Sonia Barcelona (part I)

Unknown Speaker 0:00
You're listening to local programming produced in K u and v studios.

Unknown Speaker 0:06
You're listening to rebel radio with your host Malika Bella. Yeah, what's good everybody. Welcome back to rebel Radio. I'm your host Malika Bella here with our guest, Sonia Barcelona. Hello, hello. And before we do intros and all of that, I do want to play a little game, just to you know, ease into this. So really it is a word association, right? There's no right or wrong answer just any word or phrase that comes to mind. And we'll do it in like a speed round. Okay, you up for it. Okay,

Unknown Speaker 0:35
cool. I'm getting nervous. I'm like, oh my god, what am I going to think of?

Unknown Speaker 0:39
Vegas?

Unknown Speaker 0:42
I think of art. That's weird, but

Unknown Speaker 0:46
identity, crisis of fame. Fortune, wonder. Magic. Art.

Unknown Speaker 0:58
So.

Unknown Speaker 0:59
And last but not least music. My guitar. I love seeing your facial expressions too. So finding the words in you're like, Oh, that would guess it's a journey.

Unknown Speaker 1:12
I love it. My friends really enjoy my facial expressions as well.

Unknown Speaker 1:17
So who is Sonia Barcelona? Oh, man, that's so funny.

Unknown Speaker 1:23
So I would say yeah, I say I'm an artist, because I just create a lot of art in different forms. So more recently, it was like drying. But I was drying like 10 years ago. And I create music. I perform that music. I write songs. Yeah, I don't know. I feel like my life. I try to make it like art. And that's how I'm kind of approached like my mentality like the other day. Who asked me a question. vinyls. Okay. So they're like, hey, the next door shop. It's about vinyl. And then they're like moving out. And I was like, there's a frickin vinyl shop next door. And they're like, Yeah, it's like shutting down. No, the vinyl shop cannot shut down. Like, I need to go there now. And they're like, What do you mean? And I'm like, like vinyl music. And they're like, No, like vinyl, they print like vinyl banners. And I was like, I'm so in the mode of music that when they said that I was, you know, like, my brain is operating like that, like, so I just in that moment, too. I was like, oh, like, clearly in the music related things in my mind and art.

Unknown Speaker 2:28
So the poor sign shop. They're like, Oh, we thought we had somebody advocating.

Unknown Speaker 2:33
And I was like, Oh, you're just like vinyl banners. Well, I thought of vinyl stickers. And but yeah, that was a funny moment. Because they they were confused. And then I just misunderstood it. So yeah. makes life fun. Yeah, I guess like my brain is full of just like how to create and creation things. So I call myself an artist. So Sonia, Barcelona would be an artist. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 2:54
I'm really interested in you know, you saying? Well, there is that saying of like life imitates art and all that I think what you've said beautifully Is Your Life is art. And you try to create that. So speaking of creating, how did you come up with the name Sonia Barcelona. Hmm?

Unknown Speaker 3:11
Okay, so that's a funny, and maybe a long story that I'll try to piece together and like a little nice sandwich. So my original name, my mom at the time, when I was born, she gave me her ex husband's last name, who was not my father. And I was like, Mom, why did you do that? And she's just a four foot 11 Filipino lady. And she's like, I don't know, it was easier at the time, you know, like, I don't know, like, and I was like, you could have given me your maiden name. But that was my middle name. So Sonia Vergara is my middle name her like born name. And later on in life, I was like, Oh, my gosh, I have basically a stranger's last name. And it's like, a bummer. Just know that. So I think it was around 2014 or 2015. I traveled to Europe for the first time in my life. And one of the cities I went to was Barcelona. And it really changed my life with the Gaudi architecture. Just like that, I saw dolly artwork in person for the first time. And that really changed my life, just the feeling of that city and the artwork. It was like just to be in it and the people how they lived. It was amazing and very inspiring. And I was also aware of the history of Barcelona, like Spain in general, on the rest of the world. So I'm half Filipino, and I was looking for an artist name because that's when I also was trying to get more serious about my music. And I was like, it cannot be the strangers last name. Like that's so. Not cool. So I was at one point, I was like, Sonia masala.

