Sonia Barcelona
This month we have a chat with Sonia Barcelona, recently named Best New Voice 2020 by Desert Companion.
MB: When or what age did you discover music was your passion?
SB: I picked up guitar at 20. It was really just a hobby as well as photography and song writing. My friends saw that I had talent, and encouraged me to pursue it. I started at open mics, played at friend’s birthday parties, etc. Some of the people that I have met along the way are still my closest friends. My world opened up when I decided to share my talent. I am now 28 and it’s insane to think that was 8 years ago. I had to be vulnerable and put myself out there. I am so thankful to all those who believed in me.
MB: How would you describe the Las Vegas music scene?
SB: The Las Vegas music scene is growing. It’s in a cool time right now, and you can find amazing artists repping all types of genres. We have such great talent, it’s so welcoming, and it’s thriving. Unlike LA and NY, it’s still small. Vegas is in a cool stage where everyone wants to help each other, it’s very chill. I play at Bunkhouse Salon often, and I love it because there is a real sense of community. Everyone is pretty humble and we all want to grow and get better. Vegas is the perfect environment to thrive. It’s inspiring.
MB: What is one of your favorite venues that you have played?
SB: I really like playing Starboard Tack. I had a show there this year. It’s a dive bar near downtown Las Vegas. It has excellent food, the bartenders are down to earth. It’s not necessarily meant for live shows, which I like. A lot of unique musicians have performed there. It’s an intimate spot where you can find good food and good people.
MB: What venue would you love to play?
SB: I would love to play any type of festival, but it has to be the right vibe. I like festivals that take place in trees, in the woods (i.e. Joshua Tree Music Festival or Firefly). I prefer festivals in nature, but not overcrowded. I love the feeling of being intimate with others and I want that feeling wherever I go, I want to be able to connect with people.
MB: Do you have other passions outside of music?
SB: I am a very curious person – I like tech, learning about what’s new, reading, research, and being social / being with friends. Photography is another big part of what I do.
MB: Do you prefer writing, recording, or performing?
SB: I really have no preference, it’s a balance. I cannot not do one, or life becomes imbalanced. Writing is expression, recording helps others, performing is a different feeling, it’s a way of giving. As a performer, I always give my best and hope that it might be helpful to others. It think it’s so important to give your best in the world and I try my hardest to do that. There is really no part I like the most, it’s a trifecta balance.
MB: What are you doing to stay creative and/or fight boredom during quarantine?
SB: I think with time you realize you have so much to do, it’s important to prioritize what you want to do. I usually work from home so this time is an extension of that for me. I have more time to focus on what’s right in front of me. It’s hard not seeing friends or being social, but I have been wanting to do tutorials so I am using this time to do that (for example, the guitar tutorial I recently did). I have also been recording music, cooking more with family, and I’ve recently taken up gardening.
MB: Who would you love to share the stage with?
SB: As a solo artist, I have been learning about how to collaborate on stage with a band, my boyfriend plays bass in my band and it is really special to share stage with him and my friends. It’s a dream come true and it’s been a great new challenge.
In terms of another musician, I would love to share the stage with Aimee Mann. She is the lead singer and bassist for Til Tuesday. I love that she plays bass and sings. She now is a solo artist playing mostly guitar while she sings. She did the soundtrack for Magnolia. I love the path she took with her music career. She writes amazing songs, and it would be an honor to share the stage with her one day. I really look up to her, in the way that she has worked with the music industry. She has kept her integrity and is very honest and you can hear it in her songs.
MB: What’s next for Sonia Barcelona?
SB: I am recording now and I have some songs on the shelf that I am trying to release. I was on the fence with touring before everything happened with COVID, so now I feel like the decision has been made for me and it a great time for me to record some of these songs and put out a lot of music. I feel like this is the time to help others with the songs that I make. My plan is to record as much as possible. If ever one of my songs made it into a movie or something, that would be awesome. My plan is to do all the work and help as many people as I can through my music. I am staying indoors and being as creative as can. The short answer is record, record, record…
MB: Anything else you want to share that maybe I haven’t asked?
SB: If anyone wants to find out more, go to my website: soniabarcelona.com. I am also currently working on recording a song called “Okay” that is a reaction to COVID. I hope that it might help sooth the anxiety caused by our current circumstances.
Thank you Sonia for taking time to chat with us! To hear some of Sonia Barcelona’s music, check out samples of her most recent album below.