of clothing you cannot live without?

Sofia: My loafers.

dapperQ: What can we expect next from you?

Sofia: My first single off the next record ‘In The City’ is out on May 18th. The song is called ‘Ice Cold Love’ and we shot the video in my area in London with my best friend for many years, who kindly agreed to do a bit of acting! - Dapper Q

How could anyone break dreamy UK singer Sofia’s heart?

In the video for her new single, “The Perfect Storm,” the now NYC transplant alternative folk singer lays out delicate and sentimental melodies that tell the story of a relationship past and the heartache that comes with lost love. The video debuted on Curve Magazine last week and was met with rave reviews. - Outsmart Magazine

UK-born New Yorker Sofia grew up in an artistic hothouse of a home, daughter to a Venezualan jewellery-designer mother and a Lebanese songwriter father. Her own songwriting kicked off when she was 13.

‘Mum, I Think I Like a Girl’ is a sweet, simple coming out story with a pretty video and a prettier tune that encapsulates, with both hope and shame, the complexities that falling in love still has for gay women and men, and we like it very much. - For Folk's Sake

I love it when I get emails from artists I wouldnt think I'll get music from…anyways so I took a listen and I actually enjoyed the whole video and song, great lyrics and melody... if your into your indie, singer songwriting music you will love this artist by the Stage name of Sofia who is a recent Berklee graduate & currently living in NYC but originally from London (how cool!) so this is Sofia’s first official Music video and we get to enjoy her beautiful song. - LGBT Underground

One bedroom with a sofa & a bed. Four acts…and an audience of sixty! The unpretentious intimacy of Sofar Sounds strikes again! While the incredible buzz & volume of conversation could rival some bars you know there will be an uninterrupted hush from the audience when any bands takes to the reserved area of carpet known as ‘the stage’. The panda donations hat & the honesty jug for beer just restates the respect & FUN involved in a Sofar gig.

The first act to be introduced last night was The Duke Of Norfolk, but he should be known as The Earl Of Americana. He held his acoustic guitar for the evening with pride as he aimed it at the audience (I did wonder if there was a machine gun hidden inside). What came next was a series of hammer-ons & pull-offs, picked to perfection contrasting with smooth folky vocals singing songs about travelling, wondering & returning home. Accompanying this were a trombone, vocal harmonies, a floor tom & some well rattled tamborine zils. This kind of foot stomping music had the audience clapping along in no time & being shoulder to shoulder in a bedroom only added to the excitement.

Next up was solo singer-songwriter, Sofia. The expressiveness & honesty of Sofia’s material very much draws from personal experience. This was her first time in Scotland & was part of a tour. With her songs ranging from the deeply poignant to the more uplifting Sofia has quite a subdued performing presence. Having said that she finished her set with a cover of Jessie J’s ‘Do It Like A Dude’. She hopes her poignant songs of heartbreak & coming out will help others. In putting her complex feelings so simply she has managed to do what many songwriters strive for but is sometimes a very hard thing to do. As the crowd showed their appreciation, which Sophia enjoyed, she commented on how great the energy was from the Sofar crowd.

Next the communal guitar for the evening passed to Norwegian singer-songwriter Siv Jakobsen who won the audience’s affections by saying how warm Scotland was in the winter compared to New York! Her classic folk intentions were warmly introduced with a cover of ‘Jolene’. With a fluttering quality to her voice reminiscent of the sounds of Joan Baez & Joni Mitchell her own material confronts heartache in the backdrop of a New York winter. After several ballads & humourous anecdotes (only while she wasn’t tuning!) Siv took some great photos of the crowd & at the suggestion of one of the audience took an incredible selfie of her & the room. Please check out both her & the photo on her Facebook page

