An Interview with Sofia Sampaio
Sofia Sampaio is an emerging alternative singer-songwriter whose sound is shaped by a rich blend of cultural influences and personal experiences. Born in Brazil and raised in Texas, Sofia’s musical journey began early, inspired by the melodies of bossa nova, the energy of 90s rock, and a household filled with music thanks to her parents. From writing songs as a child to studying music in London and currently pursuing a degree at Berklee Online, Sofia brings depth, authenticity, and ambition to her craft. As she prepares to release her debut single, “better off bored,” Sofia shares the story behind her artistry, her inspirations, and more.
Hey, thanks for chatting with us. Tell us a little about yourself.
My name is Sofia Sampaio I am a 21-year-old alternative singer-songwriter born in Brazil and raised in Texas from the age of seven. I was raised listening to a variety of different musical genres, from Brazilian bossa nova to 90s rock. My parents also greatly inspired me to do music, as my mom was a piano teacher and my dad loved to sing around the house. I’ve been songwriting since I was about 7, always making up melodies and lyrics and making little songs.
When I turned 17, I bought myself a guitar with money I had saved up, and that’s when I feel the real songwriting began. At 18 I moved to London, UK by myself, and through all the influence of the city, I found the courage to pursue music seriously, like I always wanted to.
I ended up doing a certificate program there for music at the Institute of Contemporary Music Performance and loved every second of it. Now I am based in Houston, Texas, where my immediate family lives, and am studying songwriting and production at Berklee Online, all while pursuing my music career.
Who or what inspired you to start making music? And, when did you start?
As a little girl, I grew up watching and listening to a lot of Hannah Montana, Camp Rock, and the Jonas Brothers. I think that was my prime inspiration to begin to write songs and sing. As I became a teenager, I started delving into the music world even more as I started listening to a variety of music genres, especially alternative rock. From there, I bought a guitar and began writing songs for the first time from start to finish. I think I became really inspired to pursue a career in music when I moved to London and made friends that pursued creative careers and discovered creative communities there of people I finally related to.
What is your biggest challenge as an artist?
I think that my biggest challenge as an artist is to publish my work. I feel a bit reluctant to publish my work and open it up for critique and feedback; maybe I lack a sense of maturity in that aspect because I haven’t been pursuing music for that long.
What is your favorite project or single you have released?
I am releasing my first single on May 9th, and it is my current favorite project I have worked on. I think it is my current favorite because I love how the song came together. The instrumentals, melodies, and lyrics all came together in an effortless way to create the very feeling I intended it to represent.
Who are your inspirations? What artists or bands are you listening to?
I take inspiration from a variety of artists and bands I listen to. These include Sir Chloe, Beabadoobee, Fontaines D.C., The Strokes, Arctic Monkeys, Mazzy Star, Jeff Buckley, Radiohead, and Nirvana.
What’s the process behind working on a song like?
Usually I begin my writing process with my guitar in hand and try to find chords I like in order to form a good base chord progression. After this I freestyle melodies and begin with whatever sticks. Then I decipher what the meaning of the song is to me in that moment and put lyrics over the melodies. I usually play the song to my producer on guitar, and we start by laying down a base track with just guitar and scratch vocals. We then layer all of the instruments onto the song and arrange it to project the meaning of the song in the best way. I find both the process of songwriting and recording very fun because of the creative freedom I have in both.
Tell me about your upcoming music and what inspired you to create it!
My debut single that comes out May 9th is “better off bored”. I wrote it about how I sometimes felt bored in my romantic life and wanted to find the next person to crush on; however, when I found that person, I became so infatuated with them that I couldn’t stop thinking about them and therefore thought I was “better off bored”.
The idea behind this song definitely was my main inspiration to write it, as I felt confused with the way I was feeling, and writing the song helped me come to terms with it. The chords also really inspired me since they felt so wide and spacious I wanted the song to sound very ambient and rocky, and I wanted it to bring forth a sense of comfort yet frustration at the same time, which is what I was feeling at that time.
What are your plans for 2025?
My plan for 2025 is to create and pursue music wholeheartedly and finally release some of it. I plan to release two singles this year and an album.
Have any shoutouts?
I want to shout out my best friends Tilde Westergard and Giulia Proietti. Tilde just released her first single last month, entitled “done for good” under the artist name TILDE. Giulia has yet to release music, but be on the lookout for her! I am so proud of them and what we have all achieved together. I simply would not be here today if it wasn’t for them.
With her debut single on the horizon and plans for more releases in 2025, Sofia Sampaio is stepping confidently into the spotlight, ready to share her voice with the world. Drawing from a diverse palette of musical influences and a deeply personal creative process, she’s carving out a space that’s uniquely hers. Surrounded by a supportive circle of fellow artists and guided by her passion for songwriting, Sofia is just getting started—and her journey is one to watch.