Unknown Speaker 4:58
You're like, does it roll off the tongue? Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 5:00
Because I'm also half Indian. And I was like, No, that's not cool. So yeah. But you know, thinking of the trip and how it made me feel how it inspired me, I was like Barcelona, and you know, there's a connection there with my Filipino side of Spain and just in general, not forgetting my history, not forgetting where I came from. There isn't like kind of a it's a beautiful thing. That Spaniard Spaniards had an influence on the Philippines, but it's also really dark. My mom is clearly like Spaniard in her blood. You can see she's like lighter skinned. She has, she doesn't have like a button nose. Like there's a Spaniard influence on her. So I thought that that was highly appropriate to choose Sonia Barcelona, culturally, just also just being in Barcelona, seeing what it was like and that's when I changed my stage name to sunny Barcelona 2015 or 2016.

Unknown Speaker 5:56
Beautiful. I don't know if you've like shopped at Trader Joe's and they have like random like if it's an Italian pasta or something to like Trader Joe's or like, and they have different. So the different Sonia's and then like, imagine a worldly Sonia, where there's like Sonia masala. Oh my God. That's what I'm envisioning. And I'm gonna champion that. So we got Barcelona. Hey, what's next? Yeah. All right, a map.

Unknown Speaker 6:20
Yeah, I'm down. I'm down to just be like different versions. It's kind of like a different Spidey universe. Yes. That's funny. Also,

Unknown Speaker 6:28
my mom is part Spanish, like her dad has deep ties with Spain, but she mainly identifies as being Salvadorian. Or like from El Salvador. So um, I know that she always pokes fun at like people with different accents, like within the Spanish language, and with a lot of Spanish people. They're like, Barthelona. Like, I don't know how to say it. But she always pokes fun at that. And I'm like, Oh, my God, I imagined somebody saying your stage name like that. It's happened

Unknown Speaker 6:53
because yeah, there's a lot of Spaniards who? Yeah, they're like Barcelona. And then I go like, yeah, that's, I mean, I don't pronounce it like that, because I'm American. But it is supposed to be pronounced like that. Yeah.

Unknown Speaker 7:10
Your own. Well, that can be added to the map. I'm okay with that, you know?

Unknown Speaker 7:18
Well, something that I want to talk about for sure is your first album, right? Bitter Melon. So when we think of that name, or we being myself and all of my personalities included, when I think of bitter melon, I think of like the actual like food and the like sense of wellness that it brings and the literal taste of it being bitter and very good for you. And this bitter sweetness. I don't know if that was part of the naming process or what the whole album means to you. But if you want to elaborate, huh?

Unknown Speaker 7:48
Yeah, no. Well, thank you for Yeah, just being interested in the name of my Avalon. Thank you for just Yeah, doing research on that plant. So yeah, that's like a, it's a vegetable gourd kind of like, similar to like a cucumber, but it has this really spiny looking weird texture to it. And when I was a kid, Filipinos know this type of food and our dishes like in lots of stews and stuff. And I hated it as a child. My mom said it was medicinal. And then when you get older, it's good for you. It's healthy for you, but I hated it. And it's funny, because now as an adult, I really like it. I like the taste of bitter things. And I'm like, oh, man, I really wish I had that dish with this with bitter melon and stuff. But yeah, I named the album bitter melon, because of that concept of like, just growing up getting older. The things that you experience in life are can be really bitter. And they could, like leave you with a bad taste in your mouth. But sometimes those things are medicinal for you to grow, if that makes sense. If there's a challenge in your life, something that really rocks your world, like, how do you approach that? How do you move through that. And so I think bitter melon is kind of about that. It starts with tracks that are with a band and ends like with solos, so half of the album is with a band arrangement. And the other half is just like me and my vocals. So I ended with this song called home, because I felt that like you can begin on a journey but then how do you find yourself back to you back to your version of home back to whatever that is? And for me, it's like family What does family mean? To me? What does being alone or solo mean? Like? Yeah, so I think that's what medicine is like. Bitter melon is like, Oh, dang, I don't want to have that bitter thing but life will throw things at you. And how how do you get back to yourself? That's kind of like the concept of bitter melon. The food I love food. I'm a big foodie. So yeah, it's highly appropriate that I wouldn't even album after food