The final ‘band’ was a new direction for Sofar Sounds, introducing more tradition & classical music to bedroom concerts with three violins & a cello making up The Maxwell String Quartet! It was also a new venture for the quartet who are used to playing in halls, to dare I say a slightly older audience. They obviously enjoyed getting up close & personal! Their first piece was an Icelandic composition called ‘Happiness’. Starting with dark downward slides & ending with an eruption of applause what happened in between was an absorbing presence & only punctuated with appreciative nods & smiles amongst the quartet. As well as Scottish jigs & reels there was an Estonian choral piece arranged for stringed instruments called ‘Summa’ composed by Avro Pärt. The eruptions of applause only grew as the quartet moved into classic 20th century Russian pieces & ended the night ended on such a high that the crowd demanded an encore with chants of “One more song! One more song!” which shows that music defies boundaries. The “chunky” frantic music they chose gained a few laughs as the facial expressions matched a dazzlingly fast, angry sounding repetitive section that blew the crowd in the room away. - 7 Ahead

With a flair for the creative and narrative, Sofia is a woman who knows where she wants to take herself as an artist. Despite always evolving, she has brought together a blend of genres in her music that she hopes the world will hear.

Female First got the opportunity to put some questions to Sofia about what's ahead, her passion for music, who she'd love to collaborate with in the future and much more in a new and exclusive interview. Read on to find out what she had to say.

For those who may be new to your music, how best would you describe your sound

I always dread this question, because I feel like I'm always growing and changing, but I would say that the essence and inspiration of my music is something like blues inspired vintage pop. I write all my songs on guitar but when I work with a producer, I try not to limit myself as far as production and the endless possibilities there are.

What challenges have you faced in the music industry so far?

I spent about 5 years in studying and working in Boston and NYC and now back in London, my hometown, I've come to realise how much the female and male condition, although both human, are treated differently. There have been many moments when I've wondered if I'd even be a performer, if I had in fact been born male. Everyone who is a part of the music industry, loves music for one reason or another, I love music because it's the only thing that has always been there for me and has helped me be proud of who I am.

How difficult would you say this career path is in terms of making a name for yourself?

When you go into this career path, you go in willingly. You go in knowing the risks and the difficulty of it all, but you do it because you cannot imagine doing anything else. When it gets hard and I feel lost, I realise that it's not about making a name for yourself, it's about living a life that you're proud of. My middle name is Sofia, it means 'wisdom,' and I don't consider myself to be the wisest person on the planet, but it's definitely a great reminder to live wisely.

How important is it for you to have creative control over the work you produce?

Creative control is the only thing I know really. The work I produce is very private and personal to me, so when I decide to work with someone whether it's a producer or another songwriter on a collaboration, I like to work from an honest and authentic place. If I don't feel in control, the quality of the project is affected.

Where do you draw influence and inspiration from for your work?

My biggest influences and inspirations in my life are my family and friends. It's actual life events that motivate me to write. It's not always easy to write about yourself, so sometimes I write songs for my friends when I feel there is something I just can't say with words.

If you could collaborate with anybody going forward, who would you choose and why?

I think it would be really interesting to work with Paul McCartney. I got to go to Liverpool in January on tour with Norwegian artist, Siv Jakobsen. The city was incredibly beautiful and we got to go to The Beatles museum and there were moments when I really got goosebumps. One of my favourite songs of all time is Blackbird, I grew up singing it with my Dad.

Tell us a random, funny fact about you that not many people know.

I really want to own a pet duck one day, I'm not sure why, but I do.

Do you have definitive aims or goals for your career?

My aim and goal for the next two years is to take a short break from recording and writing, and focus on performing. I actually have pretty bad stage fright, so I tend to avoid performing as much as I can, but I've decided to face the demon and finally get back out there again.

Where do you hope to be this time next year?

This time next year, I hope to be performing at a festival somewhere sunny. But then again, who knows maybe I'll lock myself in a room somewhere and have to start writing again…

What should we expect from you in the coming weeks and months?

The music video for the first single 'Ice Cold Love,' off the next record is out May 18th. The album is called 'In The City' and I wrote it while I was living in New York for a year after a really tough breakup (everyone says that...) and ridiculously cold winter. I recorded the songs in Beirut and had my dad play a lot of the lead guitar parts, which was a pretty awesome and therapeutic experience. I'm nervous but excited to share it, but I guess it's the most personal work that people relate to most. - Female First

Q. How did you get into making music?

I started playing violin when I was 5, I’ve done all my grades, but didn’t start writing songs until I was about 13 or 14. My dad plays electric guitar and he’s always been a big inspiration. I would write songs with him in mind, as if he was improvising over them, so that was a template to write songs around. My dad is actually playing all the electric guitar on the new record!


Q. What inspired you to get started?

Firstly, i’m half Venezuelan and half Lebanese, both have great musical heritage, but I never really fit in to the categories of either of those. I played violin but I knew I was never going to be a virtuoso. My inspiration is probably being able to write songs. Not everybody can do it, and it was difficult being gay at an all girls school, which is why I started writing songs, to have something else to focus on. In high school I did everything to do with music. Choir, chamber choir, orchestra, string quartet, all of it!


Q. What are you doing at the moment?

I just finished with the record, so we’re going to do single releases now with the help of ‘A Badge of Friendship.’ The second single is called Soldiers. It’s about a really good friend of mine, we both have Crohn’s disease and we met in the States while I was living there. We have a lot in common and so decided to go to New Orleans, to try and forget about being sick, and that’s how the song came about. Just our whole experience there and kind of being soldiers, battling against Crohn’s disease.


Q. Biggest difficulty you have faced within your music career?

I think that I realised I’ve got where I am because I’m a girl, but I also have come to realise the issues that come about because I am a girl.

The best thing about being a female musician, is the support you get from other female musicians. I do believe that the female music community is getting stronger and louder, and promoting great things, and i’m quite excited about it!


Q. How much of a difference does social media make in relation to reaching your fans?

Definitely a positive, technology in general has made the life of musicians a lot easier. You can keep in touch, let people know what’s going on instantly. Before it took so much longer to get music out to the people. Our attention spans have gotten shorter and shorter so we have to keep up and provide people with enough music, to satisfy their musical cravings.


Q. What are your feelings towards the change in the music industry regarding streaming and physical sales?

I love Spotify, I think it’s a brilliant. It kind of sucks that the artist doesn’t get that many royalties, but when has it been that you don’t get paid off touring? That’s how music works, you have to work for your money. I think the Tidal situation, there are a few kinks about it but I still think it’s cool, it’s a new age for the music industry. Social media is a small part of it now, if you consider streaming and all the other online music services.

Even vinyl is making a comeback. I think it’s great that some artists are giving them out as prize giveaways. Maybe some people don’t play it on a record player and use it for decoration, but it could be inspiration for some to go out and buy a record player, who knows?!

Q. The Untamable (Kandylion Remix) – How did it come about?

It was a bold move, because my music is so different to that song. My friend from Berkley, Carol and I have a lot in common, and she worked with the producer that I did my last record with, Daniel Cantor at Notable Productions, which is why I felt she understood the direction I was looking to go in. I feel that if I was an R&B singer, I would mess around with my vocals a lot more, because I like to produce and I am quite open minded, but as far as my true authentic sound, it always starts on guitar. It was cool to get her interpretation and see what my voice sounds like as a boy.

It’s the biggest honour when someone wants to cover your song, or remix your song or something like that you know? Like, cool, I’d love to hear how you interpret how I felt when I was writing that song.


Q. What is your ultimate achievement?

It would be really cool to be able to go to a music awards ceremony and be in the same room as all the people I look up to. I would love to play in some festivals too. I have a lot of stage fright, so my biggest goal would be to get over stage fright and performing anxiety. Because I don’t have a band, I tend to just play me and my guitar, that’s kind of how it’s always been. And so after this record I’m going to take a break from releasing music, so I can focus on performing and listening to as much music as possible so I can grow as a writer.


Q. From the artists point of view, what are the most important aspects to note before entering a licensing agreement?

I think the most important thing to note is that you should never sign an exclusive contract, because you never want to be tied down. I think people are under the impression that when you’re a musician you have to rely on one person, whether it’s a publishing company or a record label, sometimes even both. You can work with as many people as you like in your career, that’s what businessmen and lawyers do, they have all sorts of clients. It’s important for artists to know what they’re getting into, read your books. I read a great book called 'All You Need To Know About The Music Business’ by Donald Passman, which is basically like paying a minuscule percentage of what an Entertainment lawyer would cost. As far as publishing goes, you have to be knowledgeable when it comes to sync licensing agreements, read up, make sure you trust the company and make sure they have the right kind of clients that you think would fit your sound/branding.


