July 3, 2024 • 32 mins
In this capítulo, we're joined by British musician and artist, Sophie Castillo. She recently opened for J Balvin in London and debuted a new EP, "Venus." Castillo is of Colombian and Cuban descent and tells us about the Latin American diasporic communities in London and how her heritage influences her music.
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Speaker 2 (01:14):
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Speaker 1 (01:27):
Today, we have a really fun interview, super fun. We
are interviewing a guest from the UK and I want
to say that's our first UK London based interview, right.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I think you are correct.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yes, We've interviewed a ton of people over the years
and if they're not from the area, they're usually traveling
into LA and that's how we catch them.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, when they're on tour, when they're visiting, if they
have a show, something like that. But this time we
are interviewing a UK based, London born and raised Latina,
Sophie Castillo. She's a recording artist. She has gone viral
a couple times for her music and then recently because
she opened for Jay Balvin in London, so we just
(02:13):
had to have her.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And that's how you came across her. You saw this
video go viral because she was opening for Jay Baldwin
and then you sent her to me and were like,
we need to have her on.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We got to have her on. Sophie is very talented,
she's super cute and I think she might be your
next favorite artist to listen to.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Honestly, I was streaming the EP on the way over
here and it's so cute. And afterwards, you know, if
you listen on Spotify, the algorithm, we'll put other artists
that are kind of related or have a similar sound,
similar vibe.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, it's really incredible. Just when you think you've heard
it all and seen it all, there's always something new
and Sophie, I think, is bringing a very like ethereal, ephemeral.
She uses the word cinematic sound to the landscape, and
I think about her being London based really adds a
lot to her style and the type of music she's
putting out there. She talks about her EP called Venus
(03:08):
towards the end of the interview, so I hope you
guys love it all right, Look, Amotas. If you've been
on the internet recently, you've probably seen footage of Sophie
Castio opening for J Bovin in London. Sophie is a
British Latina of Colombian and Cuban descent, and her debut EP, Venus,
is now available to stream. We are so so excited
(03:28):
to have Sophie here joining us live and direct from London, England.
And in the past, you know, on the podcast we've
discussed LATINX diasport communities here and there, so we're super
excited to dig into the UK based Latin American diaspora
by way of Sophie and her music. So, Sophie Castho,
can you please say hello to all of our listeners.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Hi, guys, thank you so much for having me today.
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
We're so excited to have you on the podcast. Have
you on look at Radio Ken You tell us about
your recent travels. You mentioned that you were just on
holiday and you've also been at the same time doing
a lot music wise, career wise, tell us about Let's
start there.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Okay, yeah, so holidays. First, I just came back from Italy.
My boyfriend is from Italy, so I was just having
like a little break, you know, a little time to
get some sun because the weather in London has been
so bad. Actually it's okay now, but it was like
terrible before I left, so I was like, I need
to get a little bit of sun. And after the
J Balvin show, I was like, okay, it was like
(04:31):
a whole month of preparation, like.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Really hard work.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
So I was like, it'd be nice to get away
for a little bit. But yeah, we were we weren't
in Italy relaxing, but also like kind of speaking to
other artists and Italian artists and some people over there
who are super exciting, so kind of like work slash
holiday fabulous.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Thank you so much for squeezing us in in the
midst of all of your travels. And speaking of jab Balvin,
I mean, let's talk about it. How did that opportunity
come up? You opened for him in London? You mentioned
a month of preparation before the show, like take us
to the beginning and how did it happen?
Speaker 4 (05:11):
So I basically just received an email from them and
they were like the people putting on the show, and yeah,
they basically were just like, hey, do you are you
free on this day? It's for a big artist and
you'd be the support act.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
And I was like, oh, yeah, like I am free
on that.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Day, And obviously, me being me, I was like I
couldn't wait. They didn't tell me who it was straight away,
so obviously, me being me, I was like googling, like
all right the company the day and I figured out
who it was and I was literally on the tube.
It was like, for those who don't know, it's like,
I'll train like our metro train steps because I said
that to someone the other day and they were like,
what is the tube? So just signed no explanation. So yeah,
(05:57):
I was on the tube and I literally almost screamed.
I gasped really really loudly when I realized who it was.
And then yeah, they got back to me after I
confirmed and they were like it's Jade Balvin and I
couldn't believe it. I was literally like calling my family.
I was calling my managers. I was like, oh my god,
I can't believe it, and we were all so excited
(06:18):
and yeah, it was just we found out like probably
about six weeks before and then I found out and
then annoyingly, I got a really bad flute, so I
was like I wanted to go straight into working rehearsing,
but I was sick for.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Like a week and a half.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Annoyingly, but then once I recovered, I was like, right, go,
go go, this is the show of a lifetime.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I want to make sure that everything's perfect. I want
to be ready and yeah, I was like rehearsing every
single week with my dancers sometimes up to like twice
a week, and rehearsing with a vocal coach.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I decided to get a vocal coach because I was like,
it's such a big show, it's a massive stage. I
want to make sure that my staminas on point because
I'm going to be dancing as well. And then you know,
I was working with a great engineer as well for
the whole show, rehearsing with him, and I had a
really really great team around me, and my management obviously
(07:14):
was so helpful the whole way through. So it was
a really I thought it was going to be a
stressful experience just because of how big it was and
how much pressure it is, but I really really like
it was so seamless, and I really enjoyed the whole
experience with my team, and I felt like a proper
pop stuff and it was really really nice.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Congratulations, that's so fune.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
We're going to go on a quick break and we'll
be right back, and so tell us about the show itself.
You described the preparation, So take walk us through the
day of the concert. You're opening for J Valvin how
are you feeling? What was it like being on stage
for opening for such a global start.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
So before the show, like the weeks coming up, obviously
I was nervous sometimes and then sometimes calm. Obviously, like
I was saying, I was really well supported, so that
helped a lot. And then the day of the show
was like weirdly calm, and then again I'd have moments
where I was.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Like, oh my god, what am I doing? This is crazy?
But yeah, we arrived and the whole team was lovely,
Like the venue. The people work at the venue were
really nice. They really took care of us.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
They gave us this like huge dressing room and another
dressing room for me to kind of like have my
own chill space. And yeah, everyone got to work straight away,
like the hair, the makeup, and I kind I was
working with my vocal coach to just kind of really
be very calm and very grounded. So I went into
(08:42):
my little room and we were doing like almost kind
of like meditation.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
I had like my five minute quiet time. I was
like saying my prayers and.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
You know, just really trying to express gratitude and be
really grounded, and then doing my vocal warm ups. Then
we had sound check, which was really really fun as well.
It's like a really fun part the process because I
was like, you know, using all the equipment and stuff,
and just seeing the stadium empty as well was really surreal.
