March 25, 2022

Interview with Sophia Scott

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sophia Scott over Zoom video!

Known for her soulful storytelling and powerhouse vocals, EMPIRE’s SOPHIA SCOTT is blazing a permanent trail for herself in Nashville and beyond with her newest single “One Of These...

We had the pleasure of interviewing Sophia Scott over Zoom video!

Known for her soulful storytelling and powerhouse vocals, EMPIRE’s SOPHIA SCOTT is blazing a permanent trail for herself in Nashville and beyond with her newest single “One Of These Days,” available now.

Painting a poignant visual from her parents’ struggling marriage, Sophia illustrates how she defined her own perspectives on love, offering a candid glimpse into her own personal story and emphasizing the mantra: ‘everything’s meant to be.’ Penned with Tiggs (Nathan Fertig) of Ross Golan’s Unknown Music, “One Of These Days” is where vulnerability meets hope… “I wanna live like I’m dying, I want to laugh till I’m crying but my heart still breaks, I hope it falls into place, maybe one of these days,” Scott sings.

“This is the most personal and arguably most important song I’ve put out so far. It tells the story of my parents’ divorce, then my own first love and heartbreak, and finally dives into me trying to figure out my career, bills, and life as an adult. Hoping that there is resolve at some point and that all the hard things that have happened along the way start to make sense ‘one of these days,’” says Scott. “’One of these days’ becomes a mantra for my whole life essentially. After all, life is about the journey and the lessons learned along that journey.”

Bringing poise, gusto and grit to her own unique genre, Sophia’s musicality is dynamic and exciting. Her boundary-defying creative range flows seamlessly through the country, pop, rock, and R&B sounds that she grew up on. She writes from the heart and shoots from the hip, unafraid to explore the depths of her emotionally-charged experiences. Instead of retreating, she confronts heartbreak head-on and turns trauma into triumph with her lyrics. Following a childhood immersed in music, she spent six years in Los Angeles, playing locally renowned showcases (We Found New Music, Breaking Sound) and headlining her own residencies, before planting her roots in Nashville. A viral YouTube cover of Tove Lo’s “Habits (Stay High)” helped set the stage for Scott’s buzzworthy originals, such as the “Closure” and “Quit, which cracked 1 million Spotify streams and earned high praise from Atwood Magazine, who raved, “Having grown up on classic rock, R&B, and country/soul. Scott takes care in crafting both the sound and meaning of her songs – never shirking one for another.”

Her latest singles “Sweetheart” and “Side Effects” offer an exciting preview of her much anticipated project, expected in 2022.