Q. Finally, what 3 words do you associate with being a musician?

What three words do I associate with being a musician? Oh god… Spontaneous, committed and passionate! - Amurco

Sofia B has a whirlwind life.

Continually travelling and creating, the songwriter struggled to fit all this into her music. So, she simply swallowed all of it.

New EP 'In The City' features six songs, 12 months and two cities as the musician continues to broaden her wings. Out on August 21st, Clash is able to tease the release with something special.

'King' became Years & Years' calling card, a chirruping piece of synth pop with a melody which was both infectious and engaging.

Re-working the track with producer Kandylion, Sofia B finds something new, something dark, something of herself in 'King'. - Clash Music

London based singer-songwriter Sofia performs an intimate live cover of Jessie J's hit debut single 'Do It Like A Dude', nearly a year since the March 2014 release of her debut EP 'Once Upon A Time'.

Against a glorious backdrop of sprawling Lebanese mountains, Sofia rivals Jessie J with her soft yet strong vocals as she performs a minimalist acoustic cover of the track, accompanied by an electric guitarist. It's certainly a large step away from the pop hook-laden smash that was the original; a catchy Platinum certified epic that was released off the back of Jessie J's much-admired debut album 'Who You Are'. There's a strength of identity and character to the song that makes it perfectly suited to half Venezuelan and half Lebanese Sofia, who proudly identifies as gay despite the fact that it is illegal to practise homosexuality in Lebanon.

Inspiring fans with her strength and pride, Sofia hit the road this month, performing a string of shows throughout the UK which will continue towards the end of January 2015. She is joined by pal Siv Jakobsen, with whom she attended Berklee College of Music in Boston. Sofia released her debut EP 'Once Upon A Time' last year, in a bid to tell of her struggles in her journey to adulthood. - Contact Music

Siv Jakobsen and Sofia are joining forces and heading over to the UK in January 2015 for a nationwide tour. The pair met in a lyric writing class whilst studying at Berklee College of Music in Boston. They became fast friends.

Here Sofia’s video for ‘Friendly Little Ghost’, a strong track off her debut EP, ‘Once Upon A Time’ (released in March 2014), which was recorded after a long battle with Crohn’s disease in her third year at college.

Hello Siv and Sofia how are you both?

Sofia & Siv: Dandy thanks!

Great! For our readers who haven’t heard your music before, how would you describe your sound?

Sofia: I would say I’m a blues/rock inspired folk singer.

Siv: I’d say it’s mine is dark and ethereal nordic folk. (if you can imagine both at the same time, haha) Some say it sounds like a mix of Laura Marling and Ane Brun.

Who are your biggest influences?

Sofia: My biggest influence musically, would probably be my Dad. He is a huge Eric Clapton fan, and I told him recently whilst having him record parts for my next album, that when I write songs I imagine my Dad improvising epic guitar leads over the songs! Needless to say I’m also a huge Eric Clapton fan, me and my Dad also used to listen to some Bryan Adams in the car, who also influenced me a lot.

As I grew older, I discovered Tegan and Sara, John Mayer and The Weepies, which all incredible musicians and they’re definitely my go to people!

Siv: I’m a die-hard Ane Brun fan. She’s absolutely brilliant – I just can’t get enough of her music, and her songs and arrangements have been foundational in inspiring my sound. I’m also a big fan of Laura Marling, and the way we’ve recorded my EP (which comes out in the spring), was largely inspired by the quality of “A Creature I don’t Know” and “Once I was An Eagle.” Other big influences are Rachel Sermanni, Lucy Rose, Daughter, Liza Anne and Moddi.

How did your joint tour come about?

