Sofia's Vocal Experience

Gigs Across the Globe

Background

I've been singing since I could toddle, but everybody sings in preschool, right? My mother says that the first time she remembers me singing to an audience, I was about 2 and decided to entertain the people in line at the bank by performing a dance and song of "This Old Man". It was apparently a hit. Actually, the first time I solo'd in front of an audience I was 7 years old. I sang the verses from "Guantanamera" in Spanish to an audience of about 200. Then, throughout Jr high and high school, I sang about three solos per year through chorus and drama in front of audiences of 200 to 400 people. I trained hard every day. At 16 I took private operatic voice lessons. When I began college at Columbia Junior College in Sonora, CA, I took opera and vocal lessons for three years, until I transferred to Sonoma State University. A few years ago I took a Popular and Solo Voice class at Cabrillo Colege in Santa Cruz, CA. My vocal style is varied, and I enjoy singing from Arabic style, to traditional jazz, to soul, to crazy wierd noises, to lullabies and children's songs. My musicians are also of a wide range, ranging from gentle Rock Guitar to Trance, Drum and Bass, Acid Jazz, Latin, Reggae, Club Jazz, Ambient, Dub and others. It's been fun being tested by the DJs to see if I can REALLY sing anything! Once they pulled a Greek Traditional piece and I overlayed a Mexican Corrido over it on the fly! Now I enjoy a wide range of vocal activities. I have recorded and sung with various musicians and DJs. Currently, I frequently do live performances, and 95% of my live vocals are adlib, on-the fly poems that I harmonize to the music.

I work with many artists and you could be one of them! I'd love to hear your funky beats!! If you are interested, email me!

• 1983: Popper-Keizer School for the Gifted, Santa Cruz, CA.
  First major public performance. Spanish rendition of "Guantanamera".
  
• 1987 - 1992: American School of Puerto VAllarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
  Studied choral singing and did choral solo performances and musical dramas every year. This amounted to aproximately 3 solos per year. Took private opera classes in 1992.
  
• 1992 - 1994: Mariposa County High School, CA.
  Performed in the chorus, about two solos per year. Advanced vocal training through chorus and private after school lessons.
  
• 1994 - 1997: Columbia College, CA.
  Studied professional singing; opera and classical style. Performed some opera pieces.
  
• 1998: Sonoma State University, Rhonert Park, CA. Private Tutor
  Taught Spanish and Cuban music styles to a professional musician for his Spanish singing in a Salsa Band.
  
• 2002: Santa Cruz, CA.
  Worked with Tori Schandall on "Behind You Blind and Smiling". Rehearsed.
  
• 2002: Santa Cruz, CA.
  Studied Popular and Solo Voice. Did many small Performances in-house, and one public performance at a steak house in Rio Del Mar. It was Paul Simon's "One Trick Pony", danced and sang with a live band. Rehearsed.
  
• 2003: San Francisco, CA.
  Perfomed live song/MC with DJ Kwami at Spaz and 5Lowershop. Genre- reggae, all ad lib.
  
• August 2004: Yokohama, Japan.
  Approximately one hour of live singing for Acid Jazz DJ at the Redroom in Yokohama, Japan. All ad lib.
  
• Winter 2004: Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan.
  Jazz Roulette Bar. Perfomed a few jazz pieces, including "Summertime" for an audience with a live band.
  
• Spring 2004: Kurume, Fukuoka-ken, Japan.
  Yoshinori Koga and I worked together for some time on several classic Japanese pieces. No Performance or recording. A study of old Japanese music.
  
• Spring 2004: Nagoya City, Japan.
  Lounge Creek, a relaxed, non-smoking atmosphere bar in Nagoya. Improvisational performance before an audience of approximately 30 people to a live band and djs.
  
• 2004 to 2005: Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
  Ska Punk Band. Six months of practice and four songs. Live performance before an audience of approximately 50 people.
  
• June 25, 2005: Kurume City, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
  Performed solo with a 50 piece brass band. Myanojin Junior High School culture performance, at the Kurume International Center before an audience of over 200. I sang Disney's "I Can Show You the World" in the "Princess Medley" piece, dressed in conservative belly dance attire. Rehearsed.
  
• July 24, 2005: Fukuoka City, Momochi Beach, Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan.
  Birthday Party. Several DJs, sang/MC in English, Japanese, and Spanish. Drum and Bass improvisational performance for an audience of over 40 people.
  
• August, 2005: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed with DJ Elemence for Mr. Tim of Tenjin Radio's Love FM. An MC/singing recording session of over 30 minutes and including aproximately six pieces of drum and bass in unrehearsed vocals.
  
• August 30, 2005: Black Rock City, Nevada, USA.
  Winking Lotus Camp, Burning Man. Two hours of adlib MCing to Ambient Techno. And Greek Traditional.
  
• September 22, 2005: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed with DJ Elemence and Minoru at "As We Do", a monthly Drum and Bass party at Club Butterfly. MCd to approximately six pieces of drum and bass with on-the-fly vocals.
  
• September 24, 2005: Sasebo City, Japan.
  Perfomed with DJ Elemence at the Spiritual Sequencing Rave on Mont Eboshi. MCd to approximately six pieces of drum and bass with on-the-fly vocals.
  
• October 2, 2005: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Chris Stewart of Australia, Trance Musician. Recorded two pieces.
  
• October 30, 2005: Kurume City, Japan.
  Perfomed with Shintaro Moriyama, of Hong Pung, at No Form Bar. MCd to three unrehearsed pieces and one rehearsed original of the DJ, as well as a well-rehearsed cover of Massive Attack's "Protection". The set consisted of Downtempo and Dub. There is a DVD recording available of this performance.
  
• November 9, 2005: Kurume City, Japan.
  Katsuya Okazue, guitarist. Performed an adlib acoustic piece for Tomoyoshi, the owner of an italian resaturant.
  
• November 18, 2005: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed with DJ Elemence at "As We Do". MCd to approximately six pieces of drum and bass with on-the-fly vocals. Soul, Jazz style vocals.
  
• November 20, 2005: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Butterfly bar. MCd to 5 - 10 pieces of Jazzy and World Beats with on-the-fly vocals.
  
• November 20, 2005: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Tenjin Radio Performance Live, with Mr. Tim and DJ Elemence, in Solaria Plaza Station 8PM
  
• December 24, 2005: Kurume City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Oily's Cafe. Party Promoter, Chrismas Party. MCd to Ambient Dub with DJ Shintaro Moriyama of Hong Pung Crew ( hong-pung@ezweb.ne.jp ) and Trance with DJ Kenny with on-the-fly vocals.
  
• December 31, 2005: Kurume City, Japan.
  Perfomed at ARKTZ. MCing for the New Year. Hip Hop.
  
• December 2005 - March 2006: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Butterfly bar at least 4 times. MCd for the AS WE DO Crew. Drum N' Bass. DJs Elemence,Gattan, Minoru, Guests. On-the-fly vocals.
  
• April 7, 2006: Kurume City, Japan.
  Promoted and Perfomed "Spring Point" Party at Oily's Cafe. MCd with Shintaro Moriyama of Hong Pung Crew with on-the-fly vocals.
  
• May 26, 2006: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Butterfly. MCd for the AS WE DO Crew. Drum N' Bass. DJs Elemence,Gattan, Minoru, Guests. On-the-fly vocals.
  
• May 28, 2006: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Keith Flack. Main Vocals for the Ska Punk band 7Down8Outs.
  
• June 9, 2006: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Butterfly, now known as Bass. It was DJ Elemence's last performance in Japan before returning to Paris. MCd for the AS WE DO Crew. Drum N' Bass. DJs Elemence,Gattan, Minoru, Guests. On-the-fly vocals. LIVE VIDEO!! Filmed by Batyu of Hungary.
  
• July 14, 2006: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Butterfly. MCd for the AS WE DO Crew. Drum N' Bass. DJs Gattan, Minoru, Katsuo. DJ Hiwatashi with New Skool Breaks. Adlib vocals.
  
• July 20, 2006: Kurume City, Japan.
  Perfomed at ARKTZ. Unplanned MCing with DJ Pooh and DJ Mitsunari for "Maiko's Birthday". Hip Hop and House.
  
• August 19, 2006: Kurume City, Japan.
  Promoted and perfomed "Tic Tac Toe" party at ARKTZ. Various DJs: Dr. Rek of Los Angeles, Minoru of As We Do, Shintaro Moriyama of Hong Pung Crew and Akitomo of Arktz.
  
• August 25, 2006: Tosu City, Saga Prefecture, Japan.
  Perfomed at outdoor party with DJ Kakky, promoter and DJ, spinning Trance. Minimalist Techno adlib as well.
  
• September 16, 2006: Yokohama City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Yuki and Toku's wedding party at Little Darlin'. Sang with DJ Taisei of Kyoto to some really nice House.
  
• October 12, 2006: Fukuoka City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Bass (formerly Butterfly). MCd for the AS WE DO Crew, Drum N' Bass. DJs Gattan, Minoru and others. DJ Hiwatashi with New Skool Breaks.
  
• October, 2006: Kurume City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Arktz. MCd for DJ Fuccie, House.
  
• November, 2006: Izahaya City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Madhouse. MCd for Dr. Rek.
  
• December 17, 2006: Kurume City, Japan.
  Perfomed at Metroli. MCd for DJ Pooh, Hip Hop / Club Jazz.
  
• July 17, 2007: Kurume City, Japan.
  Perfomed at ARKTZ. MCd for Hong Pung's Shintarou Moriyama.
  
• July 29, 2007: Tosu City, Japan.
  Perfomed Live Painting to reggae.
  
• September 3, 2007: San Francisco, California.
  Recorded with Dmitri.
  
• December, 2007, continuous: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
  Singing and recording with Nicolas LeGuern, guitarist, blues, bossanova, and folk rock in various languages.
  
• December, 2007 - February, 2008: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
  MCing with DJ Malan at the Azul96 restaurant-bar to House, Ambient, Club Jazz and Trance.
  
• From February, 2008, continuous: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
  MCing and recording NEW MATERIAL with JavaDJ to House and other genres of electronica.
  
• March 22, 2008: Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco, Mexico.
  MCing with DJ Paulyfish at the Psysenses Escape to Psytrance.
  

Current and Future Events

• Winter/Spring, 2008: Recording and performing with Nicolas LeGuern, Guitarist, in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
• 2008: Performing at Azul96, and recording with DJ Malan, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico.
  
• March 22, 2008: Performing at Psysenses Escape with DJ Paulyfish.