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Transcript

3 (56s): What's going on. It is Adam. Welcome back to bringing it backwards. A podcast where both legendary and rising artists tell their own personal stories of how they achieve stardom. On this episode, we had a chance to hang out with Sophia Scott over zoom video, Sophia was born and raised in Boulder, Colorado. She talks about how she got into music. She picked up piano lessons at a very early age and then ended up playing guitar in middle school, but she was always a singer actually had a couple groups, girl groups while growing up. She started writing songs at a very, very early age, I think like 12 or so. They put a record out her and her girl group. 3 (1m 36s): She talks to us about that. She lived in San Diego for awhile, which is awesome. We talked a bit about San Diego, obviously on from there. And my family's from there. She went to college there and San Diego is where she really started to go out and perform at different open mic nights. And she started her YouTube channel in San Diego that carried with her when she moved back to Colorado and eventually landed in Los Angeles. That's her. She started writing songs and releasing her own music for the first time she talked about her move to Nashville and all about the most recent song she's been releasing and her debut EAP. You can watch the interview with Sophia Scott on our Facebook page and YouTube channel app, bringing it backwards. 3 (2m 18s): We would love it. If you subscribe to our channel like us on Facebook, follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and TechTalk at bringing back pod. And if you're listening to this on Spotify or apple music, it'd be amazing if you follow us there as well. And if you have time, leave us a five star view. That'd be amazing. 4 (2m 37s): We'd appreciate your support. If you follow and subscribe to our podcasts, wherever you listen to podcasts, 3 (2m 43s): We're bringing it backwards with Sophia Scott. So this podcast is about you, your journey and music. And we'll talk about the new music you have coming out and how you got to where you are now. 1 (2m 55s): Love it. Great. 3 (2m 56s): Sweet. So first off, where were you born and raised? 1 (2m 60s): I was born in Boulder, Colorado, and I lived there pretty much my whole life. And then I went to a school in San Diego. 3 (3m 9s): Did you really I'm from San Diego. I'm from north county, like ranch and mosquitoes area. Did you go to San Diego state or did you really that's so awesome. 1 (3m 21s): Did you go to San Diego state? 3 (3m 23s): No. I went to Cal state San Marcos, which was the north side of it. And it was weird because when I was going to school and growing up San Diego state was like super impacted, which it still is. I'm sure. But San Marcos was such a new school that they wanted people to go there, especially if you've lived in San Diego. So if you lived north of the 56 freeway, you had basically, it was near impossible to get into San Diego state unless you had like straight A's. But if you live south of the 56, it was just like getting easy to get into just like a, you know, your home state school, but it was really hard to get into San Mar or actually, I don't even know if they had limitations for San Marcus just because they wanted people to go there. 3 (4m 4s): So I wanted to go say, to go say, but I just didn't have the grades. 1 (4m 9s): Yeah. I was going to say, I definitely did not need straight A's to get in, but I was out of state so 3 (4m 14s): Well, yeah, they let people from everywhere else had it. It wasn't the same standards, which is just bizarre because they wanted people to go north. But anyway, I wish I would have went there. I knew a lot of people that live south of me that got a chance to go to San Diego state. 1 (4m 29s): It was a good time. 3 (4m 31s): That's cool. That is cool. I hung out there a lot of party there a lot. 1 (4m 34s): Yeah, I bet. 3 (4m 39s): Okay. Let's see. Grew up in Boulder, Colorado. Talk to me about that a little bit. 1 (4m 42s): Yeah. I, well, my parents split up when I was like in fourth grade and so I lived like split time between the two of them. My dad lived on one side of town. I mean, they were like 20 minutes apart. So I mean, it was, it was, I don't know, it was difficult to navigate at first, just like in the middle school, high school years splitting a home, but you know, that it ended up all being for the best. I'm sure we'll get into talking about this a little bit. Cause it's kind of the basis of my newest song that's coming out. But yeah, I mean, it was a good time. It was, you know, very liberal area, but you know, not a lot of diversity, I guess. 1 (5m 30s): I don't know. I, I wish there that's like one thing that I, I guess w wish there had been like, especially in my high school, it was like very, I don't know how to say it, but liberal white community And yeah, I mean, and all the things that came along with that, but, you know, it was, it was good. I think that, you know, I wouldn't change it for the world. I w I was able to grow up and go skiing on the weekends because we were so close to the mountains and very thankful for that. So 3 (6m 5s): I want to ask some more questions there, but I'm curious, why did you decide to go to San Diego state? 1 (6m 11s): So my family lives, I have a bunch of family that lives in Cornado. 3 (6m 18s): I 1 (6m 18s): Know very, very bougie. Yeah. And also just like all around kind of San Diego area and just California. Like my dad's from California, my dad's from Northern California, but so I like always was just in love with San Diego. We went there pretty much once a year for a family reunion. And so it was kind of like a second home to me and so go. So growing up, I was just always like, I want to be in California and by the beach. And so I applied to like a bunch of different schools in California and then San Diego just ended up being the place that stuck. And I felt like, oh, if I, you know, need to call family, like they're close by, which I didn't really end up doing once I was actually in college, you know how it goes, but it's nice to have the comfort, you know, knowing that it's there. 