Artist Spotlight: Sophia Sugarman

With a passion for authentic vulnerable songwriting, her latest single “Do You Feel the Way I Feel?” is a pop track bursting with grooves and a relaxed but upbeat atmosphere. It was a journey for her to get to this point and in her eyes, it was all worth it.

We sat down with Sophia Sugarman to talk about their creative journey, inspirations, and what’s next.

Eye On Pop: How did you get started in music?

Sophia: I started doing musical theatre when I was five years old. My family could tell really early on that music completely consumed me, so they started putting me into auditions. My first role was Molly in Annie when I was five — I couldn’t even read yet, but I fell in love with the feeling of creating an entire world through music and storytelling. From that point on, singing became my life.

Eye On Pop: What inspired you to become a musician?

Sophia: Honestly, it was never really a question for me. I knew from a very young age that this was what I was supposed to do, even though I had no idea how I was going to get there. It came from a really deep passion and instinct more than anything else. Music was always the thing that made me feel the most alive and connected to myself.

Eye On Pop: Can you tell us a bit about your background and upbringing?

Sophia:I grew up in San Diego, California, but I was raised with two very different influences from my parents. My dad grew up in New Jersey around rock and roll culture, listening to legends play in dive bars, while my mom grew up in Paris, France and comes from a French-Moroccan background. She was actually a singer herself before moving to the States. I definitely got the best of both worlds creatively — I grew up around music constantly, whether it was classic rock blasting in the car or hearing stories about my mom singing in Paris.

Eye On Pop: What's your favorite memory related to music?

Sophia: It’s hard to choose one specific memory because so many of my favorite moments in life are connected to music. I think my favorite feeling is when I experience a live performance that completely pulls me in, whether it’s a concert, a musical, or even hearing one song that deeply connects with me emotionally. There’s something really powerful about the feeling of being fully present inside a song. Those are the moments that stay with me the most.

Eye On Pop: What's your biggest passion outside of music?

Sophia: Outside of music, I love being in the ocean. Growing up in San Diego with a very active dad, I spent a lot of time in the water snorkeling, swimming, and being around all kinds of marine life like dolphins, whales, sharks, and stingrays. It gives me a very similar feeling to making music or performing because nothing else is in your head in those moments — you’re completely present. Anything that allows me to step outside of my thoughts and fully live in the moment is something I’m deeply passionate about.

Eye On Pop: How do you stay motivated and inspired?

Sophia: I stay inspired by real life. A lot of my music comes from personal experiences, relationships, or even moments that seem small at the time but stay with me emotionally. I also try to stay open to all kinds of music and inspiration. Usually what hooks me first is a melody or lyric — if a song makes me feel something, I’ll listen to it on repeat for an entire week.

Eye On Pop: What's your favorite song to play live?

Sophia: I don’t think I necessarily have one favorite song to perform live because every performance becomes its own moment. Even if you rehearse something over and over, it’s never performed exactly the same way twice. Live music has this spontaneous and electric energy to it that makes every show feel unique, and I think that unpredictability is what makes performing so exciting as an artist.

Eye On Pop: What's your creative process like when writing songs?

Sophia: A lot of my creative process starts with freestyling melodies and lyrics. I usually begin with a feeling or emotional state, and when I’m really connected to an emotion, the melodies and lyrics tend to come naturally. I’ve always loved building toplines first and then writing around them afterward. I also play piano, so sometimes songs start from scratch with me sitting at the piano and letting ideas happen organically.

Eye On Pop: Do you have a favorite album or artist that influences your work?

Sophia: Bruce Springsteen has definitely had a huge influence on me because of the storytelling and energy in his music. I’m also inspired by artists like Anderson .Paak, Lana Del Rey, Lady Gaga, and Bruno Mars. I’ve never really been obsessed with only one artist though — I usually become obsessed with individual songs and the way they make me feel emotionally.

Eye On Pop: What's the most challenging part of being a musician?

Sophia: I think one of the hardest parts is learning how to grow publicly. As an artist, people see your highs and lows in real time, and that can definitely feel intimidating. I’ve always been comfortable being vulnerable through songwriting and music, but I still struggle with translating that same vulnerability to social media and online presence. My strengths have always been songwriting and performing, not necessarily trying to become a social media personality. I think the challenge is learning how to stay authentic and consistent while still building the world around the artist you want people to connect with.