Then I was like rushing to get ready. I got
(09:13):
ready just in time, because like obviously, hair and makeup
takes long, and I wasn't expecting. I didn't realize how
long it was going to take. And then I was
literally ready, like five minutes before we went on. I
was I just about finished getting ready. I had to
fix something in my top as well, but I think
that was good because it distracted me. It didn't give
me time to like sit there and just be nervous.
I was just kind of like go, go, go, and
(09:35):
then yeah, I just like gave my mum a big
hug and my team we had like a group hug,
and I just had to go on stage, and I
was I was nervous before I was.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I'm kind of like a suffer in silence type person,
so I was kind of like silent about it, but
inside I was like screaming.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
But then I just got on stage and I was like, wow, Wow,
it's now whenever like this is it. My boyfriend had
said to me, just enjoy it, like, remember, it's going
to finish so soon. You just have to enjoy it.
You just have to have fun. So I got on
stage and I was like, whoa, yeah, and I just
that's what I did. I just really really enjoyed it.
(10:13):
And then seeing the crowd obviously it was the biggest
show that I'd ever done.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It was truly such an honor. Honestly, yeah, it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
And did you get a chance to meet him before
you went on or after you performed?
Speaker 4 (10:27):
So I was like, basically everyone in my team kept
like seeing him in the corridors, and I don't know
where I was or what I was doing. For some reason,
I kept missing him, and so like my makeup artist
in my Hairsye, I said, two friends of mine, they
were like, oh, we just saw j Valvin.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I was like, oh my god, where is he? And
I kept wanting to meet him before but I didn't.
I just kept missing him.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
But I managed to meet him after he came out
to see me and say hello, and he was so like, honestly,
such a sweet guy, very humble, very down to earth
and really nice, not only to myself, but also to
my whole team as well. He was such a gentleman
and like he was like, oh, let's take a group
photo with the whole team, And I thought that was
really really sweet. And yeah, we just had like a
(11:11):
quick chat. Obviously. I was just like thanking him so much.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I was like, thank you so much again and again,
and he was really nice, like such a such a
sweet guy, very cool.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
I love that story so much. Thank you for walking
us through it. I can feel like the excitement and like, oh,
I wish we could have seen it right honestly.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Hopefully next time you guys can come, hopefully they'll be more.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, definitely, I'm sure there will be more.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
And I'm really I'm really curious, like in your performing
and you're putting out music, do you think there was
like one show in particular, or one song in particular,
or a post in particular that really caught his team's eye,
Like what do you think, like really was the deciding factor?
Have you? I'm sure you maybe have thought about that
about like, oh my god, like what was it that
(12:02):
that led them to reach out?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I think it.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Was just it was like last year in twenty twenty three,
I had one of my songs go viral on TikTok
and on Instagram, so it was called Me by your Name,
which is like my indie Bhatta, And it must have
been that one because before then I.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Was literally like so unknown. I like didn't have people
listening to my music.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
I was very very very small, and then suddenly my
song just went viral and it just went crazy and
the streams went crazy, and then you know, I had
like booking agents following me and like ag following me.
So I think, honestly, it must have just been from.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
About that time.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
So I'm really like thankful to that song as well,
because I think that that song going viral when it
did and how it did has helped my career so
much fantastic.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
That's amazing. It's like the you never know what's going
to get picked up, right, like what's gonna go viral
on social media, and then there can really be that
effect that then it travels, right.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
It's like a dominate effect.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
When I remember when I first released a song, because
it went viral a year after I released it, or
like a year and a half, so actually it was
like a year and a few months. So I was
really when I released the song. When I was making it,
I was like, I really think this song is special.
Like I think when people hear it, they're gonna get
(13:29):
it and they're gonna be like, wow, this is something else.
But no one's hearing it, and I was like, how
do I get it to people? And it's always so
disappointing when you're first starting and you're like, oh, I
don't have even a thousand streams, and it can be
super disheartening, but you just have to keep going. And
I was like, you know what, it doesn't matter one
I remember in the studio saying to my producer when
(13:52):
we were working on it, I was like, one day
people are going to hear this song and they're gonna
love it. And I just had a really good feeling
about it, and then forgot about that feeling obviously, just
kept going and Yeah, eventually it.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Happened with the power of social media. I was just yeah,
I was really consistent on social media for a few
months and yeah got really.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Lucky, very inspiring, honestly super inspiring. Congratulations, don't go anywhere,
because we'll be right back with more episode and I
want to like, I feel like this is almost Okay,
this is maybe like the theme of the episode, like
starting small and then letting something grow and get really big,
because I feel like there's sort of an allegory here
(14:36):
to like this Latino community in the UK, you know,
like maybe small but mighty, but maybe like bigger than
we realize, and like there's growth, and I think like
a person like you is bringing a lot of exposure
to the fact that there are Latinos in London. And
I'm really curious, how did you end up in London?
You're born and raised there? What is your origin story?
Speaker 4 (14:58):
So my mom is from Colombia and my dad is
from Cuba, and they moved here in their adult lives.
Like it's the same, you know, just kind of like
a classic you know, looking for better opportunities. A lot
of as we know, like a lot of Latinos move
out of Latin America for you know, work to make money,
(15:19):
send money back home to their families. Obviously, my dad's
from Cuba and my mom's from Columbia, so you know,
they came here, they worked, they were always sending money
back home supporting their families and you know, trying to
make a new life for themselves and I think a
lot of people are surprised because obviously the UK is
so far away from Latin America it makes more sense
(15:42):
to just go to the US because it's next door.
But actually, during the time where they came here, I
believe there was a wave of Latinos coming to the UK.
I don't know, it was kind of like a thing
to do at that time, So a lot of people
just sort of came all at the same time. And
then yeah, they met in a sausa club actually classic. Yeah,
(16:06):
they got together and then they had me, and that's
how I was born here.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
And then yeah, I was born and raised him.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
I love that. So my family, well, my dad is
from Peru and he ended up in the US, but
my through marriage, my brima is Peruvian Colombian and she
on her side, on her Colombian side, she has a
set of primas that ended up in the UK as well.
And so yeah, so that's really interesting because exactly like
you're saying, like we think of Latin America migration patterns
(16:35):
and we think of the US, but there's also a
diasport community in the UK. Yeah, and so with that said,
I mean, for some contexts our listeners are predominantly Latinas
they're predominantly like first second gen or you know, they've
been here multiple generations as well, but all like very
much rooted in their culture and their community and like
(16:58):
like to keep that alive even if they're living out here, right,
And so for you, like, what was it like growing
up in the UK? Like what was your experience being
a Latina growing up in London?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
It's very interesting because I think obviously, because we're so
far away, a lot of people don't expect us to
have that much of a connection with our Latini that
because obviously we're just really really far away.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
But I think Latinos have such a strong culture.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Like they're so proud, they're so patriotic, Like they the music,
the food, the language, everything, it's very very strong. So
when in the same way in the US, like when
you grew up in a Latino household, you grew up
in a Latino household, So it's like when And also
I think it's important to remember that our parents, like
(17:52):
they're so far away from home, so they're doing everything
they can to keep their culture alive and you know,
connect with their culture. They must feel like so lonely
at times as well. So I think when they're raising
us as their children, they you know, instill the same principles,
the same morals, they teach us, the language we have,
Like I always had Colombian food at home.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I was always eating rice every day. We always going
to the Colombian restaurants every weekend, we go to church, like,
you know, just kind of like how it is, I mean,
probably quite.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Similar to how it is in the US and in
you know, maybe in Latin America it's a little bit different,
but I think it's a similar experience being part of
the diaspora in the US as in the UK. Obviously
there's just less of us here, but there are Latino communities.