3 (7m 5s): Totally, totally well that's yeah. That's cool. That's really cool that you decided to come to San Jose and I mean, Coronado. Wow. 1 (7m 11s): Yeah, I know. Yeah. Yeah. We, so our family reunions are in Cornado, which was quite a treat and a very privileged place to be. 3 (7m 22s): Yeah. My wife's friend's parents have a property there and it's insane. God, like people think like, you know, LA Hoya or like, I mean, region from Rancho, Santa Fe is insane, but like you see the houses in Cornado and like, not only are they amazing and gigantic, but they're literally on the beach and the beach in Coronado is like bacon. For the most part, 1 (7m 44s): I was going to say, it's just like gorgeous. Yeah. Vacant is a good term. It's it's like, I think it's getting a little more crowded as time goes on because people are discovering it more, but 3 (7m 56s): Yeah. Drive over that gnarly bridge to get there. Yeah. Okay. Well, do you have any siblings real quick? Curious, okay. 1 (8m 7s): Yes. So I have a also in regards to the song, but yes, I have a little brother who's my real brother, I guess. And then I have a stepbrother and stepsister that for my, my dad, both my parents ended up getting remarried, two fabulous people. And my step-mom has two kids that are like essentially the same age as me and my brother. So that was really fun. It could have ended up being, cause we all basically from like eighth grade for me on through high school, we all lived together. So that was interesting. And could have been, you know, 3 (8m 44s): It 1 (8m 44s): Could have gone one of two ways. Yeah. And it ended up being really great and we're all super close now. Like I, I consider them, you know, I just call them my brother and sister, but technically they're my stepbrother and 3 (8m 54s): Sister. And what about music in your household? Anyone else? Musical? 1 (8m 59s): Yeah. So going back to the family reunion thing, my, I wonder if, you know, actually being from San Diego, do you ever know the beet farmers? Have you ever heard of the beet farmers? 3 (9m 10s): Honestly, the name does sound familiar. Yeah. 1 (9m 13s): They, they played around town a bunch, but it's my uncle Joey and his he's, well, the band kind of broke up, but there, he still plays around town, but they, so our family reunions were very musical. And my uncle Nicki, who was also in Cornado was in the Kingston trio. I don't know if you're familiar. 3 (9m 35s): I actually know that band. Yeah, yeah, 1 (9m 37s): Yeah. They were, they were very big in their time. And so that is like, as far as like the musical background goes, that is, that was there. And at our family reunions, we always like put on basically my uncle Joey who's in the beet farmers would put on like he would play guitar and everyone sings. Like everyone has a good voice. Everyone's musical. I'll say my immediate family, like my mom and my dad are not necessarily musical. Like my mom really can't sing. She likes music. Like we always grew up with music being in the house. And my dad is decent. 1 (10m 18s): He has a decent voice, but like they definitely music was like a huge part of our household. Whether they like sang and played instruments, that wasn't necessarily the case, but there was always music going. They were always like doing music trivia on me and making sure that I knew like, this is this song. This is who wrote it. This is like, you know, that's cool. Yeah. So I mean, I, it was always, it was always around, I guess I did have a nanny growing up who was, I guess like when I really think about it. And I thought about this the other day for the first time. Cause I guess I had sort of forgotten because I was so young, but she was, she was kinda like a, 0 (11m 0s): They get a big scratcher from the Virginia lottery could be a big hit for you. The game gives you the chance to win up to $1 million. Virginia lottery scratchers everyday wins visit a lottery retailer near you for rods and more information. Visit VA lottery.com. Facebook has invested $13 billion in teams and technology to enhance safety over the last five years. Over the last few months, they've taken down 1.7 billion fake accounts. Learn more about their ongoing work@aboutthatfb.com slash safety. Facebook has invested $13 billion in teams and technology to enhance safety over the last five years. Over the last few months, they've taken down 1.7 billion fake accounts. 0 (11m 41s): Learn more about their ongoing work@aboutthatfb.com slash safety. 1 (11m 45s): I guess she was like rock and roll, but she was my nanny from like, until I was maybe like seven years old and her name was sky eight. Her name is sky. And she had like one of those beautiful voices and she would always sing me the little mermaid going to sleep. And she, she really got me into music. So I would like, I would attribute a lot of my like musical fascination to her. 3 (12m 11s): Okay. That's really cool. And what about like playing an instrument? How did that, or when did that come into your life? 1 (12m 16s): My mom, my mom does play piano and she always, she grew up playing and she ha I wish she would play more. She's like very shy about playing, but so she kind of made me play piano at a young age, but, and I kick myself now because I stopped playing because I just, I was so young and my teacher was like wanting me to play classical and, you know, it was just very like by the book and not super fun. And so I was like, please don't make me go to piano. And like, I was just not that into it. And then I finally switched to guitar and then I forget exactly what happened. 1 (12m 57s): I had like a couple guitar lessons with like a few different teachers. And then I ended up just sort of like teaching myself with like YouTube channel, I guess, lessons. Yeah. So I, 3 (13m 9s): I still got the guitar 1 (13m 11s): And I got the NRA fine. I guess like when I was in like eighth grade, probably like middle school-ish area. Yeah. Yeah. I stopped playing piano, like elementary school. And then I probably took like a couple of years up and my parents were like, you have to do something you have to, you know, because I always was, I always sang and I was obsessed with music and they were like, well, you need to play an instrument. And, you know, so I was like, okay, well guitar is like the cool thing to do. So I'm going to do that. And then, yeah. Yeah. So now I, and during quarantine, I, my friend who moved, left me his keyboard and I hadn't touched it for like two years. And then during quarantine, I was like, maybe I'll pick up the piano. 