Sofia: We were both living in NYC after graduating from Berklee College Of music before we both decided to head back to our hometowns. After a lot of talk and preparation we decided to start going ahead with plans to do a UK Tour and we are just beyond excited at this point. For me it will be the first time touring ever, (Siv is far more professional than me!) let alone in the UK!

Siv: “Blushing” – Sofia is far too kind. I just love touring so much, so I’ve done a few DIY tours over the last few years. I’m so stoked for this one though – as you can probably tell from my influences, I LOVE british music. There must be something in the water over there.

Siv, you have just released a cover of Joni Mitchell’s ‘River’ and will be releasing an official single in January. Why did you choose to cover Joni Mitchell?

Siv: I love creating covers that aren’t just copies of the original, and I was playing around on my guitar one night, and it sort of just came out. It was one of those magical moments where it just happens, effortlessly. As for the song, it’s such a brilliant piece, and I think it fits particularly well around Christmas, because of the opening lines. It’s a mellow christmas song, and it reminds me that not everyone is jolly and happy for the holidays. I thought it would be a good opposite to all the jolly covers out there. I did feel pretty self-conscious about it though – I mean, it’s Joni Mitchell, she’s the queen of songwriting. I hope I did it justice.

Sofia, you will be releasing your album in 2015 what can fans expect from a full length release?

Sofia: I’ll be releasing a 6 song album, 2 more songs than my last. I wrote all the songs whilst living in NYC and just about the general life experiences I went through. I can definitely say these are the most personal and honest songs I’ve ever written and although sometimes they’re hard to sing, I’m really proud to have gotten them this far.

How do you both go about creating your music? Is there a specific process you adhere to? Who or what are your inspirations while writing music?

Sofia: Usually I start with lyrics, which sometime can take me from 5 minutes to an hour, it all depends on the topic! Then I start to improvise a melody whilst playing chords to fit what I’m singing. I tend to imagine I’m a different artist singing/playing to help me develop the song.

Siv: Hmm. It really varies for me, but lately it’s been a lot of “stream of consciousness” – I’ll pick up my guitar and play a progression over and over while improvising over it with words and melodic ideas. Strangely, the words that come out often make a lot of sense, and they tend to be very personal and honest. It’s like journaling through your sub-conscience – I often end up singing things I had no idea I was feeling. It’s pretty incredible. I also write a lot of lyrics without any musical ideas attached to them, and write music to it afterwards.

If there was one band or artist that you could support who would it be?

Sofia: John Mayer!
Siv: Ane Brun.

What can fans expect from your respective live performances?

Sofia: I think you can expect honest and emotive performances from both of us. The fact that after all these years of knowing each other os a real honour, we will be able to be support each other through the tour and also be understanding of the journey we have been through to get to this point in our lives.

Siv: Can’t really say it better than Sofia. Honest and emotive performances. It’s just us and our guitars. Very simple and naked in a way. (Although not literally, sorry.)

What are your plans next for 2015 and beyond?

Sofia: I’m aiming to do an album release show in Beirut where I recorded with Raed El Khazen, as well as a show here in London. I’m also looking at doing a European Tour but will have to wait how 2015 carves itself out!

Siv: After the tour and the single/video release in January, I’ll be prepping for my EP-release, which is set for April or May, along with a few more single and video releases. I’ve also got some EU-touring in the works, although nothing is set in stone yet, so I can’t really announce anything. Hoping to tour a lot, perhaps even go back to the states in the fall for some shows. And writing lots of new songs for a full length album, that I hope to record at the end of 2015.

By Max Patton ©FAMEMAGAZINE.co.uk

Siv Jakobsen and Sofia’s UK shows for the following dates:
13th January – Malt Cafe – Nottingham
14th January – Hootananny – London
15th January – Big Comfy Bookshop – Coventry
18th January – Trove Cafe – Manchester
19th January – Gaslight Club – Leeds
21st January – The Zanzibar Club – Liverpool
22nd January – The Musician – Leicester
23rd January – ORT Cafe – Birmingham
24th January – Marwood – Brighton
28th January – Troubadour – London - FAME Magazine

