new artist q&a: sophie debattista
Hailing from Malta and calling London home, 19-year-old Sophie Debattista has spent the past few years making a name for herself across the Europe, with prolific support gigs and events giving her considerable experience captivating an audience. Now, she plans to take it to the rest of the world, working with top producers and crafting pop gems, including the recently released ‘So Damn Perfect’. Lip chatted to Sophie to find out what’s been happening so far and what the future holds.
Where do you find your inspiration?
I find my inspiration through many things, it depends on what’s happening around me and what’s occurring in my life at the time – real emotions, real life! I’m also inspired by other songs, movies and people’s life stories, as well as global issues on the news – pretty much anything and everything!
Influences can be found in any genre. Are there any artists people would be surprised you listen to or take cues from?
I love listening to all sorts of music! In fact I used to really be into genres like techno and house! I now love a bit of hip hop and R&B, artists like Beyonce and Rihanna. Lately I’ve also really enjoyed listening to 90’s music, along with the usual chart-topping commercial stuff that people listen to on the radio!
Five adjectives to describe your sound?
Quirky, fun, energetic, cheeky and pop.
What’s been the most meaningful moment of your journey so far?
The most meaningful moment was when I received a scholarship to study songwriting at The Institute of Contemporary Music Performance in London. The course is so beneficial to me as a singer-songwriter, it means a lot to be accepted into such an outstanding uni! Not to mention, the phenomenal opportunities that come through it!
What has been your favourite bit about performing live?
Performing live is awesome! The whole experience is just so thrilling and rewarding. The build up of the butterflies during the day, the sound checking, the audience’s reaction and participation during the gig, being able to talk to everyone like they’re my best mate, the feedback and love received afterwards – it’s great when people make the effort to find you online and keep following you! All of those are without a doubt, the BEST bits of performing live, the whole thing gives me such a rush of adrenaline.
Best advice you’ve ever been given?
The best advice I’ve ever been given has come from my parents, they said: ‘Always do what you love and you’ll always love what you do!’. They also remind me frequently: ‘Keep your feet on the ground and always remember to be humble and grateful!’
What do you hope young girls in particular take away from your music and your story?
I hope that young girls can look up to me as a role model one day and I hope that they learn that it’s OK to be different and to speak your mind, whether it’s through music or through anything else.
What’s next for you?
Next along the line for me is to record and produce my very first EP – I would like to shoot some music videos to go with this too. I plan to keep gigging around and to do whatever it takes in order to get my music to as many eyes and ears as possible! Also, somewhere along my journey, I would like to achieve my BA in Songwriting! All in all it’s going to be lots of hard work, but it’s so rewarding when I see the way that my music touches people’s lives!