1 (13m 52s): And it was funny because actually a lot of the muscle memory sort of came back from like years past. And so now I'm, yeah. Now I'm like all in on piano and I've been sort of doing the YouTube kind of lessons thing again, and just looking at tabs and such on online and picking that back up. So now I'd say I play a little bit of both. 3 (14m 11s): Sure. That's cool. And then you have the ear for it now. Right. You can figure if it sounds like you're playing the right chord or whatever. 1 (14m 18s): Exactly. Yeah. I do wish that I had stuck with piano. Cause I feel like I would have been more technically trained, but 3 (14m 25s): I've heard this story before that stopping, but it always comes down to the teacher. Right. It's always like, and then I didn't want to play cause this person like, like either, you know, they slapped my hands. If I didn't wasn't sitting correctly or they made this trash, it didn't want to play. I mean, you could make a killing if you're a piano teacher and we're like, what do you want to learn? How to play? And then just really included them in that. 1 (14m 50s): No, it's so true. I feel like now, like, because I feel like when I was growing up, that's just like, it wasn't even really an option or like they hadn't really gotten into there. Wasn't like, I, I think the internet was just coming up. So like there wasn't like tabs. I don't know. I feel like it's just, we've come a long way as far as like, I'm sure. You know, now they realize, oh, we got to get kids to play the shit they want to play. 3 (15m 14s): Right, right. Or they can just go on YouTube and learn and then I'm out of a patient. 1 (15m 20s): Yeah. True. True. There is that there is something to be said about having someone sitting there with you and like actually teaching you as opposed to learning just online. It's not, especially like, especially if you're a very, very beginner. It's you want someone to show you like the, the scales, 3 (15m 38s): Right. Even if you're like guitar, like how to push the strings down correctly. I mean, you could try to fumble along and follow, but not necessarily sound anywhere close to what the person's doing on the YouTube video. Well, so you get the guitar start playing guitar in middle school. When do you start writing songs? 1 (15m 59s): So I was writing songs long before I was playing any instruments. I think I had, I had a girl band growing up when I was in like elementary school and we were convinced we were going to be like the next spice girls or Bewitched. I don't know if people remember be which, but we were obsessed with Bewitched. And we were called the candy girls and my dad, God bless him, was like our biggest fan and got us, like, I think it was like a friend of a friend, but she did like a full photo shoot with us. And we had like actual CDs made and we went into like a proper recording studio and recorded two of our songs. 3 (16m 42s): Wow. But 1 (16m 43s): Yeah, we like, we were very in it. Like when I think back on it, we had all of these and I still have, you know, my dad kept a folder of all of our songs and there was like 20 songs and they all have, they all have like cutouts, we would always make like collages of like the bop magazines, I dunno shows. But yeah, like though all those magazines when they were the thing and so cool. And we would cut out pictures of like Mandy Moore and like post like glue them onto the lyric sheets and like have like bubbles coming out of the, of the people, you know? So yeah, the it's really fun to look back at all the lyric sheets. 1 (17m 24s): Cause they look like works of art, but yeah. So I was writing music to go back to that question since I was in like second grade, probably just, I don't even, I didn't know what the hell I was writing about. Like I thought that I knew what love meant or was, but I was just kind of following like the storylines, I guess, of what the pop princesses were singing about and just like wrote my own versions of that. We had a song called cool coffee shop and it was basically like, 3 (17m 56s): That's actually a pretty solid title. 1 (17m 58s): I know, I know it's 3 (17m 60s): Honestly 1 (18m 1s): A timeless title and we go, we, we listen back now. We still sing it at the family reunion. I love how the family reunion has been like a common theme in this interview. I never talk about it, but yeah, the San Diego, we all, we all still sing the, my cousins and I also had a band that was like adjacent to the candy girls because we would say I would like go to the family reunion and sing them, all my songs. And then we would all perform them at the family reunion. Our band was called the pink chicks. 3 (18m 30s): Okay. But you had your own original sign. I mean, to have a folder of what these are 20 songs or so, and where they Jew, did you have full, like everyone was playing an instrument or is it more like a girl group? Like pop group like that? Yeah, 1 (18m 46s): No we didn't. We just like, didn't no one played an instrument. We just like saying all of it together, which is weird to think about. But then when we did the, when we did the proper recording of all the, of the two songs or our demo EAP, like we had some, someone hired. I don't, I have no idea. I have to ask my dad like where these musicians came from, but he must've hired or had friends hired like a pianist, like a drummer. Like all these people came and played along with our songs. Like they had melody and they did everything, but we never had any instruments that were a part of it. 3 (19m 22s): That's cool though, to have that recording. I mean, wow. 1 (19m 24s): Yeah. It's, it's, it's really something I'll, I'll release it at some point, you know? 3 (19m 33s): Okay. So we'll after this group and like you're moving on, you get the guitar, you're playing guitar. Like when do you kind of start, like, are you playing out as a solo artist at all? Or did you have a band through high school? 1 (19m 44s): So in high school I was like, I was in the choir. We had a, I was in the, it was called the magicals, it was like an all-girls choir. And I was in that. And so I kind of dabbled, I guess, you know, I, I, throughout high school, I was still writing my own music, but I was just like being a high school or I don't think I was fully knowing what I was going to do with music. At that point, I was involved in choir and like a couple plays and you know, like the drama programs throughout high school. And I still wrote on my own, but I never fully went for it until I, when I went to San Diego, I would play like I would play for friends. 