Meet Sofia Storti | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sofia Storti and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sofia, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
As far back as I can remember, my parents always made sure to surround my brother and I with our heritage and culture. Growing up in South Florida was also a melting pot. I always felt a deep rooted connection to my culture thanks to my parents. My father is from Caracas, Venezuela with Italian parents and my mother is from Ponce, Puerto Rico with Spanish parents. You could only imagine the type of food that I grew up with. I remember growing up as a kid and going to my Italian grandparents house and having cheese, prosciutto, and homemade pasta, but then also having arepas for breakfast. At my moms house we were constantly surrounded by tostones, arroz con habichuelas, surullitos, the list goes on and on. Oh and you can’t forget the salsa music (Héctor Lavoe, Willie Colón, etc.) playing in the background as my mother cooked. As I got older, I brought that love that I had for my culture into my career and music. I became super passionate in salsa and writing music with lots of Caribbean influences.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m a performer and I specialize in musical theater and songwriting. My main focus right now is performing and singing salsa/latin music and also doing background vocals for several artists around Los Angeles. I have an array of musical inspirations and all that comes through within my music. I grew up listening to a lot of salsa, reggae, reggaeton, and r&b. I pull inspiration from all of those genres and I try to come up with a new sound that hasn’t been heard yet. I also love to use my musical theatre background in all of my live performances through storytelling. I think what I’m most proud of right now in my journey is the confidence and courage that I’ve gained as a performer. I push myself more to take risks especially during live performances. I’m most excited about the music I will be releasing this year with my best friend. The biggest thing that has helped me get to where I am today is really putting myself out there and not being afraid of rejection. The more gigs I book, the more people see my work and recommend me to other artists or other projects which I am very very grateful for. The journey was definitely not easy and it still isn’t. I’m still learning and growing everyday as a person and as an artist. I try to keep myself grounded when the inspiration or motivation isn’t coming to me that day. Even taking long walks helps clear my mind. Along the way I’ve learned to take risks and to not take things so personally. I know, easier said than done, but the minute I stopped putting so much pressure on myself I remembered why I loved music and performing so much. Within the different cities that I’ve lived and the different people that have entered and exited my life, I have definitely taken a little piece from each of those experiences. It’s helped me grow into the artist I am today.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Where do I even begin! I would definitely start with brunch. Brunch is so engrained into LA culture. I would take them to my favorite spot, the Butcher, the Baker, and the Cappuccino Maker in West Hollywood. After some mimosas and delicious food I would take them to El Matador beach. We would listen to some music, be by the waves, and catch up on everything. After the beach, we’ll head home and take a little nap before we dive into nightlife. I would bring them to my favorite events here in LA like Capicúa, a Dominican and Puerto Rican event filled with lots of good food, dominos, bachata, and reggaeton. After Capicúa I would take them to Pangea Sound and dance the night away to some more Caribbean music and of course I would introduce them to the amazing friends that I’ve made here along the way.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
It all goes back to my parents, always. I would not be where I am today if my parents didn’t believe in me or support my dreams. My father was the one who pushed me to take that leap of faith to move to New York and study musical theatre. He’s constantly reminding me to take that leap and chase my dreams. I know I can call him up whenever I need advice on something or if I just need to vent. Thanks to my mother she was the one who constantly had music and the arts involved in my life. If she wasn’t so passionate about taking me to piano lessons or dance classes, I don’t think I would of ever found my love for the arts. My parents really are my backbone.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sofia.vs/?igsh=YzAwZjE1ZTI0Zg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sofiastorti787

Image Credits
Jovani Demetrie