Unknown Speaker 10:00
Yeah, just beautiful. I love it. I do want to say, a little tidbit to my parents juice bitter melon. Like it's so, so healthy for you all this and I'm like, I don't know, I'll steer away until like, yeah, that's your answer. I don't know elders in our lives typically know what's, what we should be doing right? And then they're like, oh here like this, this that. And it's up to us to really experience that or make that decision like how do they what is the saying, you can lead a horse to water, but you can't make them drink or something like that? Yes. So we ultimately have to drink, whether it be the bitter melon juice or not. But there's a lot of decisions to be made. Right?

Unknown Speaker 10:39
Yeah, there's so many directions that a person can take, and knowing your history, so like me and my name, being respectful of those that came before you so that ancestry and listening to like, you know, your when your parents are like, this is really good for you. And then you go through the motions of life and you're like I said, a stick that video and then it showed me this data. And then at the end of the day better millon starts trending, and you're like, Oh, my parents told me that, like, when I was a kid, so it's like, you know, it's like, who should you be listening to? It's like, it's already there. It's all the answers are right in front your face. So it's like, yeah, it's pretty simple. It sucks. But it's simple that our melon is really intense. But it works. And it's actually does have like a an acquired taste, I would say, yeah.

Unknown Speaker 11:25
So you talking about, you know, the bitterness of life. And really, all of these, all of these like paths you take or whatever happens in your life individually, finding that sense of home for yourself and how you define it. That is true, right? I'm wondering if that's also true on another level of the album itself? Did it help you find your own version of home through music?

Unknown Speaker 11:48
Hmm, that's such a great question. Um, it's almost as if I'm still, like living through the same patterns or cycles in life, and learning the lesson of like, what it what home means to me. So I grew up as an only child and a nuclear family. So mom, dad, and me. And then so I was very used to being like, solo, very confident in that solo Ness. And then you go through, like love you go through relationships and how that feels. And I think now as I get older, I'm like, Oh, my God, those things of the heart are so important. When, when your heart breaks, where do you go? What do you do? Those moments, I feel like when someone's heart is broken, it's like, you almost get so lost, you get so confused. And I'm still learning those lessons of, and it can be anything, it'd be like death. It doesn't have to be heartbreak. That's heartbreaking death, metaphorical death of like, relationships that you have with friends, like you used to have a best friend here. And now they're no longer at this part of your life. And you're like, oh my gosh, like, so I'm learning this transition arm in transitions. And I go like, wow, I've I feel like how do I find my stability? My groundedness. And yes, music has always saved the day. That's what I've learned continuously throughout whatever cycle is happening in my life is that my guitar, even if it's not there, for me, it's like my voice, my voice is there for me. So each person has their thing. But I've discovered like, wow, I cannot give up on expressing. There. I think more recently, like, I think it was last year where I was, like, at a moment where I said, I think I'm gonna give up on music. Like, I think I'm just gonna stop. Because I've been writing songs for almost 10 plus years, with not the intention of getting like famous or anything, it's just that the process more recently became very difficult and not fun. And then if you keep on doing it, you know, just naturally over time, the attention that it brings the pressure that it might bring the, you know, the desire to be a full time artist is there too. So then I get bring pressure to myself and so it just didn't become fun. And I was like, I'm, I think I'm just gonna give up. And it's funny because I said that and then crazy cool happened, oh, I Can I curse. And then music came in and reminded me like, you cannot give up on this thing. It's like moments when people say like, Hey, I listened to your song and really helps me out. Or, you know, just like I, I just like, found you on the internet and then this thing. So it's like that, that reminds me. For me in particular, music is so important music really is my home music is within me. And I would be doing a disservice to myself and to my ancestors to my parents if I were not to do that for myself in this lifetime. So it reminds me of my purpose. So I think, yeah, feeling lost and confused. I just go like, what's your purpose, Sonia. And then when I, when I don't remind myself like, hey, then that's when I go to get up and everything and be the crybaby. And then I get out of that ze like Sonia, stop being a little baby. Oh, like you have these, these abilities help people with it and keep on moving forward. So yeah,