1 (20m 24s): And then they, I think that really, when I was in San Diego was when my friends were like, you need to really do something with this. Like you should go to LA and like try to like make this really happen. And I always wanted to, like, it was always my dream, I guess I just kind of not got discouraged, but a little bit, I guess, you know, with feeling like it was a really hard thing to achieve, which, I mean, I know even more about how hard it is to achieve now, but I just was like, you know, I'm going to college. I feel like my dad was like, you really need to take, get a real career and at least have a solid foundation before you really try to do that. He's always been my biggest fan and you know, supportive of my dreams, but he was like, you need a backup plan essentially. 1 (21m 10s): So 3 (21m 10s): I just being a dad, I want to have something, yeah. This isn't working. 1 (21m 16s): Right. Yeah. And so, but you know, I always kept at it. I played around like a couple of different, like just kinda like open mic nights in San Diego where I'd play songs or covers or whatever. And, and, and then went like out when I got out of college, I, I wanted to work in music. So I was like, I was volunteering, not volunteering, but I did an internship with this music festival company. And that I had moved back home to Colorado when I was doing this. And it was like a summer program. And the, my boss had seen, cause I had started a YouTube channel. So I was like posting covers and stuff on YouTube, like throughout college. 1 (21m 57s): And she had seen me post, I think on like my Facebook or something, have a video of me singing a Beyonce cover. And she was like, what the hell are you doing? Working for me? Like, you need to be like the girl. She was like, you need to be doing this for you. Like you need to be this, the star or whatever. And I was like, oh yeah. Like she was like, what are you doing behind the scenes helping me? And so then I really thought about it and I had, I don't know, it had been just like a common narrative in my head. And finally I was like, okay, I'm going to make this happen. My, I don't know. I was like, I'm back home. Why am I back here? I want to go. And so then I, and my roommate from college started working for universal music group and Interscope records in LA. 1 (22m 41s): And he was like, you need to move back here and make this happen. So I moved back here, back back to LA and or I hadn't moved I guess, back to California. And, and then just, that was when I really started, started making it happen for myself. 3 (22m 56s): Wow. Wow. Yeah, your cars are awesome. I love the cover. You did actually like into that one earlier. Yeah. It's really 1 (23m 3s): Good. Bad at love. Yeah, 3 (23m 6s): You did better love. Yeah. Yeah. Wow. Okay. So when you were playing right, even around San Diego, w w do you remember where you were playing? What open mikes with stats? 1 (23m 16s): It was like in PB, PB, and then God, I can't I'm. So I can't remember any of the bars names or like any of the 6 (23m 28s): Finding the right person for the job. Isn't easy. Just ask someone who hired a lounge singer to be their office receptionist. 7 (23m 35s): Hello, this is Mickey Marquis and you've reached the office of Doug and associates. Thank you very much. Catch me Tuesday nights at the hotel Johnson. Hello. But 6 (23m 43s): If you've got an insurance question, you can always on your local Geico agent, they can bundle your policies, which could save you hundreds, 7 (23m 50s): Doug and associates. This is Mankey market 6 (23m 54s): For expert help with all your insurance needs. Visit geico.com/local. Today. 0 (23m 58s): They had a big scratcher from the Virginia lottery could be a big hit for you. The game gives you the chance to win up to $1 million. Virginia lottery scratchers every day wins visit a lottery retailer near you for rods and more information. Visit VA lottery.com. Facebook has invested $13 billion in teams and technology to enhance safety over the last five years. Over the last few months, they've taken down 1.7 billion fake accounts. Learn more about their ongoing work@aboutthatfb.com slash safety. 3 (24m 30s): It's all right, 1 (24m 30s): Beachwood. I dunno. Yeah. 3 (24m 33s): Yeah. I don't know. I'm trying to think. I'm trying to think PB, that place has changed so much. Yeah. 1 (24m 38s): It's 3 (24m 38s): Totally different. It's it's wild. Like going back I'm like, whoa, what happened to like all of this? It's just 1 (24m 44s): Weird. 3 (24m 46s): Okay. So you moved to LA, what year did you move to LA 1 (24m 49s): 23rd? 20 14, 20 13 or 14. Okay. 3 (24m 56s): Yeah. To get out to Los Angeles, do you have a, obviously have a handful of songs at this point? And what, like, what do you do your work History or, 1 (25m 6s): And he worked in the industry. I mean, he, you know, it's not like he could really plug me in there. He was like on the marketing brand partnership side of things, but he did have kind of just insight into, you know, I was so, so, so green to the entire thing and just really had no idea what I was getting myself into. And I think I just, I thought like, oh, you moved to LA, you like D I don't know, like play your songs for a couple of people and you become famous. And like, that's it. And there was, I was in for a rude awakening with that, but, you know, I'm grateful for all that I learned. And I think, yeah, so he, he would kind of help me out, like strategically as far as like what covers to post, like, I was really into my YouTube channel at this point and like, trying to get it because I had seen so many people, like you start a YouTube channel and then they get discovered from their YouTube channel, like, you know, Arianna ground day. 1 (26m 3s): And like all these, 3 (26m 5s): All these young 1 (26m 6s): Tori Kelly. Yeah, exactly. And exactly. So I was, that was kind of my, and that was the one thing that I felt like I had control over, like, you know, in this business, it's, you really don't have control over much. It's kind of like up to everybody else where you go and, you know, like, you'll, you'll take a meeting and then you'll hear nothing or you hear something. And then you're just like waiting. I feel like you're just constantly waiting and hoping on other people to make the decision in the right direction for you. And so this YouTube channel became like my safe place. 