2nd draft of article

Many people believe Celebrities have totally eccentric lives compared to the rest of us, others believe they are conventional, common people like you and me. After speaking to Sofia Lily, I believe too that celebrities can be average, everyday people who you could meet on a bus, a coffee shop or generally in the street. This may be because she hasn't quite absorbed all of the attention to her head yet or maybe that she would rather be herself than a spoilt popstar. She may seem normal, but do normal people visit India for the weekend to shoot a music video or achieve number 1's in the UK top 40? I think not.

22 year old Sofia Lily is set to storm the charts this weekend with her debut self titled album.

She’s already got fans excited with the single "Indian Summer"- which combines soul, pop and old-school influences. Sofia told us about starting her career at the age of 13, her live gigs and visiting India…


What are your songs about? 

My latest album "Yellow" is about my hopes and dreams in life and how they are coming true, it can happen to anyone if they put the effort in.

When did you first realise you could sing?

When I was about 8 I had the leading role in my school musical "Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat", yeah I know its a boys role but I was determined to prove that a girl can do just as well, anyway I got up to audition and sung my heart out, I was shocked, I could actually sing [Laughing].

Where did you go from there?

Well for a few years I just sang cos I enjoyed it, in the shower, doing homework and just for fun, one day I was singing in a competition in my town centre and got spotted, I got management when I was 13, started writing my own songs and kept my focus on it.

Did you ever have other ‘normal’ jobs?

I always knew I wanted to be a singer. My only options were singing as a career or being broke!

Who are your musical influences?

Erm... well for a long time I have been influenced by artists like Joss Stone and Kelly Rowland, recently I have been influenced by artists such as Florence and the Machine and an amazing band called Middle East - they're a folk band from Australia and they're not very well known.

How do you describe your music to people?

[hesitating] well, if people ask what my music sounds like ill tell them that they will have to listen to my album as it is very, erm... different [Laughing]

What was the music video to Indian Summer like to shoot? Some artists hate filming them.

I love music videos and I got to go to India so I wasn’t complaining. I was there for three days and visited the Taj Mahal, it was a good cultural and spiritual change.

What is the best thing about doing live performances? 

I think it’s the adrenaline rush from people coming to see me. It’s a great energy boost! I put on a good show and sing my heart out and have a good jam! 

How do you rate your live performance ability?

Well I wish I was more energetic but saying that most of my songs aren't 'jump about screaming' songs, so I just give it a gentle sway with some jazz hands thrown in [Laughing]


What is your favourite instrument you use at your live shows?
Oh I love the maracas! I like the tambourine too but its not as fun [Laughing]

What are your ambitions and is there a star whose career path you’d like to follow?

I’d love to be able to sing around the world and be able to travel with my music. I do want to be myself but I look up to someone like Carole King. Everyone covers her songs and she’s respected. That’s something that I aim for and it’s something to work towards.