There are areas in London, especially in South London, where
there's loads of Latinos and everybody in London kind of
(18:46):
knows about them, and I believe it is one of
the fastest growing minorities in the UK if I'm not wrong.
I remember researching a bit about it because I was
obviously quite interested with all the conversations that's been sparked about,
you know, people being surprised that Latinos were here. So
I was like, oh, let me do a bit of research,
and yeah, it's pretty it's pretty normal, especially in London.
(19:07):
I think most of the Latinos are in London. But
London is honestly such a melting pot, Like we have
people from all around the world, and when you live
in London but you're from your you know your origins
are from somewhere else, you tend to be quite connected
with them.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Like I have so many people that I know that are.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
From Nigeria or from India, from Pakistan, like, and they
are very much living in households that have the culture
of that country. And I've never really seen anybody say
that they've been questioned or that they're like heritage or
culture has been doubted. So I think we just assume
(19:46):
the same for us, that it would be the same thing,
that we would just be received as Latinos the same
way that people are in the US. But then at
the same time, we also have like that British culture
growing up, you know, we grew up as British teams
into music from the UK, whether it's rap or it's
like indie music or like rock music or whatever, or
(20:08):
even pop music. You kind of have a fusion of both,
which I think is quite nice as well, and it's
definitely inspired me as a as a musician.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I love this segue because I'm super curious about So
I came across your post about being like first British
Latina opening for J Balvin. Have you connected with other
Latino musicians and artists there in the UK?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
So it was about a few years ago where I
started kind of realizing through a new friend that i'd made,
that there were like, well, actually first I started because
initially I was always like, you know, singing and like
speaking Spanish as I was young and like wanting to
do Latin music. But I didn't really know where to
(20:55):
start because I was like, wow, I don't know any
Latin producers. I don't know any you know, like anyone
in the Latin music industry. I didn't know there was
a UK Latin music scene either, Like I barely had
any connections. I mean, they didn't have any connections in
music in general. So I was like, I don't have
any music connections and I don't have any Latin music connections.
(21:18):
So I was like wow. But then I was doing
modeling and photo shoots. I always loved fashion, and then
I was booked to do a video shoot and a
photo shoot for this Colombian designer in London called Anciella.
And then Jennifer who's the designer of Anciella. She she
had hired like Venezuela and stylist Venezuela and photographer and
(21:43):
they were they're like good friends of hers and they're incredible,
and I think all three of them.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Something that they really wanted to do was like.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Uplift Latin women and fashion and and modeling and stuff
like that. So they had hired Latina models, which was beautiful.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
So then I.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
Started to meet other Latinas who were creatives. And then
I met one friend of mine, Jessica, whose artist's name
is Jca and she's a musician, and then kind of
like and then and then I bumped into her another
photo shoot for this other artist who I was like
a huge fan of called Desta French, and then we
all kind of connected through there. And then I started
(22:20):
going to a lot of UK Latin nights where they
were people were performing and there were like club nights
and stuff like that, and I started to get more
immersed in the in the world here of UK Latin music.
So yeah, I've definitely like worked and connected with a
lot of I mean, I actually I think most of
us UK Latin artists know each other, because there aren't loads.
(22:43):
I don't know how many there are, but like I
would say, we pretty much all know each other or
we've met or we follow each other on Instagram, so
it's a pretty tight knit community. And I've worked with
the girls as well, Like me and Jessica we did
a cover of De la Patia like Kelly She's Together,
and we did our own like DIY music video to it,
(23:04):
and we had like Latino creatives as well working on that.
It was like it was really DIY. It was like
in her house. It was so nice, and we styled
everything and I made clothes and it was really cool.
And then yeah, I was doing more photo shoots and
then I've worked with me actually recently met Jessica Desta
French and Milena Sanchez at their Three Colombian Artists. We
(23:29):
did a show together called Latinas of London at the
Jazz Cafe, which is like five hundred people capacity, and
we sold out the show and we were really really
promoting it so much, so we were so happy when
it sold out and that was Dester friendch like she
brought us into that because she's like quite an established
artist and she's I would say, she's like one of
the first UK Latin artists to really like do really
(23:53):
big things like color studio and tour and stuff like that.
So she brought us into that opportunity. And yeah, so
we definitely at the moment in like a collaborative mindset
and want to uplift each other and work together.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I love that the Latinos in London event is an
event I want to go to.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Yeah, definitely, I hope we do more. It would be
so good, honestly.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Yeah, I love that because it's such a testament of
like when you think maybe you're the only one, right,
you're the only one that's into something or doing something,
but there's actually like little pockets of community you just
have to find them. So I love how you describe
like started going to the clubs and the Latin nights
and like finding your little community there and then continuing
to work with each other. Because on our end over here,
(24:38):
like obviously we're in Los Angeles, there's a very big
Latino population, so it does not compare, but there is
a quite there's a pretty small indie LATINX creative scene
and so in that regard, I rarely I really resonate
and can connect to that because we like all know
each other. We're like hiring each other for everything, building together. Yeah,
and it sounds very similar like y'all found each other
(24:59):
so going to keep working together.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
That's so nice.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
And I think that's what's nice about indie music as well.
I feel like the indie artists are the ones that
are like have that collaborative mindset as well, and that
they all want to like.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Uplift each other.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
They're all independent, and yeah, it's so nice that that's
what's happening where you guys are as well.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
It's lovely to hear that too.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
But yeah, latinas all helping each other, yeah, will empowering
each other is so good.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
It's super cool. And I when are you coming to
the United States? It's like come to LA? When are
you coming to La?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Oh my god, I'm so like, I'm so keen to
make a trip. I've actually been speaking to my management
about it because I think a big big chunk of
my audience are all in the US and especially in LA.