Unknown Speaker 15:23
I for one can attest that you have helped me with your music. And with all forms of your art honestly, we need you say, you're an artist you really are. Thank

Unknown Speaker 15:33
you. I appreciate that. It really means a lot to me to hear those things, too, I think for any artists to hear it. Because yeah, it's sometimes we ourselves like I don't know, I have a Van Gogh phone cover. And that dude went crazy. You know what I'm saying? Keep it off ears. It's just gorgeous. Cut it to fit off ears. That's it that's like ties. No, just so for artists to hear those things, it's really important, because sometimes we can feel the complete opposite. So thank you, thank you, I appreciate that. I also learned that about myself after the pandemic as well, when like, I couldn't get as much or something. I was just like, What can I do? And there's something within me that needs to create something and I started drawing. So I see that you notice that too. So thank you for that. But it's like that. It's like I can't not do it, or else I don't feel myself. And that's when I knew like yep, I should just say like someone on your frickin artists. And just if you deny it, then you're gonna have a mental breakdown.

Unknown Speaker 16:34
No, it seems like it. You already said it best. But your expression your outlet is like it feels like an aligning purpose that you're like, every time you stray away from it, you're like, Nope, I have to go back. Are there signs from the universe signs from different people, even science, maybe from yourself that you're like, you know, I have to either write the song or I have to sing it and perform it or I have to, you know, draw or paint or do whatever it is in that moment to feel and express yourself. Right. So, I mean, you are a true creative, not that my opinion really holds all of this weight. But in my eyes you definitely are. Thank

Unknown Speaker 17:11
you. Thank you. i I'm glad to see the acknowledgement. So thank you so much. Yeah, it's like, it's, it's those things those are, it's really important to, like a lot of us are like, as artists or any creator, sometimes we do have the imposter syndrome happen. And, and it's crazy. You'd be like, Oh my God, this person is incredible. Or whatever. Like, I had a good friend who's like, amazing rapper, whatever. And he still thought he was not the greatest. And I'm like, yo, like, it's just so yeah, artists can have identity crisis all the time. Yeah, yeah. As was mentioned

Unknown Speaker 17:49
in that little game, yeah. Yes. Speaking of so the first word was Vegas, right. And you said art, or like art scene or like really, any of that. This is like really old. But I'm interested in knowing about, you know, your ties to Vegas, you kind of touched on it, but also the the art scene. So I found out that you kind of CO started or maybe really, completely started farside Wonderfest. Oh, well last from the past. Yeah,

Unknown Speaker 18:17
yes. Yes. That was the first festival at Ferguson's downtown. Wow. Thank you for seeing that. Yeah. I just wanted to see how I can put together a bunch of artists and the opportunity was there to just do a little festival. So I was like, why don't I just put together this thing, see who can help me out. And I want the feeling of wonder to be there. I want the feeling of like, just being there with your family and enjoying and I also put it on the date of my birthday. So September 7 is my birthday. And I was releasing bitter melon. So it was kind of like, hey, it's my birthday. It's also my album release. But it's also like I love giving to my community. So I'm just gonna, like highlight some excellent artists, Jen Taylor. At the time. She was running Ferguson's and I gave I went to her with the idea like hey, can I do my album release such blah, blah. She was like, Yeah, let's do it. So just brought together some people who wanted to help out. And yeah, that happened. And it was funny. At the end, I wanted to showcase violent water which was this music video that was crowdfunded by the community. I was a mermaid in it. Like desert cactus productions husband wife team, they directed produced it I said, Hey, I want to be a brown mermaid and at the time I was like, I don't see any brown mermaids and that's okay, like let's make me brown mermaid savings, or whatever. And then that was literally it. And then Danny was like, put together freaking sketch boards and everything. And it was just incredible. So I wanted to release it there was so funny at the end of the night, so all the performances went down, I played with my band at the time. And then I wanted to do a blow up of the there's like a projection screen. And then it freakin crapped out on me. And it was to me, it was so funny because I was like, Yo, I want to like show this video, but it's whatever it's like learning to roll with the punches. And then I just said, Hey, guys, just call me YouTube. Because the wind is hurting this projector screen. It's a little embarrassing, but I said, you know, whatever. We tried and failed to showcase that, but at least you saw a live performance of the song so. So that was farside Wonderfest. Just, I love bringing together the community helping out in any way highlighting other artists. So that was a big thing that happened very first festival. And then since then there have been like, many others, but I feel very privileged to have been like the first for that. That was pretty cool. I didn't expect to be the first either. I didn't. I wasn't saying like, I want to be that. It's just a cool idea. And then Jen was like, yeah, so yeah, they just out

