Sophie Castillo

Exploring Divine Femininity and Latin Heritage in Music

Sophie Castillo is a rising alt-pop artist from West London, known for her unique blend of English and Latin music. With Colombian and Cuban roots, Sophie effortlessly infuses Latin rhythms like bachata into her dreamy, intense vocals, offering a fresh perspective on contemporary pop.

While being photographed by Ana Blumenkron in a serene garden in West London, we found moments between takes to chat about Sophie’s journey, background, and creative process. From the moment she stepped onto the set, Sophie’s aura was undeniable—radiating peace and kindness. Her magnetic energy draws you in, making you feel part of something truly special, and this magic clearly shines through in her music.

Sophie began her musical journey during the first lockdown, teaching herself music production on GarageBand. This period of self-exploration allowed her to craft tracks that delve into themes like love, identity, and spirituality. Influenced by artists like Lana Del Rey, Kali Uchis, and Billie Eilish, her music fluidly transitions between Spanish and English, as heard in songs like "Call Me By Your Name" and "In My Mind."

Her recognition in the UK’s Latin music community is growing, marked by a recent nomination for Best Latin American Artist in the UK at the Latin American Awards. Sophie’s expanding fanbase on social media reflects her connection with listeners, as she continues to engage with her audience and share her creative journey. In this interview, Sophie discusses her path in the music industry, the challenges she’s faced, and how she’s forging her own way, even when the industry’s expectations try to confine her.

Pilar Alvarado: Your music often touches on identity, love, and spirituality. Can you elaborate on how these themes shape your songwriting and your overall vision as an artist?

Sophie Castillo: I've always been a bit of a daydreamer since I was a kid. I've always been very romantic—maybe because I'm a Pisces, it just fits the vibe. When I started making music, I wanted to create something ethereal and dreamy, and that came out naturally. I've always been interested in that kind of aesthetic and feeling, and people resonated with it, so I stuck with it. But I also like exploring darker themes; even then, it's still sensual and dreamy.

I'm quite spiritual and religious, so that naturally comes into my music. I love singing about God and my faith in my own way, which I think is beautiful and not very common these days. It's a nice way to express my faith in a dreamy, ethereal way.

PA: Were you raised with a particular religion, like Catholicism?

SC: Yes, I was raised Catholic and still am.

PA: Given that many Latin cultures, especially, are centered around Catholicism, how did that influence you growing up in the UK with a Latin background? Did it impact how you express your religion?

SC: My family is Catholic, but they never forced it on me. It was a relaxed thing. I went to Catholic school, so naturally, we went to church and did things like communion. It was always a positive experience, not something forced. My family encouraged me in a positive way, so I never lost my faith. Attending a Catholic school made it easier to continue practicing. I don't go to church much anymore but I still pray and maintain my faith. Whenever I do enter a church, I feel a mix of emotions but always at peace. It's a safe space for quiet and reflection, almost like a 30-minute meditation.

PA: Back to the ethereal elements in your music, you also touch on divine femininity. How does this influence what you write about? It feels empowering in a gentle way.

SC: I think women are incredibly beautiful, and I've always loved being a woman. I've always admired the strength of women, especially growing up with a single mother. Women have always been at the forefront in my family, pushing us forward. I appreciate all aspects of femininity—not just the strong, 'girl boss' side, but also the soft and gentle. The divine feminine energy is inspiring to me, and I try to create a dreamscape in my music where femininity can be celebrated without any negative connotations.

PA: There's often a negative connotation with being soft or dreamy, but I believe there's strength in vulnerability.

SC: Absolutely, it takes a lot of strength to be vulnerable. Women have the privilege of being able to express vulnerability, which is something to celebrate. It’s a powerful aspect of our strength, and I try to express that openly in my music.

PA: Could you walk us through your creative process? How do you connect with yourself for inspiration, and what does a typical songwriting session look like for you?

SC: It varies a lot, but when I first started, I made all my demos at home during lockdown. I enjoy that process and want to get back to it. I often start with some chords or a bass line—I love a good bass line. Then I add drums and build the song from scratch. Sometimes I have lyrics already written, often inspired while I'm traveling. I find movement helps inspire me, maybe because I'm always listening to music on the go. I usually write songs quickly and don't like to change them much once they're done. I've written everything by myself so far, often co-producing as I go. I love production and am eager to learn more about the technical aspects.

PA: Were you self-taught in everything, including music?

SC: Mostly, yes. I taught myself guitar, though I'm a bit rusty now. I didn't have formal vocal lessons but did musical theatre as a child, which helped train my ear and develop musically.

PA: How do you balance the technical aspects of producing music while maintaining the emotional or personal connection to your songs?

