Meet Sophie Shaw | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sophie Shaw and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sophie, what matters most to you?
Authenticity. Music is something you must be genuine and authentic about. I want my music to be an expression of who I am but I also want my music to connect with people. There is nothing more authentic than writing a song about something that I have been through and having that song touch someone who may be experiencing the same thing. If your music isn’t authentic you won’t find a connection with your audience and your message won’t be heard.
Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My art comes from a place of personal experiences and personal stories.

What sets me apart is that I am using my voice to tell my story. I’m harnessing all of the joys and pains and struggles of being a teenage girl and I’m using my music to tell these stories.

This hasn’t always been easy, though. Singing is a vulnerable thing to do. It’s not like you are part of a soccer team and have a group of girls to lift you up when you are down or help console you when you lose. But it has taught me to rely on myself in a way that I never thought possible. Being a teenage girl in this world is hard and adding social media into the mix can make it almost unbearable at times. But I really believe that music has to power to heal and connect us to one another.

The music industry can be a scary place. Finding people you can trust and people that aren’t trying to sell you “the dream” is difficult. I have definitely had my share of people that didn’t have my best interest at heart. But the lessons that I have learned along the way have been invaluable. At this very moment, I cant honestly say that I have the best team and I am more challenged and driven than ever.

My brand is really an extension of my moral compass and my passion. I am an advocate for Title IX rights because I have my own story of gender-based harassment and sadly my story is not unique to me. When you have a platform I believe that it is imperative to use your voice for social good.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Well, first and foremost, I love Denver! I have been fortunate to visit many cities and I love coming home!

Anyone who knows me knows that I love getting my nails done. In fact, the longer the better. Our first stop would be OPL Nails and Spa in Thornton. Believe me when I tell you that I have tried them all!

Here’s my perfect itinerary:

– Spend a couple of days in the mountains skiing at Breck. Breck is my favorite mountain- I have been skiing Breck since I was 3. There is nothing better than skiing all day, having dinner at Kenosha Steakhouse, falling asleep early and getting up and doing it again the next day!

– We would also spend a day touring the city: the art district, RHINO, Cherry Creek, the Highlands, and my all time favorite place is Wash Park in the summertime. I attend Denver South High so we would make a quick trip across the park to show her where I go to school. It also happens to be one of the most beautiful high schools in Denver:)

– A trip to Colorado just isn’t complete without seeing Boulder. Pearl street mall is so eclectic and fun. Every time we are in Boulder we go to the Rio Grande Restaurant, sit on the rooftop and enjoy a spectacular view of the flatirons.
– Last but not least, I would introduce her to my friends here in Denver. I am so fortunate to have the most incredible friends who also happen to love a good time! We would all make our way to my all-time favorite restaurant, Ocean Prime. We would end the night with some Instagram pics on Larimer Square.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes! I volunteer with an organization called Girls Inc of Metro Denver. The mission of Girls Inc. of Metro Denver (GIMD) is to inspire all girls to be strong, smart, and bold. Girls Inc of Metro Denver “partners with girls to remove barriers that limit their innate power and advance gender equity in the world around them”. These girls inspire me every day to not just fight for myself but also fight for any girl that has been marginalized simply because she is a girl. They also happen to be the smartest, kindest girls – I can’t wait to see what the future holds for them!

Website: www.sophieshawofficial.com

Instagram: sophieshawofficial

Twitter: sophieshawmusic

Image Credits
Jack Jackson