1 (26m 46s): I feel like, cause I was like, oh, okay. This is something that I can do that I have control over. And I can be the deter. Like there's a determining factor here of like what song I put out and how I do it. And like, you know, where it goes. And I feel like it really was as silly as it sounds. It was like the thing that got me in and got me hooked up with new writers because then writers and producers would find the YouTube channel or like, you know, I tried out for the voice a long time ago and they had found me on YouTube. And just like, that was kind of the, the way it was, I guess. I mean, I think it's still is maybe not as much, but now it's tick-tock 3 (27m 26s): Yes. Same thing. 1 (27m 28s): Exactly. But yeah. And so I just like really leaned into that and I don't even know where I was going with this. I forget what you asked. 3 (27m 36s): Oh, I was just wondering, cause you get to LA and then it's like, okay, now I'm here in this new town. What do I do now? 1 (27m 41s): Exactly. And so, yeah, I, I started, you know, I had to get a side job. I got multiple side jobs. I was, I, I nannied for a couple of different kids like full-time. And then I worked at a sports bar and I drove for Uber for a while and just, I did a bunch of stuff because obviously I wasn't making any money on music and it's really hard. I feel like when you first start out, you just, until you like put music out or making any money on music, it's, it's difficult because you also have to have a side job and then you make music, your second job when you're done with all the rest of it. And it's, it's a lot. And so I, you know, that was also where I, I was making a little bit of money off of YouTube actually also, which was nice. 3 (28m 28s): Okay. Okay. And when did you decide to release your own first song? Like, okay. Cause it sounds like beauty was just a lot of cover or was covers, right? 1 (28m 36s): It was just covers. Yeah. But, but I guess that where I was going with that was that YouTube was where I met or I guess, cause I had posted a lot of the YouTubes and stuff on other social media platforms and then I would get messages from like writers and producers being like, yo, we should write together, like, have you put out any music yet? And so then through that, I got connected to a bunch of different people. And then that's when I really started like going to sessions and writing with writing with different writers and producers. And then I, you know, had finally like a batch of songs that I really liked and I kind of picked the best one and put together like a music video for it. And you know, so I started just kind of, and I feel like this was even before, or at least it was like really at the beginning when people were starting to just independently release, like on Spotify. 1 (29m 25s): Like it was very much the beginning stages of that. But so I did it and, and then I guess from there it like started building traction and then I had kind of, I kind of, I can't even remember actually at the beginning, but so I put out or I put out a song called Shyna and then another song. And then that led me to these other writer, producers who then are responsible for like majority of my back catalog. Now I started writing with them a lot and we became kind of like a little trio of songwriters. And I feel like that's when things really started taking off and you know, Spotify started noticing and like put me on new music Friday and it was all like completely organic and independent and it was really awesome. 1 (30m 12s): And then, you know, as things started continuing and picking up steam, I feel like the more people that I was introduced to were like, but you're like country and you, why aren't you in Nashville? And I was like, I don't know. I just I'm in LA. And I didn't really, you know, I, I just had been there. And so, and from my end, from my YouTube too, people were like, you have like a Twiggy kind of sound to you. And so then I, I CA I guess it was, I forgot who the first person was, but basically I started taking trips out to Nashville and doing writing sessions out there. 1 (30m 54s): And the more that I, you know, and then I started working with my manager who we've been together for like almost a little over three years. And he was like, cause I started taking meetings in Nashville and publishing meetings and label meetings. And everyone was like, you know, I mean, not everyone, but if, if they liked me, they were like, we like you, but you, you really need to be here. Like, it's a totally different world. And so I finally in the middle of 2019 was like, I'm going to bite the bullet and move to Nashville. And so I've been here ever since, and it's definitely proved to be fruitful. I definitely wish that I had moved sooner, but 3 (31m 34s): That's so funny. I didn't know. You're actually in Nash. I'm in now too. No, just kidding. 1 (31m 42s): Hey. 3 (31m 43s): Yeah. That's so funny. Cause I got came from San Diego. I came from California and I moved here in February of last year, my family and I moved here. 1 (31m 51s): Oh my God. Look at us twins. 3 (31m 53s): I know. And I love it here. This is the best decision I ever made. 1 (31m 58s): I couldn't agree more 3 (31m 60s): So that's so that's amazing. I did read that you, I mean being a country girl, and you kind of like, I, I saw quote, I don't even know if you said it cause it was in print about kind of having like that imposter syndrome because you weren't from the south that you're writing these country songs. 1 (32m 15s): Yeah. Yeah. It's funny. I feel like there's a very common misconception in regards to my story that I'm from LA and a California girl. And I, you know, I guess I am to some respect because I lived there for so long, but I'm from Colorado, which to me is its own sort of version of country. It's not the south, but I feel like Colorado has like very much country elements to it. Just, just like the state alone. It's like, do you know what I mean? It's like, 3 (32m 46s): Oh yeah, for sure. It's not California. It's not beaches and Palm trees. 