SC: That is challenging, definitely. These days, you have to be so on it with marketing—you have to be a content creator. Luckily, I do quite well with the content creation stuff because I'm a big TikTok and Instagram user, so I understand the platforms. That helps me make content that people resonate with. But it definitely gets to be a lot. I don't have a solution; I'm just trying my best. Especially at the moment, I’m feeling a little overwhelmed because I just released my EP. I feel like I’ve said everything I have to say, and now I need to release the next song and the next song. Finding inspiration can be tough, but I think the only way to find balance is to keep going. Make music without worrying if it’s good; just make it. Eventually, you'll come up with something you love. Not every song has to be a hit or even released. Just keeping consistent, even though it’s ironic because we’re talking about balance. But if music is what you love, you’ll find pleasure and joy in being consistent and writing. Putting the joy back into the creation process is a good way to find balance.

Photos by: Ana Blumenkron

PA: What made you fall in love with creating music?

SC: It’s just something I’ve always done. I guess I never had to fall in love with it; I was just born loving it. I've been singing since I was three and have never not loved it. I may have been shy sometimes or not loved singing in public when I was younger. Falling in love with making the songs happens when you’ve made a song, and you feel so proud and excited. It feels special. And then, when you take a break from it and come back to listen, you feel that joy again.

PA: Do you ever feel put off or insecure about putting something out, especially because you're so vulnerable in your writing?

SC: Not when I'm being honest about my feelings, but more when I'm trying to embody a character that might be different from my personality. I find that a lot with writing reggaeton music, for example, which I love listening to but find challenging to write. Reggaeton takes a lot of confidence. I'm confident, but I'm more of an extroverted introvert. I can be social and hold a conversation, but I have my introverted moments and can be a bit shy. So being big and bold in my music can feel cringy to me sometimes. But I have to go for it anyway because the listeners have no idea about my insecurities—they just enjoy the song.

PA: Speaking of social media, you went viral on TikTok, which contributed to your success. How do you engage with your audience as an artist? Do you have a plan, or are you just being authentic?

SC: I think it's about authenticity. Going viral was random, but also, I was posting consistently every day for months. I've had TikTok since it came out and have gone through phases of trying and failing, getting lazy, then trying again. I realised I had to keep posting to make it happen, like a mathematical game of numbers. The first time I went viral, it was amazing—it felt like a dream come true. That motivated me to keep going. I connect with my audience by replying to as many comments as possible and asking them whatthey want to hear next. It's important to me to make music for myself, but I also care about what they think since they support me. They feel like my besties; it's so special to receive so much love from strangers. People manifest your success and root for you, and that collective energy is powerful. I always try to acknowledge their support because I'm genuinely grateful.

PA: Speaking of connections, "Call Me What Your Name" is the song that seems to resonate the most with everyone. What was the inspiration behind this song, and were you expecting this kind of connection with it?

SC: When I was in the studio with my producer, I said that I thought the song was special and that I hadn't heard anything like it before. I love bachata and wanted to make a unique bachata track. I started writing it on Christmas Day with a MIDI keyboard my uncle gave me. It was just a fun process. The song came out of a feeling of being completely swept off your feet by someone. The inspiration came naturally, and I didn't consciously decide to write about that topic—it just flowed. The process was also about taking control of the music by co-producing the song, which was new for me. I think the uniqueness and authenticity of the song are why people connect with it. I had a good feeling about it, and I remember telling my producer that even if no one was listening at that moment, when they did, they would love it.

PA: It's interesting that you mentioned no one would listen to the song, and then you ended up opening for J Balvin. The irony, right? How did that happen? How did that opportunity come about, and what was that experience like for you?

SC: They just reached out to me via email, and when I got it, I was in shock, but I immediately said yes. They asked, "Do you want to do it?" and I was like, a hundred percent! It felt like such an achievement because they found me and reached out directly—it wasn’t through a favor or a booking agent, which I don’t even have right now. It felt really special, like they picked me for this, and I was so honoured. The whole experience was surreal—being backstage with my team, my mom, my boyfriend, and my friends. We were all like, "This is what our life is going to be like." It was a beautiful moment, especially for me and my family, because they've seen me work towards this my whole life and supported me through it all. It was such a great experience. The crowd was amazing, and the reception was so positive. I’ve even spoken to people who were at the show through comments and DMs, and they’ve been really complimentary. I was just so happy with how the performance went. I had a lot of preparation, and a really good team helping me do my best, so I felt confident and ready, even though I was nervous.

PA: I can imagine! So, you're a Latin artist with roots in the UK. Do you feel a difference in connecting with a Latin audience here compared to, say, someone in the USA or Latin America?

SC: It is different. I've had a lot of support from Latinos in the UK because they understand what it’s like to be a British Latino, but I’ve actually had the most support from Latinos in the US. There's such a strong Latin community there, and it’s normal for them to refer to themselves as Latinos and have a really strong Latin identity, even though they grew up in the US. Connecting with people in Latin America is always so exciting for me. When I get their approval, I’m always like, "Yay!" because they know the language and culture firsthand. It means a lot when they like my music. I mean, everyone’s support is important, but it’s exciting when someone from Latin America enjoys my music and approves of my Spanish. There are different perspectives on what it means to be Latin American. In my comment sections, there’s a lot of debate about whether Latino is an ethnicity or just a cultural identity. From my research, I’ve learned that inside Latin America, Latino isn’t considered an ethnicity because there are so many different ethnicities within Latin America. But outside of Latin America, it can be seen as an ethnicity because it’s different from the country we’re in. I think it’s important to stay open-minded and understand that yes, we are British by nationality if we were born and raised here, but we don’t ignore our heritage or culture. We grew up in Latino households, and Latin culture is amazing and strong. So, I believe you can still be part of Latin culture even if you didn’t grow up in Latin America. I get so many comments, some saying I’m not Latina because I didn’t grow up in Latin America, others saying I’m not British, or even that I’m indigenous and not Latina. It’s like a whole world of everyone telling me who I am, but honestly, I don’t really care. I make music to honour my family, my heritage, and my culture. People can debate all they want—everyone is entitled to their opinion. Whether I’m representing indigenous people, Latinos, British people—whatever—I’m just happy to be making the music I want, and that’s always going to be my priority. I do appreciate the comments about being indigenous because I don’t know my specific indigenous ancestry, like what tribe I might be from. It’s difficult for many of us in Latin America to trace our indigenous roots because we’re all so mixed. But I’m happy to represent Latinos with indigenous features because there isn’t a lot of that in mainstream media. When young girls comment saying I look like them or their cousins, and they’re excited to see an indigenous Latina in the mainstream, it warms my heart.

PA: Fashion and style are a huge part of who you are as an artist. I remember reading something—correct me if I’m wrong—but did you have a fashion brand?

SC: I did! I still have all my clothes from it, but it became too much to manage because I work full-time during the day and do music as well. It got to be too much to juggle all three. But I loved making clothes—it was a little handmade fashion brand, and I did everything myself.

PA: But how do you integrate your personal style into your music and performances?

SC: While I had Canela, my brand, I was making a lot of my own outfits for shows and even lending them to friends for their performances. That definitely shaped my style. I was always posting on Instagram wearing my brand, so I was wearing unique pieces that I designed. That helped me shape my aesthetic. I love fashion—it’s really important to me, and I take inspiration from other artists with great style. Fashion is a big part of your branding. Like for "Venus," with the white skirt, it was very on-theme. And for the "Ojos Lindos" music video, I borrowed from a friend who’s a designer, and she’s amazing. I’m basically an ambassador for her because I always wear her pieces. The outfit was perfect—it was giving siren, it was giving evil fairy. It really helped get the message across.

PA: Do you have any specific rituals or routines before or after performing to get in the zone?

SC: I always say a prayer before performing. I ask God to help me shine with the light of the Holy Spirit, to help me do my best, perform well, and stay focused. I always give thanks for the opportunity. I think the best way to move forward in this industry and in your career is by always expressing gratitude. Even when something bad happens, I say thank you because it’s just a lesson I need to learn. So, before every show, I always say a prayer, give thanks, and ask for help to shine and express what I need to. That’s pretty much it.

PA: In the music industry, what is a norm or routine that you intentionally break away from and why?

SC: Oh, that is a good question. You know what? Probably depending on other people to do things. A lot of artists think you have to have a manager, a booking agent, or this or that. Actually, you don’t need any of that. Having those team members is super valuable when they’re the right people, but you don’t need them to have a career. No disrespect to my management—I love my manager, they’re amazing. It is important to have a team, and everyone I work with, I love, but it took a lot of time to find them. I’ve had people who didn’t have my best intentions at heart and who screwed me over, but despite that, I still succeeded and did what I needed to do. So my point is, the industry might tell you that you need all these things, but I try to break away from that by doing everything I can myself, and everything else falls into place.

PA: Can you describe a moment when you felt that you needed to forge your own path to avoid being boxed in by others’ expectations?

SC: There was a moment when I didn’t have a team—when I was completely by myself. I had so many things to do, and I’d just gone viral, so I knew I needed to be consistent with my music, but I didn’t have a song ready. I’d been delayed by external circumstances, but I knew I just had to do it anyway. I had to keep going, find my own team, and even without one, I had to make my own path. In my isolation, I found time to focus on myself, and that’s when I decided to make my EP, which was always a dream of mine. I’d been held back from doing an EP before, but now I could take full control. I worked with my producer again, found a new team, and connected with people to do the album cover. But yeah, being completely alone in my career was actually very freeing.

PA: What is your most powerful skill that becomes even more effective with the help of someone or something else? What enhances it?

SC: It has to be producing the songs. I’m not well-versed in the software and production side, so working with a producer is crucial. A producer’s role is so important in songwriting because, while you can have an amazing melody and lyrics, people also dance to the music and feel the instruments. Production is where having help is super crucial. I work with some amazing producers—like the one who did my EP, Lennon. He worked on Call Me By Your Name, so I knew I wanted to get the team back together for the EP.He’s great to work with because he lets me express my ideas, never shuts them down, and even teaches me to co-produce. He shows me the software, lets me try out things like punching in the drums, and record stuff. Working with him is a great example of how my skills can be elevated by collaborating with someone who has their own set of expertise.

PA Is there anything else you want to add to our conversation?

SC: Just that I’m working on lots of new music, some great collabs, and I’m planning my first US headline show.