Half Venezuelan and half Lebanese, London based artist Sofia lays her heart on the line with new single Ice Cold Love, an airily beautiful tune that spins a tale of empowerment from the ending of a cold hearted relationship. She has been justly compared to the likes of KD Lang and Tegan & Sara, with a much anticipated debut album In The City due out later this year. Here she shares more of her inspiration…

‘I wanted the video for Ice Cold Love to show the disintegration of a relationship in a way that represents both sides equally. I wanted to show the tension and how distant two people can become, when things fall apart. That’s why Tim Glaesener, (my videographer who is actually from Germany!) suggested we told the story by having two screens representing me and my ‘significant other‘ in the video in the final moments of a relationship. Two people who once might have had all the heat at the beginning, can also grow apart. We tend to forget about the consequences and get carried away by the heat and the passion.

I’ve always been inspired by the people around me, particularly the people I love. When I feel that someone I care is going through a hard time or I feel that I can’t express myself to them properly in words, writing a song is usually the outcome. I’ve often been inspired by books I’ve read or movies, because sometimes they greatest perspective you can get on your life is putting yourself in other peoples shoes.

My songs usually always start with a title and then I’ll start to mess around with chords and a melody. Sometimes, I’ll just start randomly writing lyrics and I figure out the title as I go. It’s good to be flexible when you’re writing, so I try not to impose too many rules on myself and if I feel like writing something completely out of character genre wise, it kind of gives me a breath of fresh air.

When it comes the time to start recording, I usually make demos before I hand any songs over the producer. It’s important to me that whoever I work with as a producer, understand the original intention of the song before they begin to consider production ideas. For me figuring out harmonies in all my songs is really important to me, I sort of see it as my signature thing. I grew up singing in choirs, so I’m really inspired by vocal harmonies. Once the producer has an idea of what I’m trying to do we begin to sculpt out how we think the song should build.’

Ice Cold Love is out now on Let’s Play Records. - Amelia's Magazine

Sofia has been suggested as recommended listening for fans of both Tegan & Sara and Sara Watkins. With her single Ice Cold Love taking an acoustic guitar melody as its foundation, the comparison is favourable at the track’s outset. Sofia also shares Tegan & Sara’s irresistible knack for a pop melody and Sara Watkins’ stoicism. Here though the similarity fades, and for the better of the song.

Instead of taking an electro-pop tinge or cutesy, chamber country shade, Ice Cold Love is true to its name by adopting a chilly indie-folk charm. It’s befitting of its lyrical topic too, as Sofia informs the track’s subject that she’s over the heartache they caused her and that their love is both as welcome and distant as winter.

Ice Cold Love is as pleasant as a musical ‘fuck you’ can be, with melodies that are too certain to be downtrodden and a writer who’s too sober to see her dismay as anything more than catharsis. It’s this innate pleasantness, though, that’s both the song’s strength and weakness; while it’s endearing that heartache can absorbed with such balance, you do wonder if a little more frailty would draw you closer to Sofia.

This doesn’t detract from the song’s instant accessibility and finely honed songwriting, meaning that those who prefer to replace the sound of stilettos on your jugular with a pulse-tapping melody, will find much to enjoy in Ice Cold Love. - Songwriting Magazine

“Ice Cold Love,” the latest single from Sofia, covers the universal theme of break ups. We’ve all been there. Some of us handle it with more dignity than others. Some of us resort to wine. All the wine.

Sofia has handled hers—hypothetical or not—with aplomb, penning a surprisingly lifting track that puts her relationship in perspective, viewed through the lens of hindsight. She has acknowledged that she’s better off without her significant other, and moved on to better things.

An honest and heartfelt song about an experience all of us can relate to, musically the track is more Paul Simon than Taylor Swift, but with a sense of empowerment conveyed by Sofia’s distinctive voice backed by a pleasant, uncomplicated guitar. It’s probably the most level headed break up song we’ve had the pleasure of hearing, and it’s further improved by the video that accompanies it, showing the couple in question going about their lives at the point of separation. We’re looking forward to seeing what else Sofia has up her sleeve for 2015. - The Vinyl District

Ice Cold Love is a follow up single to the powerful Friendly Little Ghost released last year. This time Sofia has brought us a song that demonstrates the power of walking away from a cold and caustic relationship.