So it's just like I just need to like do it. Basically.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
I think it's quite nerve wracking as well, because you know,
it's such a big place.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
It would be a really big trip, and I want
to make sure that when I go, I have like.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
As much planned as possible. I don't want to waste
the trip. Obviously it's far, it's expensive, but I want
to make sure that I go and have you know,
everything ready.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
But I definitely will be there this year.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
We're trying to see if we can get at least
one show out there because I just really want to
meet everybody in person as well.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Like I have some really really lovely supporters in the US.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
And in like the California area, and they're always like, oh,
when are you coming to the US, And I just
really want to like meet them and give them love
and like connect with them and hopefully perform to them.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
So fingers crossed it will be this year.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
I love that. Well, you guys know we will be
there and we will we will help with promotion.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yes, thank you nice, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
We would love to have you here. And I can
just see that tour being a sold out tour and
just super like everybody's going to show up for you, like,
there's no question in my mind.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Absolutely, I hope. So it's like I've never I've not
done anything like that before, so it is nerve wracking,
but also you know, you just got to take the
leap and Thingers clussed it with will be a success.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
So just to wrap up this lovely conversation, tell us
about your EP. Venus.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Yeah, So Venus is my very first EP. I'm super
proud of it. It's like my little baby and I
really in that EP kind of said everything that I
wanted to say. There are songs that I'd written before,
there are new songs as well, and that yeah, there
are some songs on there that I've been actually just
(27:40):
saving for something very very special. And when I made
the EP, I was like, you know, I really want
to I kind of put off making an EP for
a while because I like to work quite conceptually, So
I like projects that I do to have a really
solid concept and a theme and a message. And for EP,
(28:00):
the whole concept was like, you know, a very ethereal
outlook on womanhood and being a Latina woman, being part
of a diaspora, and the just things that I've personally
felt or gone through and emotions that I've been through
over the past few years that I felt like I
needed to get out and like turn into songs and
(28:22):
it was very therapeutic for me. And every song on
the EP has a different character. So that's something that
I've wanted to do since I was like since I
was like thirteen and listened to the Marina and the
Diamonds Electra Heart album, I was like, I'm doing the archetypes.
One day, I'll have an album with all the archetypes.
(28:43):
I don't think you guys are familiar with that that album,
but I was obsessed with it when I was a teenager,
and I knew that I wanted to see the same thing,
and like I'd had the idea of the archetypes for
each song for ages and I was just waiting for the.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Right time to do it.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
So, yeah, every song has a different character that I
kind of wanted to embody when I was singing the
songs and writing them, And I think that helps me to,
you know, get out of my comfort zone a bit
and step into another world and maybe like process emotions
that I'm feeling, but in like a different way, in
a different scenario. So yeah, it was very cinematic, very glamorous,
(29:22):
and I co produced the EP with my producer Lenin,
who produced with me call Me by Your Name. We
co produced that as well, and he was amazing to
work with. He really lets me have so much creative
freedom and he lets me, you know, really express my
ideas so well. And he also taught me so much
(29:43):
about production along the way, which was really really nice.
And I was really excited to get the team back
together for the making of that EP because obviously it
was a song that we did together that was such
a success and I was like, of course I have
to work with len again for the EP and we
have to rebuild that magic.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
And it was received really well.
Speaker 4 (30:03):
It makes me so happy that people are listening to
it and that they can resonate with the songs. And yeah,
we said that we're not going to hold back with
the production, like for the first VP. You know, you
can often kind of play it safe and do something
quite easily digestible, but we were like, no, We're gonna
basically go wild, do whatever we want, whatever's write for
(30:24):
that song, and make it every song very cinematic and
very big and kind of like.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
You're stepping into a new film or a new world
for every song. So yeah, that's Venus.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Love it, go stream Venus right now. It's everywhere, like
you can listen to music. It's on Spotify, it's on
Amazon Music. It's everywhere, right, Yeah, it's everywhere.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
It's readily available to listen to.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And can you let our listeners know where they can
follow you and keep up with you and your work?
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Yeah for sure. So my Instagram is Sophie Castillo Music.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Same as TikTok as well, So yeah, I just use
Instagram and TikTok at the moment, and then yeah, on
Spotify and Apple and Amazon, it's just Sophie Castindo.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Amazing. Thank you so much for joining us, Sophie. We
hope to see you in La very soon. Thank you
for such an incredible conversation.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Thank you so much for having me, guys, been so
nice speaking to you, and yes, hopefully see you all
soon in La.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Look At a Radio is executive produced by Theosa FM
and Mala Munios.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Stephanie Franco is our producer.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Story editing by me Theosa.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Creative direction by me Mala.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Look At Our Radio is a part of iHeartRadio's Michael
Dura podcast network.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
You can listen to look at Radio on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Leave us a review and share with your prima or
share with your homegirl.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
And thank you to our loco motives, to our listeners
for tuning in each and every week.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Besitos, Hello Calumnia,
Lok at Our Radio is a radiophonic novela, which.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
Is just a very extra way of saying a podcast.
Speaker 1 (00:11):
I'm Fosa fem.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
And I am ma la munos. We're podcasting through another
Trump election year. We've been podcasting through election years, a
global pandemic, civic unrest, political controversies, the Me Too movement,
the rise of TikTok, and we are still here. We're
not done telling stories.
Speaker 1 (00:27):
We're still making podcasts. We're older, we're wiser, We're even
podcasting through a new decade of our lives.
Speaker 2 (00:35):
Since twenty sixteen, we've been making Loca thro Our Radio
independently until we joined iHeartMedia's Michael Dura Network in twenty
twenty two.
Speaker 1 (00:44):
From our Lips to your Ears, fall in love with
Loka to a radio like you never have before.
Speaker 2 (00:50):
Welcome to Season nine, Love at First.
Speaker 1 (00:53):
Listen, Ola La Loka Motives. Welcome to season nine of
loc At Dora Radio. I'm Diosa and I'm Mala. Locat
Dotter Radio is a podcast dedicated to archiving our present
and shifting the culture forward. You're tuning into Capitols two three.
Speaker 2 (01:14):
Last time on Locata Radio, we talked about our time
at Endolon's ninth annual assembleal So almost mass. Go back
and listen to that episode for interviews we conducted with
Hornaleros from across the country and share with a friend.
Speaker 1 (01:27):
Today, we have a really fun interview, super fun. We
are interviewing a guest from the UK and I want
to say that's our first UK London based interview, right.
Speaker 2 (01:42):
I think you are correct.
Speaker 1 (01:43):
Yes, We've interviewed a ton of people over the years
and if they're not from the area, they're usually traveling
into LA and that's how we catch them.
Speaker 2 (01:52):
Yeah, when they're on tour, when they're visiting, if they
have a show, something like that. But this time we
are interviewing a UK based, London born and raised Latina,
Sophie Castillo. She's a recording artist. She has gone viral
a couple times for her music and then recently because
she opened for Jay Balvin in London, so we just
(02:13):
had to have her.
Speaker 1 (02:14):
And that's how you came across her. You saw this
video go viral because she was opening for Jay Baldwin
and then you sent her to me and were like,
we need to have her on.
Speaker 2 (02:23):
We got to have her on. Sophie is very talented,
she's super cute and I think she might be your
next favorite artist to listen to.