Unknown Speaker 21:02
there blazing trails, and then you don't have time to look behind and be like, oh, yeah, I did that. Like,

Unknown Speaker 21:08
actually, yeah, I was like, That is a throwback. So thanks for researching.

Unknown Speaker 21:14
And it's interesting that you say it was on your birthday, and all of that too. Because typically like people this is gonna sound so sappy, but people get presents, right? Instead of like giving these presents. So you literally gave everyone a beautiful gift of like your presence, your performance, everything that you put together for everybody to come into community with each other. So it's just beautiful. Really is.

Unknown Speaker 21:37
Thank you. Yeah, actually, I love doing that I love because that's sharing that brings me such joy. Like I like don't get me wrong. I like getting pressed presents. But that's like Christmas time vibes. On my birthday. I'm like, here, this is what I can offer. I know, this is the best version of myself, you know. So I remember in 2017 for my birthday, that's when I started. So I'm also a photographer. I started photos for the people on that day. So it's kind of similar. Like I see what the track record is for me on my birthday. Like typically I want to like give something and that's how I connect to other people and give and I love seeing other people smile. So yeah, that's yeah, I love giving my birthday.

Unknown Speaker 22:22
Not only to not only were you birth on that day, you continue to birth things on that day. So that's pretty cool. But yeah, about violent water. So I ended up watching the Kickstarter, and I love it. It reminds me of kind of like Scott Pilgrim is so entertaining for all reasons. I love it. Love it, and the music video itself. Amazing. Amazing. So for any people out there who are interested, don't worry, you don't have to deal with the wind blowing over

Unknown Speaker 22:51
violent winds.

Unknown Speaker 22:55
But definitely go give it a listen. And watch. So I know you got a bit of like recent news, Netflix, so big deal with that one.