With her signature vocals, Sofia has been compared to Kathleen Adams and Tegan and Sara and it’s easy to hear why. There is warmth to Sofia’s voice and her flair for the narrative mean she able to tell stories that draw you in and have you invested in the outcome.

There is a strong hook and playful guitar in Ice Cold Love and Sofia manages to croon through the melody making the listener wonder not only where it all went wrong in this relationship, but questioning just what broke her heart for her to declare she now “know[s] what cold hearts can do”. By the end you feel Sofia has shed the ice off her shoulders and stepped out into the sun. - Curve Magazine

Kooky folksy female singers are always something that I’m interested in and Sofia is exactly that. Her new single Ice Cold Love is a chilled affair that is perfect for kicking back to this summer.

The half Venezuelan, half Lebanese singer based in London, has been writing songs about her varied background and life since she was 13. Her first EP Once Upon A Time was released last year and she has appeared in The Huffington Post and For Folk’s Sake. She is also popular on the LGBT scene with features in Curve Magazine and Gay Times. This year she embarked on her first UK tour and is now recording her first full-length album called In The City.

Sofia has a pure distinctive voice and there is an endearing innocence to Ice Cold Love. The bouncing folk beat combined with the bluesy guitar spurts fit the song which is both sad but hopeful. It’s about walking away from a negative relationship and finding what you really want. Simplistic and pared back, the instruments really yield to the storytelling of the lyrics.

The beginning of the second verse begins “Tried my hardest to hold on to you but you threw me away like an old pair of shoes”, which sums up the heart of the story. However, it’s ultimately about letting love go for better things. After all, nobody wants ice cold love!

Sofia considers herself an advocate for social change and world peace and Ice Cold Love fits that attitude. It’s peaceful and easy-going, gently washing over your ears. - Show Me Something Different

If you’re not familiar with singer/songwriter, you’re going to want to be after this! The UK-born Berklee College of Music grad released her first EP Once Upon a Time this March, and there’s a super-sweet video to go along with the single “Mum, I Think I Like a Girl.”

Regarding the song in which a young woman quiety comes out Sofia says, “I wrote the song for my Mum because I wanted to help her understand how I felt and because I also realized, regardless of your sexual orientation, telling your parent you love someone is a beautiful and terrifying thing we all go through.” - SheWired

Sophia Carter catches up with Sofia Music and talks break ups, coming out anthems, music, tours and Norweigan songstresses.

London-based singer-songwriter Sofia Music, has the hit the gig circuit in a big way. She has been on a UK tour, rounding off in London on the 28 January, with her close friend and fellow musician Siv Jakobsen.

Both Sofia and Siv attended the Berklee College of Music in Boston, and since then have come a long way. Sofia has been featured in Curve Magazine and Shewired, to name a few, and is getting more fans along the way with her honest and thoughtful music.

I was fortunate to have met these two incredible musicians before they performed in Birmingham’s Ort Cafe, and got a few words from Sofia about what’s next.

Why did you choose to start a career in music? How did you get where you are today?

I’ve always been surrounded by music. My father is an incredible electric guitar player, his younger brother is also an absolutely brilliant flautist. I started writing songs when I was 13. It sort of became an addiction for me – I couldn’t live without it.

So I applied and got into the Berklee College of Music in Boston. It was the most amazing experience! I look back to those days and realise just how lucky I was to have been in such a creative environment.

What challenges have you face, and how did you overcome them?

I think the biggest obstacle in my life, was when I was diagnosed with Crohn’s disease in my third year of college. I had to pull out of school for a whole semester because I was hospitalised six times.

My immune system became so compromised I ended up with three blood clots in my spleen – which isn’t fun.

I’m much better now. Technically I’m in remission, and inject myself once every two weeks with an immune suppressant.

At the risk of sounding cheesy, music really got me through all of it – not to mention my parents. They were incredibly supportive.

Which song are you most proud of?

I’m not sure but, I suppose ‘Mum, I Like A Girl’, just because so many people have reached out to me and said how much it has helped them. That is all I want to do: help others and let them know they are not alone.

When you write and perform, who are you doing it for?

Honestly, it changes all the time. I’m so inspired by so many people, that every song and performance has a different muse.

Now you’re currently on tour, how’s that been going? What’s next after the tour?

I’m currently on tour with Norwegian folk songstress, Siv Jakobsen. She’s an absolute gem, and I think she’s the Norwegian Laura Marling. I’m actually still quite shocked she wanted to tour with me!

In terms of after the tour, I just finished recording my next EP in Beirut, Lebanon. My dad lives and works there. He’s playing electric guitar on the EP, which was a surreal experience.

I’m hoping to release my EP around April or May. The first single is called, ‘Ice Cold Love’, which I wrote when I was living in New York City for a year – the winter was brutal, and I was going through a tough breakup.

What gets you up in the morning?

That’s a great question! I don’t know – every day is a new day of endless possibilities. I think that my answer would have to be that I wake up to discover the possibilities of a new day, whether it’s making a new friend, a new song to obsess over, or even a new restaurant.

What would you do if you couldn’t be a musician?

When I was a little kid I used to say I wanted to go to Harvard to study Law. Clearly my path has turned out quite differently, although I did end up in Boston after all.

Tell me about ‘Mum, I Like A Girl,’ why did you write it?

I wrote this song, as a sort of attempt at writing a ‘coming out’ anthem. I wrote it whilst I was at Berklee, and I was taking songs for social change class. I ended up submitting it pretty last minute to the ‘Songs for Social Change Competition’ and came second, which was awesome!

How was your coming out experience?

My coming out isn’t really a story I like to talk about – not because it was exceptionally bad or anything, but it’s just really personal to me and my family. All I can say is that my family has been incredibly supportive, and I wouldn’t be anything without them.

I feel so lucky to have such a stable and solid support system, because, I know how many other members of the LGBT community have suffered as a result of coming out.

As a lesbian artist, have you had any negative responses?

I’ve definitely has some negative experiences being gay in the music industry and elsewhere. I try not to let it get me down, or even give people any attention when they project negativity on me. I’m all about keeping calm and carrying on!

If you had to give just one message to the LGBT community, what would it be?

Never give up and make a commitment to being the best person you can be. Just because you’re gay, doesn’t mean you’re less than anyone. You are awesome, no matter the things that are said or done.

Sum up in no more than thirty words, your meaning of life?

For me, life is about living in the moment and appreciating every second, this includes both the good and the bad. - VADA Magazine

Stream and download the ‘Untamable (Kandylion Remix)’ which premiered on Gay Times for free via Sofia’sSoundCloud page.

Subscribing to the notion that songwriters are story tellers, Ice Cold Love spins a personal tale charting a caustic relationship, but from a place of empowerment. Sofia, as narrator, has walked away from a cold hearted coupling so that she can continue to grow and find the love that she deserves. Her flair for narrative, ear for catchy hooks and distinctive voice could well see her compared to the likes of Kathleen Adams and Tegan & Sara.

Sofia is half Venezuelan and half Lebanese, giving her a wealth of influences to draw from. Both countries are considered third world, dealing with issues of violence, political turmoil and corruption. As a result she feels a sense of duty and social responsibility and considers herself an advocate for social change and World peace.

For the rest of 2015 Sofia is putting the finishing touches to her debut album In The City and spending the summer preparing a tour of Mediterranean Europe. - Circuit Sweet

Sofia B wrote her new single “Soldiers” on a soulful sojourn to New Orleans with her best friend, Avery Nejam. Both sufferers of Crohn’s disease, they sought an escape from their conditions. While in New Orleans, one of America’s undisputed music capitals, Sofia was inspired by creole culture and the enduring spirit of the people who survived Hurricane Katrina. Her personal problems were put into perspective.

“Soldiers” is the second single from her EP In The City, her pop-folk release from

Montiel Records, out on 11th September 2015.

We’re lucky enough to be able to offer you an exclusive preview of the single. - Curve Magazine