Speaker 1 (02:30):
Honestly, I was streaming the EP on the way over
here and it's so cute. And afterwards, you know, if
you listen on Spotify, the algorithm, we'll put other artists
that are kind of related or have a similar sound,
similar vibe.
Speaker 2 (02:45):
Yeah, it's really incredible. Just when you think you've heard
it all and seen it all, there's always something new
and Sophie, I think, is bringing a very like ethereal, ephemeral.
She uses the word cinematic sound to the landscape, and
I think about her being London based really adds a
lot to her style and the type of music she's
putting out there. She talks about her EP called Venus
(03:08):
towards the end of the interview, so I hope you
guys love it all right, Look, Amotas. If you've been
on the internet recently, you've probably seen footage of Sophie
Castio opening for J Bovin in London. Sophie is a
British Latina of Colombian and Cuban descent, and her debut EP, Venus,
is now available to stream. We are so so excited
(03:28):
to have Sophie here joining us live and direct from London, England.
And in the past, you know, on the podcast we've
discussed LATINX diasport communities here and there, so we're super
excited to dig into the UK based Latin American diaspora
by way of Sophie and her music. So, Sophie Castho,
can you please say hello to all of our listeners.
Speaker 3 (03:49):
Hi, guys, thank you so much for having me today.
I'm so excited.
Speaker 1 (03:53):
We're so excited to have you on the podcast. Have
you on look at Radio Ken You tell us about
your recent travels. You mentioned that you were just on
holiday and you've also been at the same time doing
a lot music wise, career wise, tell us about Let's
start there.
Speaker 4 (04:10):
Okay, yeah, so holidays. First, I just came back from Italy.
My boyfriend is from Italy, so I was just having
like a little break, you know, a little time to
get some sun because the weather in London has been
so bad. Actually it's okay now, but it was like
terrible before I left, so I was like, I need
to get a little bit of sun. And after the
J Balvin show, I was like, okay, it was like
(04:31):
a whole month of preparation, like.
Speaker 3 (04:33):
Really hard work.
Speaker 4 (04:35):
So I was like, it'd be nice to get away
for a little bit. But yeah, we were we weren't
in Italy relaxing, but also like kind of speaking to
other artists and Italian artists and some people over there
who are super exciting, so kind of like work slash
holiday fabulous.
Speaker 2 (04:53):
Thank you so much for squeezing us in in the
midst of all of your travels. And speaking of jab Balvin,
I mean, let's talk about it. How did that opportunity
come up? You opened for him in London? You mentioned
a month of preparation before the show, like take us
to the beginning and how did it happen?
Speaker 4 (05:11):
So I basically just received an email from them and
they were like the people putting on the show, and yeah,
they basically were just like, hey, do you are you
free on this day? It's for a big artist and
you'd be the support act.
Speaker 3 (05:29):
And I was like, oh, yeah, like I am free
on that.
Speaker 4 (05:33):
Day, And obviously, me being me, I was like I
couldn't wait. They didn't tell me who it was straight away,
so obviously, me being me, I was like googling, like
all right the company the day and I figured out
who it was and I was literally on the tube.
It was like, for those who don't know, it's like,
I'll train like our metro train steps because I said
that to someone the other day and they were like,
what is the tube? So just signed no explanation. So yeah,
(05:57):
I was on the tube and I literally almost screamed.
I gasped really really loudly when I realized who it was.
And then yeah, they got back to me after I
confirmed and they were like it's Jade Balvin and I
couldn't believe it. I was literally like calling my family.
I was calling my managers. I was like, oh my god,
I can't believe it, and we were all so excited
(06:18):
and yeah, it was just we found out like probably
about six weeks before and then I found out and
then annoyingly, I got a really bad flute, so I
was like I wanted to go straight into working rehearsing,
but I was sick for.
Speaker 3 (06:31):
Like a week and a half.
Speaker 4 (06:32):
Annoyingly, but then once I recovered, I was like, right, go,
go go, this is the show of a lifetime.
Speaker 3 (06:40):
I want to make sure that everything's perfect. I want
to be ready and yeah, I was like rehearsing every
single week with my dancers sometimes up to like twice
a week, and rehearsing with a vocal coach.
Speaker 4 (06:54):
I decided to get a vocal coach because I was like,
it's such a big show, it's a massive stage. I
want to make sure that my staminas on point because
I'm going to be dancing as well. And then you know,
I was working with a great engineer as well for
the whole show, rehearsing with him, and I had a
really really great team around me, and my management obviously
(07:14):
was so helpful the whole way through. So it was
a really I thought it was going to be a
stressful experience just because of how big it was and
how much pressure it is, but I really really like
it was so seamless, and I really enjoyed the whole
experience with my team, and I felt like a proper
pop stuff and it was really really nice.
Speaker 2 (07:33):
Congratulations, that's so fune.
Speaker 1 (07:36):
We're going to go on a quick break and we'll
be right back, and so tell us about the show itself.
You described the preparation, So take walk us through the
day of the concert. You're opening for J Valvin how
are you feeling? What was it like being on stage
for opening for such a global start.
Speaker 4 (07:54):
So before the show, like the weeks coming up, obviously
I was nervous sometimes and then sometimes calm. Obviously, like
I was saying, I was really well supported, so that
helped a lot. And then the day of the show
was like weirdly calm, and then again I'd have moments
where I was.
Speaker 3 (08:11):
Like, oh my god, what am I doing? This is crazy?
But yeah, we arrived and the whole team was lovely,
Like the venue. The people work at the venue were
really nice. They really took care of us.
Speaker 4 (08:21):
They gave us this like huge dressing room and another
dressing room for me to kind of like have my
own chill space. And yeah, everyone got to work straight away,
like the hair, the makeup, and I kind I was
working with my vocal coach to just kind of really
be very calm and very grounded. So I went into
(08:42):
my little room and we were doing like almost kind
of like meditation.
Speaker 3 (08:46):
I had like my five minute quiet time. I was
like saying my prayers and.
Speaker 4 (08:51):
You know, just really trying to express gratitude and be
really grounded, and then doing my vocal warm ups. Then
we had sound check, which was really really fun as well.
It's like a really fun part the process because I
was like, you know, using all the equipment and stuff,
and just seeing the stadium empty as well was really surreal.
Then I was like rushing to get ready. I got
(09:13):
ready just in time, because like obviously, hair and makeup
takes long, and I wasn't expecting. I didn't realize how
long it was going to take. And then I was
literally ready, like five minutes before we went on. I
was I just about finished getting ready. I had to
fix something in my top as well, but I think
that was good because it distracted me. It didn't give
me time to like sit there and just be nervous.
I was just kind of like go, go, go, and
(09:35):
then yeah, I just like gave my mum a big
hug and my team we had like a group hug,
and I just had to go on stage, and I
was I was nervous before I was.