Unknown Speaker 23:05
Okay, yeah. So, um, well, yeah, that happened recently. And that's when I mentioned that I was about to like, give up on music. I think it was just, it's been awhile to experience life after the pandemic, like two years for an artist, not being out and sharing what I what I am used to like giving, that was so damaging to me internally. So, mental health has become such a big thing for me now, as an artist, like I really am trying to live that out in my life. So I can, if any other artist wants to ask questions, and maybe that's where I would be like, hey, yeah, I have been doing this for 10 years, and I'm miraculously still creating I think of that I go like, Oh my God, it's crazy for me to even still be creating anything. And it is long run. So what am I doing right now to sustain it. So that's what I would want to like help others with. But basically, I didn't think I could sustain it. Last year, as I was like, I'm gonna give up and blah, blah, get a regular modify, bla bla bla bla was really like, sad. And I was doing as much as I could for my mental health. Got a therapist. I was my my so I still have this my dad gave me on my birthday, a Fitbit. And then I just started walking 10,000 steps a day to get in my exercise. And I noticed I was like, oh, yeah, I'm not getting enough exercise. And I'm not blah, blah, blah. And so that and just like socializing. It's weird, because it's like, I thought it was it was so natural to me before the pandemic and then afterward it was like, Oh, my God, I don't even know how much socializing I need. I went like, way overboard and went to every single events right after the pandemic. And then I circled and reeled it all back in because I was like, oh my god, I went too many things. And now I'm like, burnt out on socializing. So I think I'm rebalancing. And all of that took a lot of energy for me and I was like, I think I'm just gonna give up because I don't know what I'm doing with my life. And then my song heart station got placed in a Netflix show called The brother, son. And this happened, I got the news right before Christmas. So this was wild because I was having a very lonely Christmas to be honest, I was very in my like, sad, existential artist head, which is not normal. For me. I'm not like that. I just just like reminded that I cannot give up on music. And in particular heart station is actually my personal lyrically, my personal favorite song that I've created. I made it in 20 minutes on an iPad. Like it was in general, like the format of the song all the lyrics, I wrote it down. I remember just being like, this is such a fun song. I love it so much. And I'm half Indian, I'm going to leave in lean into that and do put some star sitar samples from some really amazing Indian guitarists. And never never last, I remember being like super playful with it and just being like, Ah, this is epic. And I love the lyrics. And this was right after violent water. So violent water got like, huge attention because of the music video and the Kickstarter. But I was saying to myself, lyrically, after that, I was like, no, but hard stations. My favorite. That was four years ago, right? So now circles back to save the day. And for me in my life, right when I felt so low, and just like down and out. And I couldn't help but think like, wow, there is nothing that will save me except myself. And this, what is within me is music is song. And in that song, the lyrics go. And if you fall, get back up and celebration, just feel the beat, let it fill up your heart station. And I was just like, Dude, I need to listen to myself. Like, so. I just felt so I was crying. I was sobbing I was so grateful. I was just, I couldn't believe that that was a song to to remind me that, you know, if you fall, you can get back up. And you can do it. You can like, you can do it on your own. And then you will get the help that you need. Like you've been doing so much work within yourself. Like these are things that I'm telling myself in my mind and all that but yeah, that happened and I didn't know what kind of shows gonna be. So I watched the brother son. It's an amazing show. It's a freaking Taiwanese family gangster show with Michelle Yeoh in it who's a hero of mine. She's in Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon. She's just like, in everything everywhere all at once, which was awesome is one of my favorite movies of all time. And when I saw that, I freaked out. I think I almost passed out. And then my my dad, he's so chill. He's like, so I grew up with my stepdad who's like this, like, kind of intimidating Mexican guy. And so when you approach him you think like, Oh, my God, don't mess with him. But he's actually a real teddy bear. And I was like, Oh, I was so excited about flick shots. Incredible. And he was like, wow. Yeah, just super chill. Like, Madam minimal words. And, you know, when I watched it, it was so long that it was placed in, in the show, and they didn't tell me anything. They just said, This is the scene. And this is the show. So I go in with like, such a surprise. Like, I didn't know how long it was gonna be. It's literally in the show for like four minutes. And my the song itself is like two so I'm like, how did that happen? Like what and I had a watch party with close friends and family and it was incredible. It was just so beautiful to be reminded that you know, to keep going to see that it that it brings such joy and it was like everything that I love. It was a all Asian cast. They were very mindful of the soundtrack. I asked this i i went and message the music supervisor, I said, Thank you so much. They did an article explaining how the artists that they chose are like minorities, all minorities, and they're they're like, We want to support Asian or black. Just like musicians and I was like, oh my god, I'm on that list. There's Kendrick Lamar is on that list. I was like, would the freak is happening in my life right now. So I'm still weirded out by it invest way because it just just like that's, that's unbelievable. You know, like, it's just unbelievable.

Unknown Speaker 29:40
And that's a wrap. Thank you so much for listening to part one of Sonia's episode. Make sure to tune in next week for part two. And remember to follow her on Instagram at RF Sonia.

Unknown Speaker 29:52
Thank you for listening to rebel radio with Malika Bella lyrics locals love on the rebel HD two

Transcribed by https://otter.ai