Playwright and author
Alec Butler is a Two Spirit Trans man who has been a nominee for Governor's General Award for English Drama and written many acclaimed novels and plays.
My dear
@yuuurei and all her u's must bid farewell to her beloved 11! Sofya Wang ended up being on of my discoveries of the rate and one of the songs that finally clicked with me after I locked in my votes. This winter I entered a deep Ladies Who Rock phase filled with St Vincent and Lucy Dacus but also including Anna Calvi and Sofya Wang leading to me really regretting underscoring both their songs. I think my initial feelings of the song lacking a big momenT holds but it's definitely more than a 6 even against such stiff competition.
Sofya Wang's website is quite nice and features a wonderful and concise enough bio so I'll use that to into those of you who are unfamiliar to her like I was at the beginning of this rate's formation:
Sofya is a singer/songwriter, producer, and multi-instrumentalist from Los Angeles. A classically trained pianist and cellist, she taught herself songwriting and music production upon deferring from Berklee College of Music last year.
Growing up as a first generation Chinese-American, Sofya unapologetically defied tradition to pursue and share a vulnerable and true version of herself through music & by being an active, vocal member of the LGBT community.
I was really surprised to discover she was a classically trained pianist and cellist as the guitar is what hits me over the head in "Found Love" but there are some really nice strings in there as well. I haven't really checked out her other stuff but I could see her voice shining alongside a nice piano arrangement.
In discussing both the writing of the song and the production of the video, Wang explained to
AZ Magazine how much she feels her way through the sounds and melodies:
‘Found love’ was created,’ the words just flowed and I was able to direct and create the set design from that, as well as using Pinterest. Pinterest helps my creative mind create real-life visuals which I’m free to explore and bring to life in my videos!’
Two quick notes: as a teacher I have to reiterate how helpful Pinterest can be. As someone who has read a lot of smaller music blog interviews, the piece with AZ Magazine is near unreadable. Wang comes across well spoken and thoughtful, but the writing is just BAD. Anyways, I feel like "Found Love" really demonstrates that push of the feelings just emerging from Wang without over thinking (this is a compliment, I promise!).
In talking with
SOVO Magazine, Wang was asked about her worries of being pigeon holed as a queer artist and responded "“I’m not going to release only ‘gay stuff’…I don’t see it being too much of an issue nowadays." In her interview with AZ Magazine she expanded upon this idea saying
‘I’m still breaking through. It’s easy in the beginning and you don’t think about the barriers. It’s the middle that gets messy and I’ve had to learn along the way’. Sofya expressed some of the difficulties she has encountered along the way,’ it’s difficult with music platforms such as Spotify, it seems all LGBQT+ artists are banded together even if we create different sounds. I am happy to be a part of and be acknowledged as part of the LGBTQ+ community but I want my music to speak for itself. Artists are multifaceted’. ‘It’s getting past being branded as an LGBTQ+ artist and just being seen as an artist. Like Young MA said ‘I’m a rapper 1st of all’’.
Is this rate part of the problem or part of the solution? Who knows? Not me! I promise I had nothing but the best of intentions. Honestly though, I think she really hits the nail on the head with the way artists who are LGBT and can gain some semblance of a following are given a ribbon, a few thousands streams and maybe a profile with
Paper. The middle is for real and getting into the leagues of Troye and Janelle is not easily done.
Now what did you lil Troyesters and Janelliacs have to say?
Untitled successful in setting my pussy alight
reboot I’m really intrigued by her and this song. Are all her other songs like this? I hope they are.
Pop3blow2 Nice. Getting some Meg Myers vibes here. Great track.
Constantino A disorientating acid TRIP of a song, gorgeous
CorgiCorgiCorgi holy cow, how is she not a bigger deal? this song is gorgeous! very Lana Del Rey meets Rainbow-era Kesha
The Hot Rock I'd heard this song in my discover weekly earlier this year and was excited to eventually come back when there was an EP or full length to listen to. I had forgotten but it looks like there isn't one yet. It's okay because this is still great.
Untouchable Ace The middle 8 is really good with the guitars, that could have reappeared at the end.
Remorque It has a nice groove and she sounds excellent on it. I'm going to delve a little deeper into her other material because of this, as it sounds promising.
Yuuurei This song is incredible and I'm so glad it was included in the rate! I love everything about it, but particular highlights are that ghostly opening and the way the bridge builds up only to fall into the airy chorus. Sofya uses a fair bit of water/ocean imagery and I think it really suits the feeling of this track. Also she is gorgeous in the video and like, just in general; her smile is so beautiful. I really like her, obviously. I hope she achieves her dream of collabing with Rina someday!