Speaker 3 (09:45):
I'm kind of like a suffer in silence type person,
so I was kind of like silent about it, but
inside I was like screaming.
Speaker 4 (09:53):
But then I just got on stage and I was like, wow, Wow,
it's now whenever like this is it. My boyfriend had
said to me, just enjoy it, like, remember, it's going
to finish so soon. You just have to enjoy it.
You just have to have fun. So I got on
stage and I was like, whoa, yeah, and I just
that's what I did. I just really really enjoyed it.
(10:13):
And then seeing the crowd obviously it was the biggest
show that I'd ever done.
Speaker 3 (10:18):
It was truly such an honor. Honestly, yeah, it was amazing.
Speaker 2 (10:22):
And did you get a chance to meet him before
you went on or after you performed?
Speaker 4 (10:27):
So I was like, basically everyone in my team kept
like seeing him in the corridors, and I don't know
where I was or what I was doing. For some reason,
I kept missing him, and so like my makeup artist
in my Hairsye, I said, two friends of mine, they
were like, oh, we just saw j Valvin.
Speaker 3 (10:43):
I was like, oh my god, where is he? And
I kept wanting to meet him before but I didn't.
I just kept missing him.
Speaker 4 (10:49):
But I managed to meet him after he came out
to see me and say hello, and he was so like, honestly,
such a sweet guy, very humble, very down to earth
and really nice, not only to myself, but also to
my whole team as well. He was such a gentleman
and like he was like, oh, let's take a group
photo with the whole team, And I thought that was
really really sweet. And yeah, we just had like a
(11:11):
quick chat. Obviously. I was just like thanking him so much.
Speaker 3 (11:15):
I was like, thank you so much again and again,
and he was really nice, like such a such a
sweet guy, very cool.
Speaker 1 (11:24):
I love that story so much. Thank you for walking
us through it. I can feel like the excitement and like, oh,
I wish we could have seen it right honestly.
Speaker 3 (11:34):
Hopefully next time you guys can come, hopefully they'll be more.
Speaker 1 (11:37):
Yeah, definitely, I'm sure there will be more.
Speaker 2 (11:40):
And I'm really I'm really curious, like in your performing
and you're putting out music, do you think there was
like one show in particular, or one song in particular,
or a post in particular that really caught his team's eye,
Like what do you think, like really was the deciding factor?
Have you? I'm sure you maybe have thought about that
about like, oh my god, like what was it that
(12:02):
that led them to reach out?
Speaker 3 (12:03):
I think it.
Speaker 4 (12:04):
Was just it was like last year in twenty twenty three,
I had one of my songs go viral on TikTok
and on Instagram, so it was called Me by your Name,
which is like my indie Bhatta, And it must have
been that one because before then I.
Speaker 3 (12:21):
Was literally like so unknown. I like didn't have people
listening to my music.
Speaker 4 (12:26):
I was very very very small, and then suddenly my
song just went viral and it just went crazy and
the streams went crazy, and then you know, I had
like booking agents following me and like ag following me.
So I think, honestly, it must have just been from.
Speaker 3 (12:43):
About that time.
Speaker 4 (12:44):
So I'm really like thankful to that song as well,
because I think that that song going viral when it
did and how it did has helped my career so
much fantastic.
Speaker 1 (12:55):
That's amazing. It's like the you never know what's going
to get picked up, right, like what's gonna go viral
on social media, and then there can really be that
effect that then it travels, right.
Speaker 3 (13:07):
It's like a dominate effect.
Speaker 4 (13:09):
When I remember when I first released a song, because
it went viral a year after I released it, or
like a year and a half, so actually it was
like a year and a few months. So I was
really when I released the song. When I was making it,
I was like, I really think this song is special.
Like I think when people hear it, they're gonna get
(13:29):
it and they're gonna be like, wow, this is something else.
But no one's hearing it, and I was like, how
do I get it to people? And it's always so
disappointing when you're first starting and you're like, oh, I
don't have even a thousand streams, and it can be
super disheartening, but you just have to keep going. And
I was like, you know what, it doesn't matter one
I remember in the studio saying to my producer when
(13:52):
we were working on it, I was like, one day
people are going to hear this song and they're gonna
love it. And I just had a really good feeling
about it, and then forgot about that feeling obviously, just
kept going and Yeah, eventually it.
Speaker 3 (14:06):
Happened with the power of social media. I was just yeah,
I was really consistent on social media for a few
months and yeah got really.
Speaker 2 (14:15):
Lucky, very inspiring, honestly super inspiring. Congratulations, don't go anywhere,
because we'll be right back with more episode and I
want to like, I feel like this is almost Okay,
this is maybe like the theme of the episode, like
starting small and then letting something grow and get really big,
because I feel like there's sort of an allegory here
(14:36):
to like this Latino community in the UK, you know,
like maybe small but mighty, but maybe like bigger than
we realize, and like there's growth, and I think like
a person like you is bringing a lot of exposure
to the fact that there are Latinos in London. And
I'm really curious, how did you end up in London?
You're born and raised there? What is your origin story?
Speaker 4 (14:58):
So my mom is from Colombia and my dad is
from Cuba, and they moved here in their adult lives.
Like it's the same, you know, just kind of like
a classic you know, looking for better opportunities. A lot
of as we know, like a lot of Latinos move
out of Latin America for you know, work to make money,
(15:19):
send money back home to their families. Obviously, my dad's
from Cuba and my mom's from Columbia, so you know,
they came here, they worked, they were always sending money
back home supporting their families and you know, trying to
make a new life for themselves and I think a
lot of people are surprised because obviously the UK is
so far away from Latin America it makes more sense
(15:42):
to just go to the US because it's next door.
But actually, during the time where they came here, I
believe there was a wave of Latinos coming to the UK.
I don't know, it was kind of like a thing
to do at that time, So a lot of people
just sort of came all at the same time. And
then yeah, they met in a sausa club actually classic. Yeah,
(16:06):
they got together and then they had me, and that's
how I was born here.
Speaker 3 (16:11):
And then yeah, I was born and raised him.
Speaker 1 (16:14):
I love that. So my family, well, my dad is
from Peru and he ended up in the US, but
my through marriage, my brima is Peruvian Colombian and she
on her side, on her Colombian side, she has a
set of primas that ended up in the UK as well.
And so yeah, so that's really interesting because exactly like
you're saying, like we think of Latin America migration patterns
(16:35):
and we think of the US, but there's also a
diasport community in the UK. Yeah, and so with that said,
I mean, for some contexts our listeners are predominantly Latinas
they're predominantly like first second gen or you know, they've
been here multiple generations as well, but all like very
much rooted in their culture and their community and like
(16:58):
like to keep that alive even if they're living out here, right,
And so for you, like, what was it like growing
up in the UK? Like what was your experience being
a Latina growing up in London?
