Sophia Ramos: Serpentine Singer - by Michelle Shocked

12/9/2007 at 4:28 PM

What's amazing about Sophia Ramos is that she has this wonderful background of gospel and R&B styles, but she also likes to just kick ass, because she's a rock 'n' roll baby first and foremost.

But I remember her being told by record-company executives, "You should play the music of your people." It was that blunt--because she's Puerto Rican, they didn't think she should play rock 'n' roll. And I was so impressed that instead of being discouraged by them, she had a vision for herself and the kind of music that was true to her heart, which I feel is expressed very well in her band, Sophia's Toy.

She didn't stereotype herself even though others tried to. I think Sophia is a poster child for what I call the new omni-American, someone who truly represents American culture. I'm not really a fan of the idea of multiculturalism, but I feel like she's got so much at her fingertips. She offers a real new perspective on the way race figures into pop music today because she has all the cultural references available to her. She's got it all. And if you see the girl dance to salsa, man, she's so fun and lively, she's like a charmed snake.

Interview by Michelle Shocked

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