1 (32m 50s): Yeah. And there's, and there's, you know, like I grew up on a farm essentially with like horses and I, you know, not that you need that to be country, but I guess I just forget because I do and I, to go back to that kind of thing that you said about that quote and me having imposter syndrome, I did. And I still do, but I feel like I've realized that I just need to know that being from the south or not, I'm a country writer, I'm a country musician and it's, it's its own thing. You know, I, I call it grungy, Sri or Southern pop lately, like grunge country because you know, and I have so many different influences, but I feel like to put me in a box or just to put anyone in a box is just, I don't know, foolish because I feel like, I feel like the genres are all bending and changing all the time. 1 (33m 46s): But at my roots, I'm a storyteller and I've always listened to country music and been inspired by it. And you know, country music, I feel like has helped, helped me so much growing up and helped kind of shape who I am. And so no matter where I'm from, I still am a country, a country girl. 3 (34m 7s): Yeah. I mean, I feel like everyone has imposter syndrome, especially when it comes to like creative stuff. Cause it's like, so, you know, like it's not like very it's, I can't think of the word off the top of my head, but it's like all opinions, you know, it's like you're yeah, 1 (34m 21s): For sure. It's all subjective. Yeah. 3 (34m 23s): It's subjective was the word I was looking for. 1 (34m 28s): It is. And I mean, you know, I think being here, like, and the longer that I'm here, the more that I feel like I'm sort of like integrated into it, but I get why everyone told me to move here because the country's space is it's its own world in a sense. And I think it's, it's really great. It's just kind of, it's difficult to tap into, I guess, if you're not in the mix and I never understood that until I was here and realized how important it is to really be in this mix and, and like out playing and you know, doing the writer's rounds and all of those things and meeting all the people it's just like so important and it's, it's just its own little bubble, I guess of, you know. 1 (35m 15s): Yeah. I know that. 3 (35m 17s): Yeah. No for sure. For sure. That's what, yeah. The publishing companies are here. The, I mean you're learning the, the thing I, I was never really huge into, I love country, like the re like the storytelling aspect of it. And that's why I think you're, you're such a great songwriter with, especially with your lyrics, like you can write lyrics that are relatable. Not in like sometimes I'll hear a country song and I'm like, oh, okay. That's pretty cheesy, but like deals, right. These lyrics that I'm like, wow, like that's a way better way of saying something that like, I feel like has maybe not been said before, but like had a similar vein, but like in a big country song, that's cheesy. And it's like, oh, like that you accomplish it like a hundred thousand times better and I'm dead serious. 3 (36m 3s): And then I love how you said you don't put yourself that you shouldn't be put the box. You shouldn't, I mean, knock yourself out. You have a song, you know, two songs with a Iggy Azalea. I can't speak either. But like, you know what I mean? It just, it's not, if somebody put that record on, they wouldn't be like, oh, she's a country artist. Yeah. So 1 (36m 23s): Yeah. Thank you. That's really, really so nice of you and such a compliment. I appreciate that. Yeah. I think, I think, you know, and I also, I want to, I want to not pave my own lane necessarily, but I still want to be unique and be myself. And I want to just be, I guess, authentic to who I am, which is, you know, many different, I guess I was influenced by many different genres. So I feel like that naturally just comes out and I think it comes out in anyone, whether, you know, whether they're quote unquote pop or quote unquote country or hip hop or R and B, it's like, but everyone's so different. And so that's, I feel like what makes music special? 1 (37m 4s): If it was all the same, it would be boring. 3 (37m 6s): Definitely. I definitely agree. And to say that Nashville, like I moved here thinking it was a country town and it's not by any means. I mean, there's every job, it's a music. Exactly. And there's people that I'm like, I've talked to, I interviewed, I'm like, wait, what? You live in, you live in Nashville. Yeah. Okay. You're like a hardcore band or a pop band or whatever it is. It's just interesting to see the, the talent here is insane, but it's not all country artists that live here in town, but 1 (37m 36s): No. Yeah. I know. And I think it's even more, it's growing to be, I think it, it started as more country, you know, 3 (37m 43s): For sure. 1 (37m 43s): But, but yeah, the, just the way that the town is, and I think more people are just like, wow, this is incredible. We should all be here. And so the music has grown exponentially 3 (37m 55s): And that's why half of California is a movie here. If you notice that. 1 (37m 59s): Yeah. I think, I don't think the, I don't think the people that are from here that excited about 3 (38m 3s): No, it's like, Hey, where are you from California? 1 (38m 8s): Yeah. 3 (38m 9s): You could claim Colorado. At least they probably changed as much. They hate me 1 (38m 15s): July. 3 (38m 17s): I've I want to hear about your new song. I listened the most recent one I've heard is sweetheart, which is such a great song. And, and the way you used sweetheart, like the way you, you know, take the two words apart and the song, instead of just saying, oh, you're a sweetheart, you have a sweetheart. I, I thought that was super creative and clever as well. But so tell me about that song. And I want to hear about this new song. You've been kind of teasing since the beginning. 