Today we’d like to introduce you to Sofia Peña.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I’m a 23 year old Mexican singer and songwriter. I start singing when I was 8 years old, I’m the first musician in my family. I formally began taking singing lessons when I was 10 and I wrote my first song when I was 15. Music has always been everything for me, it’s been the way I can express my feelings and everything that surrounds me. My professional journey started when I finished High school, when I got the decision to study songwriting and production at Berklee College of Music in Boston.
I got the chance to extend my time for entering to college because I did a volunteering year in which I got the opportunity of being a music teacher for the most vulnerable people in Colombia Medellin. After this year I went to Boston I studied there for 2 years and then the pandemic came around. I got back home and I decided to keep doing my studies in music at Musicians Institute in LA via online.
Today, I do songwriting for new artists and influencers, I’ve been doing jingles for little brands and commercials since the beginning of this year. I’m getting involved in the movies industry by pitching some of my songs in different upcoming movies from different producer companies. The most remarkable project I have right now is my personal artistic project. I am doing an album that I’m releasing by single, this album is inspired by 5 women that made history in Mexico. I am in love with my Mexican roots and all the richness my culture has. My music is a fusion of pop and Mexican Folk.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It was hard for me to get back from Boston to Mexico because of the pandemic. I was struggling with the idea that there was a possibility for me not getting back, and I didn’t so I started studying songwriting and production online in Musicians Institute that is located in LA. There are always struggles along the way of making you dreams come true. I´ve been working very hard in my independent artist career I had to be my own manager, my own marketing designer, songwriter and singer at the same time.
Now, I have the opportunity of working with a marketing agency “Vaquero Advertising” in which they help me with my social media and web page. Another struggle I had was that other people around me didn’t believe I could make it in music and at the beginning that hit me very bad but after some years of doing what really passionates me, I also started to believe more in myself. I keep working in my dreams and my music career. I still have a lot to learn from people and from life, so I’m enjoying the moment and the path to that place I want to be in a few years.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I am a Mexican singer and songwriter. I studied 2 years at Berklee College of Music. I am finishing my degree in songwriting and production at Musicians Institute in LA. I have a very special and cultural musical project. This project is about 5 different women that have made history in Mexico.
I am releasing an album by singles of this 5 women, the first song. “La Traductora”(the translator) is inspired in La Malinche. This woman was the translator that helped Hernan Cortez to won the conquest of Mexico. The second song “Saber Es” is inspired in Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz a woman that always wanted to studied but because she was a girl she wasn’t able to have a higher education as men. She became a nun to keep up studying.
The third song “Este canto”(this chant) is inspired in a woman that help with the Mexican independence. You can find these songs in all the different digital platforms. I’m still working on the next 2 songs for finishing my album by the end of this year. My style of music is Mexican Folk and pop, I think my style is what makes me different from other artists. I am looking to make a change in the world with the music I write. I think there is so much we as musicians can do for the world by writing music with great meaning! Art makes people gather, art makes people reflect, think, cry, laugh.
I love doing music because I love to make people feel.
Do you have recommendations for books, apps, blogs, etc?
Yes! Books are the best invention ever. One of my favorite books is The Alchemist, this book helped me to keep pursuing my dreams and don’t give up, because the universe always conspires for your dreams to come true. Another book that really helped me in my personal growth was atomic habits. I also try to read Spotify blogs and music articles. They help me to get a better idea of how the music industry works nowadays and what is new. I also love listening to new music in different genres this has also helped me to enrich my ears and make some new music.
Contact Info:
- Email: sofia_pch@hotmail.com
- Website: sofiamusic.com
- Instagram: @sofiamusic.mx
- Facebook: Sofia Peña Music
- Twitter: Sofiamusic.mx
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbLXkRByivBzAlCFUMg0uXQ
- Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5N0oWahDFCw8rxZyma34sv?si=S4QA0uOsR_qqQ1ZehGTUrw&dl_branch=1
Image Credits
@ineditarecords
@xaman
@maxbalderas
