Exclusive Interview: Pop Culturalist Chats with Sofía Valdés

A true breakout star, Sofía Valdés has emerged as the voice of her generation. With lyrics that radiate with honesty and authenticity, Sofía has taken her life experiences and channeled them into her craft. That vulnerability hasn’t always been easy for the rising singer-songwriter, but it’s why her words have connected with listeners around the world. Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to chat with Sofía about her career, upcoming EP, and her journey in the industry.

PC: How did you discover your passion for music?
Sofía: When I was younger, I remember looking at music videos and downloading music from YouTube and how it all made me feel. I really wanted to be part of it and have someone download my songs, too! Then, I fell in love with playing the guitar. The boys at my school thought they were so cool for playing the guitar and were always patronizing about it. I wanted to play better than them (I definitely played better).

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Sofía: I would say my genuine love for it. I’ve been playing music for as long as I can remember, and I’m going to keep writing with or without this opportunity of being with a label or having a team; I just happen to also earn money by doing so.

PC: You’ve been open about the ups and downs of getting started in the industry. What’s one thing you know now that you wish you knew when you started your career?
Sofía: I left home when I was fifteen. Being away from everyone and trying to “make it” or belong to something seemed so incredibly distant from my reality. I didn’t have money, connections, or a visa to have years of trying to make it happened; I only had the school year.

I felt like I was always rushed, and it made me anxious enough to want to stop doing it. I have a younger sister that wants to go college and has big dreams, so I felt like I couldn’t waste my family’s time with me wanting to be a singer. There were many times where I almost went back home—not to mention, self-doubt played a massive role. I didn’t think I was good enough to get noticed by anyone. If could say something to my younger self it would be, “Calm the fu-k down…have patience, please!”

PC: Tell us about your new single, “Handful of Water.” What inspired the song?
Sofía: I just wanted a song that wasn’t sad. I remember going down to London and telling Jonny about a situation I was going through, so we knew that’s what we wanted to write about. “Handful of Water” is about trying to hold back feelings you can’t control or pretend are not there when they obviously are.

PC: Your debut EP, Ventura, is coming out soon. What can fans expect from the release?
Sofía: The EP comes out around February. I’m really happy for this to be out since I’ve had it done on my phone for a long time now. There are a lot of different styles of music within the EP, so I’m excited for people to hear it. I just hope people listen to it carefully and try to understand it.

PC: With this being your debut EP, what did you learn about yourself as an artist? What do you hope to say with this body of work?
Sofía: I don’t know what it says about me; I just want people to relate to my experiences and for them to feel understood. What I learned about myself throughout this process is that I had to let others into my project and be open; that, for me, was a little difficult. I feel now as if I don’t need to be in a hundred percent control of everything or I’ll go crazy.

PC: If you had to select one song off of Ventura that best encompasses who you are as an artist, what would it be and why?
Sofía: I would say “Lonely.” It’s my favorite song I’ve ever written. I think it’s really personal and beautiful. It’s the song I feel like people can expect for me to write more of.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Sofía: My mom played a lot of the Black Eyed Peas and Gwen Stefani in the car when I was seven or so. I love them.

PC: First album you bought?
Sofía: Taylor Swift’s Speak Now. I was nine.

PC: First concert you attended?
Sofía: Shakira! And she pulled me on stage, and I tried to dance with her, but I froze…

PC: An album that changed your life?
Sofía: Jorge Ben’s Jor Força Bruta.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Sofía: Somewhere cozy that I can talk to people after.

PC: A must-have on the road?
Sofía: A hot water bottle.

To keep up with Sofía, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify.

Photo Credit: Val Schnack