1 (38m 41s): Yeah, yeah, yeah. I know that kind of happened organically. I like it, sweetheart. Yeah. Is just, I guess about, you know, I, I, I came up initially with the concept, which you were just saying the sweet in your heart and that felt like a country kind of twist for it. And so my collaborator, Adam, year-round who I wrote it with and he produced it, but we wrote it over zoom last year. And we were just kinda like, okay, how should we, how should we write this? I still see the sweet in your heart. And then it ended up kind of being this like celebratory song for a first love or a high school sweetheart kind of vibe. And instead of being the natural Sophia Scott way of like bashing and ex, I felt like I wanted to write a happier song or like a reminiscent first love kind of song and say, I'm wishing you well. 1 (39m 40s): And just, you know, there's something so wonderful about that feeling of a first love. And, you know, even if it didn't work out, just hoping like, oh, if you're, you're still out there and I hope that I hope that everybody sees the sweet in your heart kind of thing. And just making it just this unconventional Valentine's day song. Cause we put it out right around Valentine's day. But yeah, I guess that was kind of the thought behind that one. 3 (40m 7s): Yeah. I like it. And like I said, it's so creative it's so yeah. And what's this new one, cause I don't know anything about the new one. 1 (40m 14s): Yeah. It's so this is like my, my baby of a song and it's I wrote it like actually almost three years ago. Wow. To the day I was just looking the other, I was just looking last night at the, the original note in my phone. And it was written on March 13th, which is crazy in 2018. So, oh, so it's four years old, almost four years. 3 (40m 41s): I think that was the day the world closed on the 20 in March, 2013, 20, 20. I think it was, 1 (40m 47s): This was, this was 2018. 3 (40m 49s): I know, but it's weird that I was like, 1 (40m 51s): Oh 3 (40m 54s): Two years to the day of whatever anyway. 1 (40m 56s): Exactly, exactly. I know. Yeah. I hope that's not a bad like, oh 3 (41m 2s): No, 1 (41m 3s): No, it's fine. I, yeah. So I wrote that and just going back to what we were talking about at the very beginning with my parents getting divorced, it was, you know, a difficult time as it is for anyone who has gone through that. But it was, I guess when I wrote it, it was like the first time I had ever brought up that trauma, if we want to call it that. And it was just a very, I guess, healing song for me to write. And it, you know, it started with the song is called one of these days it's coming out March 17th. And, but I started writing it about that situation and just, you know, having to kind of be the bigger sister to my little brother and feel like I had to protect him during this time and just navigating, going through something so difficult at such a young age and having to grow up faster than I, I guess I would have hoped to. 1 (42m 1s): And then, you know, elaborating on not only that situation, but then onto my, you know, like the first verses kind of about that. And then the second versus about me with my own first love and my own first heartbreak. And, and then the third verse is kind of like me now just basically figuring out life and being an adulthood and, and how to pay your bills and, you know, navigate your friendships and just new shit that comes your way. And, and then the chorus is basically like, I hope that all of these sort of hardships and all these hurdles that we had to go over, make sense one of these days essentially, and hoping that, you know, I think that in every difficulty in life, there's usually some sort of lesson that can be learned. 1 (42m 55s): And so just, I guess not being thankful for the trauma or the traumatic events, but being able to recognize that there's a lesson in everything and you, that you are able to evolve from it. 3 (43m 12s): I love it. I love it. 1 (43m 14s): Yeah. That's, that's that one I'm excited for it. I've been holding onto it for so long. So I'm really excited about putting it out 3 (43m 20s): And it's coming out on March 17th, 1 (43m 22s): March 17th. Yep. 3 (43m 23s): Okay. Very, very cool. You have an EAP. Is that, is that something that's going to be released as well? 1 (43m 29s): Yeah. So the EPA is also called one of these days. It's the title track of this? This is the title track of the song and yeah, that will be coming out like late spring, early summer. So I'm also very excited about that because up until now have only ever released singles. So this is my first real project and introduction to me as a, as a, as a body of work. I don't know me, myself as a body of work. Yeah. 3 (43m 60s): Very cool. Very, very cool. And are you playing around Nashville still? Do you have shows going out for anything? 1 (44m 5s): Yeah. I don't have any show, you know, I've been sorta just doing like one off stuff And a bunch of different writers rounds. They sort of will just come up. I don't really have any on the books as of right now, but Let you know. 3 (44m 20s): Yeah. I want to come check you out. Yeah, 1 (44m 21s): Yeah. I mean, now that you're here. Yeah, for sure. A hundred percent. Yeah. I mean, I'm hoping the goal is to, you know, get this EPE out there and then hop on a hop on a little tour, but we'll see what ends up happening. It's obviously been more difficult with COVID and such. So 3 (44m 38s): Of course. Yeah. Well, very cool. I love what you have out so far. I can't wait to hear this new one and I really, really appreciate you doing this. This has been awesome. Thank you so much. 1 (44m 48s): So, so wonderful talking to you. Thank you. 3 (44m 50s): I have one more question for you. One more quick one. Do you have any advice for aspiring artists? 1 (44m 56s): Oh yes. I think my advice is to it's too easy, but I would say just to believe in yourself, because in this industry, it is so easy to lose your way and you know, you can't necessarily count on everyone else to believe in you and to do that. And you just, you know, it's easy to get cut down so quickly when there's like doors shutting in your face metaphorically and maybe in reality. And I think if you don't believe in yourself that you can't, you can't make it happen.

Sophia ScottProfile Photo

Sophia Scott

Singer/Songwriter

Sophia Scott is EMPIRE Nashville’s newest star-on-the-rise, who wow’d back-to-back Nashville audiences as a special guest on the Jonas Brothers “Remember This” tour last fall, was recently named one of PEOPLE’s 2021 Artists to Watch, has an incomparable ability to craft back-to-back BOPS about wine and is poised to make a huge waves in country music this year with her forthcoming debut EP. Taking influence from artists like Sheryl Crow, Alanis Morrisette, and Fleetwood Mac, Sophia confidently defines her own genre lane at the crossroads of country and grunge - she calls it “Gruntry.” After racking up 20 million-plus streams independently, the spunky songstress properly introduces herself on the anticipated project.