Sophia Galate's powerful, soulful vocals, immediately caught our attention. Her song, "Should I Tell You," perfectly highlights her gorgeous voice, it feels like it's form another world, it's so honest but also nostalgic. We talked to her about her journey to becoming an artist, the importance of having a good team, and how to stop doubting yourself.
How did you get started in music?
Sophia: I have an interesting way I got into my career. I always wanted to be an artist and everyone who knew me knew growing up knew I was going to be a singer. I went to college in Chicago and once I moved I lost all my confidence. I had two voices in my head, the artists voice, and my fearful voice. I thought about doing it as a hobby. When I graduated I decided to work in the music industry. I still wanted to be in that world. I moved to LA and worked at a touring agency working for a booking agent and I learned so much.I used to book South by and now I’m here. I moved into management, managing some DJ’s and worked in music marketing but it was soul crushing that I wasn’t singing. I genuinely just love singing. I tried to not be an artist but I couldn’t. I transitioned back into being an artist a few years ago.
I bet that’s super helpful having that background?
Sophia: It does but there’s also, like I struggle with being super organized and doing everything so I do everything myself and it feels really lonely. I really do want more support, I take on so much myself.
Do you struggle to let go of that control?
Sophia: Yes, or I just feel bad asking people for help which is so weird. I feel like so many people believe in me and think I’m great but it’s just about finding more people to collaborate with. Somethings I’m so on top of without thinking about it. I just need to be better at delegating.
Delegating is a skill that’s so hard.
Sophia: I feel guilty! I think that’s what’s so hard about being an artist, there’s not like an immediate reward.
What has been the biggest challenge for you?
Sophia: The financial aspect. I feel like I appreciate everything I do because I didn’t allow myself to do that for so long. I used to beat myself down into the ground and tell myself I couldn’t do that. Even little moments working on my music, I really appreciate. I used to just dream about having my own songs or that I could spend the day working on music. Like I try to remind myself I’m living my dream. I try to appreciate the little moments despite feeling like I need help or like I don’t make money.
I feel like it’s hard to celebrate little wins and that’s what keeps people going. Does that help you stay motivated?
Sophia: Even when I got here yesterday, I was miserable and sick before I got here, but when I landed I was like wait… I love it here. It’s so cool to be here. I always make sure to stop and acknowledge what I’m doing.
Can you tell me more about gaining your confidence back?
Sophia: There were a few very catalyst moments. When I left my agency job, I acknowledged that I missed singing. I just started writing songs in my room by myself and those songs are a couple of the first songs that I ever wrote that are on my first project. I remember writing those from a place where I just wanted to do it. I started sharing them with friends and seeing how they received it, we both felt something. I put together a really small show and had the show just because I missed performing. It was weird telling people about it because so many of my colleagues didn’t know I had a background in singing. A lot of the lost of confidence was in breaking the ice of telling people this is what I wanted to do. I knew if they saw me perform it was be a good professional, transition into that. I told myself not to be an artist before I even tried, I had no evidence why I shouldn’t. The show was received so well that I wanted to record. I started doing things and it felt right.
Do you have a creative process?
Sophia:I feel like I’m in the process of finding a new process which is super overwhelming. A lot of artists when they’re working on their first projects, there’s nothing to compare it to, there’s no pressure, no timeline. When I was working on my first projects it was just me and my piano in my bedroom. That’s the first time I was songwriting, I have a real muscle memory for performing but now I’m writing music because it’s my job and there’s a different added pressure. The best flow state is when I’m driving, that’s when a lot of ideas come to me. I’ll be processing something about my life and record voice notes or listen to instrumentals and freestyle on loop. The song was already written and you just received it from the universe. “Should I Tell You,” is my most recent song and that’s exactly how that song came to me. I was driving in my car late one nights really thinking about reaching out to my ex. I started recording a voice note practicing what I was going to say and I got home and sat at the piano and the song came out of me. That’s an ideal situation.
What’s your best piece of advice for women in music?
Sophia: I feel like just do all the things you feel like men can easily do, that makes sense for me because I came from a place of working for so many men and getting the same things done that men do all the time. I feel like just feel free to take up space and spaces that men are in so easily jus the confident with that.
Emily Treadgold