Speaker 4 (17:11):
It's very interesting because I think obviously, because we're so
far away, a lot of people don't expect us to
have that much of a connection with our Latini that
because obviously we're just really really far away.
Speaker 3 (17:26):
But I think Latinos have such a strong culture.
Speaker 4 (17:31):
Like they're so proud, they're so patriotic, Like they the music,
the food, the language, everything, it's very very strong. So
when in the same way in the US, like when
you grew up in a Latino household, you grew up
in a Latino household, So it's like when And also
I think it's important to remember that our parents, like
(17:52):
they're so far away from home, so they're doing everything
they can to keep their culture alive and you know,
connect with their culture. They must feel like so lonely
at times as well. So I think when they're raising
us as their children, they you know, instill the same principles,
the same morals, they teach us, the language we have,
Like I always had Colombian food at home.
Speaker 3 (18:15):
I was always eating rice every day. We always going
to the Colombian restaurants every weekend, we go to church, like,
you know, just kind of like how it is, I mean,
probably quite.
Speaker 4 (18:25):
Similar to how it is in the US and in
you know, maybe in Latin America it's a little bit different,
but I think it's a similar experience being part of
the diaspora in the US as in the UK. Obviously
there's just less of us here, but there are Latino communities.
There are areas in London, especially in South London, where
there's loads of Latinos and everybody in London kind of
(18:46):
knows about them, and I believe it is one of
the fastest growing minorities in the UK if I'm not wrong.
I remember researching a bit about it because I was
obviously quite interested with all the conversations that's been sparked about,
you know, people being surprised that Latinos were here. So
I was like, oh, let me do a bit of research,
and yeah, it's pretty it's pretty normal, especially in London.
(19:07):
I think most of the Latinos are in London. But
London is honestly such a melting pot, Like we have
people from all around the world, and when you live
in London but you're from your you know your origins
are from somewhere else, you tend to be quite connected
with them.
Speaker 3 (19:22):
Like I have so many people that I know that are.
Speaker 4 (19:25):
From Nigeria or from India, from Pakistan, like, and they
are very much living in households that have the culture
of that country. And I've never really seen anybody say
that they've been questioned or that they're like heritage or
culture has been doubted. So I think we just assume
(19:46):
the same for us, that it would be the same thing,
that we would just be received as Latinos the same
way that people are in the US. But then at
the same time, we also have like that British culture
growing up, you know, we grew up as British teams
into music from the UK, whether it's rap or it's
like indie music or like rock music or whatever, or
(20:08):
even pop music. You kind of have a fusion of both,
which I think is quite nice as well, and it's
definitely inspired me as a as a musician.
Speaker 2 (20:17):
I love this segue because I'm super curious about So
I came across your post about being like first British
Latina opening for J Balvin. Have you connected with other
Latino musicians and artists there in the UK?
Speaker 3 (20:34):
Yes, for sure.
Speaker 4 (20:35):
So it was about a few years ago where I
started kind of realizing through a new friend that i'd made,
that there were like, well, actually first I started because
initially I was always like, you know, singing and like
speaking Spanish as I was young and like wanting to
do Latin music. But I didn't really know where to
(20:55):
start because I was like, wow, I don't know any
Latin producers. I don't know any you know, like anyone
in the Latin music industry. I didn't know there was
a UK Latin music scene either, Like I barely had
any connections. I mean, they didn't have any connections in
music in general. So I was like, I don't have
any music connections and I don't have any Latin music connections.
(21:18):
So I was like wow. But then I was doing
modeling and photo shoots. I always loved fashion, and then
I was booked to do a video shoot and a
photo shoot for this Colombian designer in London called Anciella.
And then Jennifer who's the designer of Anciella. She she
had hired like Venezuela and stylist Venezuela and photographer and
(21:43):
they were they're like good friends of hers and they're incredible,
and I think all three of them.
Speaker 3 (21:48):
Something that they really wanted to do was like.
Speaker 4 (21:50):
Uplift Latin women and fashion and and modeling and stuff
like that. So they had hired Latina models, which was beautiful.
Speaker 3 (21:57):
So then I.
Speaker 4 (21:58):
Started to meet other Latinas who were creatives. And then
I met one friend of mine, Jessica, whose artist's name
is Jca and she's a musician, and then kind of
like and then and then I bumped into her another
photo shoot for this other artist who I was like
a huge fan of called Desta French, and then we
all kind of connected through there. And then I started
(22:20):
going to a lot of UK Latin nights where they
were people were performing and there were like club nights
and stuff like that, and I started to get more
immersed in the in the world here of UK Latin music.
So yeah, I've definitely like worked and connected with a
lot of I mean, I actually I think most of
us UK Latin artists know each other, because there aren't loads.
(22:43):
I don't know how many there are, but like I
would say, we pretty much all know each other or
we've met or we follow each other on Instagram, so
it's a pretty tight knit community. And I've worked with
the girls as well, Like me and Jessica we did
a cover of De la Patia like Kelly She's Together,
and we did our own like DIY music video to it,
(23:04):
and we had like Latino creatives as well working on that.
It was like it was really DIY. It was like
in her house. It was so nice, and we styled
everything and I made clothes and it was really cool.
And then yeah, I was doing more photo shoots and
then I've worked with me actually recently met Jessica Desta
French and Milena Sanchez at their Three Colombian Artists. We
(23:29):
did a show together called Latinas of London at the
Jazz Cafe, which is like five hundred people capacity, and
we sold out the show and we were really really
promoting it so much, so we were so happy when
it sold out and that was Dester friendch like she
brought us into that because she's like quite an established
artist and she's I would say, she's like one of
the first UK Latin artists to really like do really
(23:53):
big things like color studio and tour and stuff like that.
So she brought us into that opportunity. And yeah, so
we definitely at the moment in like a collaborative mindset
and want to uplift each other and work together.
Speaker 3 (24:06):
For sure.
Speaker 2 (24:07):
I love that the Latinos in London event is an
event I want to go to.
Speaker 3 (24:12):
Yeah, definitely, I hope we do more. It would be
so good, honestly.
Speaker 1 (24:16):
Yeah, I love that because it's such a testament of
like when you think maybe you're the only one, right,
you're the only one that's into something or doing something,
but there's actually like little pockets of community you just
have to find them. So I love how you describe
like started going to the clubs and the Latin nights
and like finding your little community there and then continuing
to work with each other. Because on our end over here,
(24:38):
like obviously we're in Los Angeles, there's a very big
Latino population, so it does not compare, but there is
a quite there's a pretty small indie LATINX creative scene
and so in that regard, I rarely I really resonate
and can connect to that because we like all know
each other. We're like hiring each other for everything, building together. Yeah,
and it sounds very similar like y'all found each other
(24:59):
so going to keep working together.
Speaker 3 (25:02):
That's so nice.
Speaker 4 (25:03):
And I think that's what's nice about indie music as well.
