For the past 6 years, Sophia Bavishi has been honing her craft in songwriting, recording, and producing music. Her music has gained traction in the Phoenix, AZ region and she frequently performs at local gigs. Sophia made waves in February of 2021 with the release of her debut single “ya we broke up”. She has since followed this up with five more releases, Parking Garage, Bright Eyes, Running Out of Time, Rain, and Fragile Heart.
Her latest release “This Is Who We Are” is an ode to everyone who has ever been in a difficult and confusing relationship with someone who refuses to leave their mind. What drew our attention is the melody and vocals that are quite soothing, and the song speaks about what it means to survive post-relationship.
Hi Sophia, thank you for giving us the opportunity to chat with you today about your musical journey.
What does a typical day look like for you? What do you have scheduled for the rest of today and this week?
I just graduated from college, so now my typical day has changed a bit. I do try to keep myself on a good routine because that way I have a better chance of actually getting to everything on my list for that day. I always start my morning with some time to allow myself to wake up (I’m more of a night owl so mornings come fast), then most days I do a workout and then breakfast. Working out is a great escape for me (besides music), especially if I can get outside and do something. I try to work on music in some shape or form every day, especially now that I’m done with school. I try to take breaks throughout the days from music to make sure I don’t over-exhaust my brain and get drained creatively. I usually have some other crafty project I’m working on (I just started making hand-knit blankets), so that helps break up the music. For the rest of today, and for the next few weeks, I’ll be focusing on writing new songs for an EP project I have planned.
We are already into our second quarter of 2023; how has it been treating you so far? What are some goals that you have set for this year? What are you already excited about with these goals? Where do you see yourself at the end of 2023?
2023 has been going great so far. As I said earlier, I just graduated college with a BA, and it feels so good! I have many goals to still complete this year, and one of them is working on an EP that will hopefully be released towards the end of the year. Another goal of mine has been to start performing at bigger venues, and even festivals. These last few months, I have been working a lot with developing an all-electronic live set by using Ableton and the Ableton Push, along with other midi controllers. Live looping has become a huge part of my craftsmanship, and it is something I am continuously growing and developing. I am really excited to see what is next for me and what new adventures await.
Growing up, how important was music in your life? Can you recall the moment when you decided that you wanted to be in this industry? Was it an easy or difficult choice to make?
Music has always been one of the most important things in my life. I knew I wanted to be in this industry at a very young age, but for the longest time, I couldn’t decide if I wanted to be on Broadway or on the Voice. I’ve been singing for as long as I can remember and started private voice lessons when I was 10. I started my music career in musical theatre as a kid and actually did some regional professional theater, but towards the end of high school, I discovered my passion for writing music and transitioned to being a singer-songwriter. I just knew music was going to be a part of my life forever. It is the easiest choice I have ever made and something I will never regret. While this can be one of the most difficult industries, I wouldn’t change what I do.
How do you think you have grown as a musician since you first started making music?
I have grown a lot as a musician. I have a training in classical music, and that is where the foundation of my techniques comes from. I started singing musical theatre when I was 9, and then I started venturing into other genres of music, especially pop and indie-pop when I was around 16. I played the piano, and always saw myself as a “more traditional” musician. Now I’m doing something completely different – live looping and performing electronically in live shows. If someone would have told me ten years ago that I would be live looping my vocals, instruments, and adding effects in real time, I wouldn’t have believed them. The way I perform my songs has completely changed, and I really think I have finally found myself and my identity as a musician in this industry.
What has been the biggest surprise so far about making music your career? What has been an unexpected or welcome challenge to it all? What has been the best part about it all?
The biggest surprise for me about my music career is that I have released music and have seven songs out, along with many more to come. I never would have thought I would have music out there or that it could be possible. It was something I always wanted to do but seemed like such a hard thing to do. The music industry, especially when it comes to releasing music, is so complicated. To actually have done it means the world. I started releasing music my freshman year of college, and I was terrified to do so. I was most afraid about what others were going to think about my music because these songs are pieces of me. It’s such a vulnerable thing as an artist to put our work out there. I soon realized that it doesn’t matter what people think, as long as one person can relate or find comfort in my music, that’s enough.
Let’s talk about your latest single “THIS IS WHO WE ARE”. What was the inspiration for this song? What was it like putting it together? Did anything surprise you about the overall process?
This song comes from being in one of those relationships where you go back and forth and back and forth again, but somehow you always end up back together. That’s why it’s called “This Is Who We Are” because of the story of it all. Putting this song together was amazing, it was one of my favorites I ever wrote, and it was really therapeutic as well. It was beautiful to see the whole thing come to life at the end, and the overall process of this all was nothing but good.
What inspires you when writing and recording music?
I get inspired by everything. I have a whole notes section full of word dumps, saying I have heard from others, or just overall life experiences I have faced. As a writer, we write from our emotions, so every encounter I have, my brain is always brewing with ideas and ways I can turn those interactions into a story.
How do you ensure that the message in your songs resonates with audiences?
I am speaking truly from the heart, and I believe if you do that, anyone can resonate with it because they will hear the passion. Passion is such a huge part of writing, and I think having an audience resonate with me comes from my recording process because that is where I’m being vulnerable and singing with true emotion.
How have your experiences as a live performer helped in forming your creative process? Where can people see you perform next? Do you plan on touring this year?
Since integrating my live performances into more of a digital aspect, it has changed the world for me. I have found this whole new world of creating through Ableton and the Push. Live looping is a way I found I can just play around with sounds and create the most beautiful music, sometimes by accident. It’s the best.
I perform a lot around the Phoenix area, especially at Crescent Ballroom, Lost Leaf, and many more. I keep my website regularly updated with my performance. As far as touring goes, I have not made any official plans, but it is a dream of mine to do so. I would love to start a small tour along the West Coast soon!
Who are some of your favorite artists or rather, what musicians have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?
Some of my biggest inspirations include: Sia, Portishead, Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, and Finneas. These artists are all artists that I find to be so talented and some of the best singer/songwriters out there. It is a dream of mine to either write a song with Sia or just perform with her. I also would love to sing with Portishead, they have become an all time favorite of mine.
How do you feel about social media? What do you think social media has done for your career so far?
Social media is such a tricky thing. On the one hand I love it, but on the other hand the algorithm is so difficult to figure out. I do think social media is beneficial because it helps many people get discovered in ways that may not have been possible before. I also love social media because it’s introduced me to so many amazing musicians that I’ve been able to connect with just through the internet.
At the end of the day, what do you hope people take away from your music?
I hope people can find comfort when listening to my music. I want people to know they are not alone in whatever way they might be feeling. I put my music out into the world so others can feel something too, and my audience is a huge part of why I create music. Each song I release isn’t just for me-it’s for everyone out there trying to somehow relate to this crazy world we all live in.
You can follow Sophia Bavishi and listen to her all her releases here:
