Diandra Interviews Raquel Sofia: Keepin It Real In Music
Raquel Sofia has to be one of the sweetest, most charismatic stars I have ever met. She is so down-to-earth, like her music, and has everyone eager to collaborate with her. It is easy to understand why: she is creativity and kindness met in song and spirit. Hence, it is no wonder that, in this interview, we discuss how empowerment has trickled into her songs and self.
Diandra: What qualities of yours, as a person, do you see in your artistry?
Raquel: Getting Deep! Wow! Buy me a drink first! (she laughs). I think honesty and realness. I try to be super real with people and my music. I think honesty is something lacking in people and this world, especially with social media.
Diandra: Was there anything you learned about yourself through creating music?
Raquel: I have written songs and, after writing them, I felt clearer about myself. Somehow, at the end of making a song, I find myself forgiving myself or forgiving someone I had a relationship with. One of my songs, “Tenemos Historia,” I wrote this lyric, “Love doesn’t leave/ Love transforms.” I wrote it and I was like “Huh.” I understood the relationship better after that.
Raquel Sofía, PJ Sin Suela – A Las Rocas (Official Video)
Diandra: Would you say music has taught you how to love better?
Raquel: You know….. (she smiles) it is weird. I write a lot about my relationships and how I go into really toxic ones. My friends even say, “You go on stage and you devour the world,” but then I leave it and I with these really toxic guys. It is like, “What the hell?” Right now, I in love with a great guys and I do not write hate, angry songs. Every relationship gave me a song, and I, one day, was like, “I don’t want to write sad songs anymore.” I don’t to keep writing this song and meeting this type of guy. I write about what is inside me. I wish I could be like Dylan or McCartney and write songs about the guy parking his bike over there, but my music is very auto-biographical.
Diandra: So is the person you are on stage who you wish to be off it?
Raquel: You know, I have heard of the people who have that “alter-ego” thing, and I am not really like that. I am really honest and I talk a lot off the stage, too. It is me. I am pretty much the same just an exaggeration of me. Sometimes, I guess, we wish we were stronger about relationships or with a guy and we had said, “F**k You!” In repeating the songs, yeah, I have gotten stronger.
Raquel Sofía – Tenemos Historia (Official Video)
Diandra: What is the hardest part of this industry?
Raquel: My favorite part of this industry is how people connect to my songs, and, I think, it is hard to remember that all you want to do is write music for people to connect with when you have the business side. When I was 15, I was not thinking about tours and money and sales I just wanted to sing and write music. It is hard to remember that sometimes. So I love meeting people that love my music like, this couple that met in chemo-therapy and bonded over my album. That is amazing and validating because that is what matters. People are not connecting with your image, they are connecting with you.
Diandra: Do you believe there is a responsibility, from artists, to be vulnerable about the human condition?
Raquel: Yes and no! I think it is both a necessity and not. This is such a heartbreaking industry, and I understand why some people would not want to be emotionally vulnerable. It is cool to write those songs that are just about fun, but I think, as artists, we have a responsibility to reflect and analyze the human condition. I don’t write social or political songs because it is really not my bag, but I admire people that do. I write love songs and about my experiences with love.
Diandra: How do you feel human catastrophes, like Hurricane Maria, change the meaning or reveal the importance of art?
Raquel: Human catastrophes are, obviously, are terrible, but I guess the silver lining is how human beings come together. I saw it in Puerto Rico, the wildfires in California, the earthquake in Mexico. Seeing people come together makes you feel like, maybe, we can do this. I think art is important in those times because it can either reflect humanity or help people escape it. I think it is important to realize in this world that we are not alone. Everyone has someone they love or goes through a time of pure heartbreak. That is life and art helps us see that.
Raquel Sofía – Déjalo Ir (Live)
Diandra: What has your music taught you about self-love.
Raquel: That it is essential. You know, it is like the plane. Put your mask on first and then do the others. I have been going through this spiritual journey and I have seen how you love yourself affects how you love others. This industry is hard and self-love protects you through it.
Diandra: My final question is what Game of Thrones character are you?
Raquel: I am a MAJOR Game of Thrones fan. Wow, I don’t know though. They are all kind of evil.
Diandra: Even Jon Snow?
Raquel: Not that brave, and that ending! I am pretending that it did not happen.
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