I feel like the indie artists are the ones that
are like have that collaborative mindset as well, and that
they all want to like.
Speaker 3 (25:15):
Uplift each other.
Speaker 4 (25:16):
They're all independent, and yeah, it's so nice that that's
what's happening where you guys are as well.
Speaker 3 (25:22):
It's lovely to hear that too.
Speaker 4 (25:23):
But yeah, latinas all helping each other, yeah, will empowering
each other is so good.
Speaker 2 (25:28):
It's super cool. And I when are you coming to
the United States? It's like come to LA? When are
you coming to La?
Speaker 3 (25:35):
Oh my god, I'm so like, I'm so keen to
make a trip. I've actually been speaking to my management
about it because I think a big big chunk of
my audience are all in the US and especially in LA.
So it's just like I just need to like do it. Basically.
Speaker 4 (25:53):
I think it's quite nerve wracking as well, because you know,
it's such a big place.
Speaker 3 (25:58):
It would be a really big trip, and I want
to make sure that when I go, I have like.
Speaker 4 (26:03):
As much planned as possible. I don't want to waste
the trip. Obviously it's far, it's expensive, but I want
to make sure that I go and have you know,
everything ready.
Speaker 3 (26:12):
But I definitely will be there this year.
Speaker 4 (26:14):
We're trying to see if we can get at least
one show out there because I just really want to
meet everybody in person as well.
Speaker 3 (26:22):
Like I have some really really lovely supporters in the US.
Speaker 4 (26:26):
And in like the California area, and they're always like, oh,
when are you coming to the US, And I just
really want to like meet them and give them love
and like connect with them and hopefully perform to them.
Speaker 3 (26:37):
So fingers crossed it will be this year.
Speaker 1 (26:40):
I love that. Well, you guys know we will be
there and we will we will help with promotion.
Speaker 3 (26:45):
Yes, thank you nice, appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (26:49):
We would love to have you here. And I can
just see that tour being a sold out tour and
just super like everybody's going to show up for you, like,
there's no question in my mind.
Speaker 3 (26:58):
Absolutely, I hope. So it's like I've never I've not
done anything like that before, so it is nerve wracking,
but also you know, you just got to take the
leap and Thingers clussed it with will be a success.
Speaker 2 (27:11):
I love that.
Speaker 1 (27:12):
So just to wrap up this lovely conversation, tell us
about your EP. Venus.
Speaker 4 (27:18):
Yeah, So Venus is my very first EP. I'm super
proud of it. It's like my little baby and I
really in that EP kind of said everything that I
wanted to say. There are songs that I'd written before,
there are new songs as well, and that yeah, there
are some songs on there that I've been actually just
(27:40):
saving for something very very special. And when I made
the EP, I was like, you know, I really want
to I kind of put off making an EP for
a while because I like to work quite conceptually, So
I like projects that I do to have a really
solid concept and a theme and a message. And for EP,
(28:00):
the whole concept was like, you know, a very ethereal
outlook on womanhood and being a Latina woman, being part
of a diaspora, and the just things that I've personally
felt or gone through and emotions that I've been through
over the past few years that I felt like I
needed to get out and like turn into songs and
(28:22):
it was very therapeutic for me. And every song on
the EP has a different character. So that's something that
I've wanted to do since I was like since I
was like thirteen and listened to the Marina and the
Diamonds Electra Heart album, I was like, I'm doing the archetypes.
One day, I'll have an album with all the archetypes.
(28:43):
I don't think you guys are familiar with that that album,
but I was obsessed with it when I was a teenager,
and I knew that I wanted to see the same thing,
and like I'd had the idea of the archetypes for
each song for ages and I was just waiting for the.
Speaker 3 (28:58):
Right time to do it.
Speaker 4 (28:59):
So, yeah, every song has a different character that I
kind of wanted to embody when I was singing the
songs and writing them, And I think that helps me to,
you know, get out of my comfort zone a bit
and step into another world and maybe like process emotions
that I'm feeling, but in like a different way, in
a different scenario. So yeah, it was very cinematic, very glamorous,
(29:22):
and I co produced the EP with my producer Lenin,
who produced with me call Me by Your Name. We
co produced that as well, and he was amazing to
work with. He really lets me have so much creative
freedom and he lets me, you know, really express my
ideas so well. And he also taught me so much
(29:43):
about production along the way, which was really really nice.
And I was really excited to get the team back
together for the making of that EP because obviously it
was a song that we did together that was such
a success and I was like, of course I have
to work with len again for the EP and we
have to rebuild that magic.
Speaker 3 (30:00):
And it was received really well.
Speaker 4 (30:03):
It makes me so happy that people are listening to
it and that they can resonate with the songs. And yeah,
we said that we're not going to hold back with
the production, like for the first VP. You know, you
can often kind of play it safe and do something
quite easily digestible, but we were like, no, We're gonna
basically go wild, do whatever we want, whatever's write for
(30:24):
that song, and make it every song very cinematic and
very big and kind of like.
Speaker 3 (30:31):
You're stepping into a new film or a new world
for every song. So yeah, that's Venus.
Speaker 2 (30:37):
Love it, go stream Venus right now. It's everywhere, like
you can listen to music. It's on Spotify, it's on
Amazon Music. It's everywhere, right, Yeah, it's everywhere.
Speaker 3 (30:49):
It's readily available to listen to.
Speaker 2 (30:52):
And can you let our listeners know where they can
follow you and keep up with you and your work?
Speaker 3 (30:58):
Yeah for sure. So my Instagram is Sophie Castillo Music.
Speaker 4 (31:02):
Same as TikTok as well, So yeah, I just use
Instagram and TikTok at the moment, and then yeah, on
Spotify and Apple and Amazon, it's just Sophie Castindo.
Speaker 1 (31:14):
Amazing. Thank you so much for joining us, Sophie. We
hope to see you in La very soon. Thank you
for such an incredible conversation.
Speaker 4 (31:23):
Thank you so much for having me, guys, been so
nice speaking to you, and yes, hopefully see you all
soon in La.
Speaker 1 (31:30):
Look At a Radio is executive produced by Theosa FM
and Mala Munios.
Speaker 2 (31:34):
Stephanie Franco is our producer.
Speaker 1 (31:36):
Story editing by me Theosa.
Speaker 2 (31:39):
Creative direction by me Mala.
Speaker 1 (31:41):
Look At Our Radio is a part of iHeartRadio's Michael
Dura podcast network.
Speaker 2 (31:45):
You can listen to look at Radio on the iHeartRadio
app or wherever you get your podcasts.
Speaker 1 (31:50):
Leave us a review and share with your prima or
share with your homegirl.
Speaker 2 (31:53):
And thank you to our loco motives, to our listeners
for tuning in each and every week.
Speaker 1 (31:57):
Besitos, Hello Calumnia,
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