In “Music of My Life,” artists from across the world guide No Manners through their latest music releases and reflect on the role music has played in their lives. In this installment, London-based singer-songwriter Sophie Castillo talks about her latest EP, the music that marked her childhood and how Latin American culture informs her work.
Although Latinos are one of the fastest-growing demographic groups in the UK, British-Latinos are still vastly underrepresented across cultural spaces and media. Enter alt-pop singer-songwriter Sophie Castillo, one of the leading figures in a new generation of British artists poised for global success.
Mirroring the diversity of her roots, Castillo has crafted a unique sonic identity that speaks of her British upbringing as well as her Latin American heritage. The singer’s matchless sound, which she touts as dark-pop, flawlessly traverses the boundaries of pop and indie with Latin rhythms, multilingual lyricism and captivating confidence.
Armed with enticingly sultry vocals and a music catalog so diverse that it’s impossible to box her as torchbearer of any genre, Castillo has been making a name for herself beyond the confines of her homeland. With tracks like “Call Me By Your Name,” “That Thing I Need” and “Diosa,” the London-based songstress is making headway in the US — as per Spotify, her audience is predominantly located in cities like Los Angeles, Chicago and Houston.
On April 25, Castillo expanded her wide-ranging discography with the release of a highly anticipated EP. Aptly titled Like a Star, the eight-track record tells the story of an otherworldly character as she discovers human experiences and emotions. Afrobeat, pop, funk, bachata and bolero are among the multitude of music genres Castillo explores in her latest body of work.
Keep reading as Like a Star singer Sophie Castillo guides us through the music of her life.
The Music Now: Like a Star
By the time we hop on a video call from opposite sides of the world, Castillo is anticipating the release of Like a Star, a conceptual record where she finds her footing as a multi-genre artist. Instead of building the album around a music genre or adjacent sounds, Castillo opted for a stylistically varied tracklist, tied together by the story of a foreign entity arriving on Earth.
“I really like to work conceptually and have a story, narrative and theme in mind,” she tells No Manners over a call from London; her voice subtly breathy and very dreamy. “I created a character in my mind. I envisioned her as an otherworldly being. Maybe she’s not from this planet. She has come to Earth to have all these human experiences. Each song goes through the different experiences she goes through. All of the experiences and human emotions are completely foreign to her, so she is coming to terms with them in each song.”
The album opens up with “Supernova,” a reggaeton-infused banger that speaks of “coming to Earth with a mission.” The follow-up “Again” is a seductive bachata song where Castillo’s vocals shine against an irresistible instrumental. With the next songs, Like a Star subtly pivots to flamenco, afrobeat, funk and pop-leaning sounds, addressing topics like love, betrayal and heartbreak.
To craft an album that speaks so descriptively about human emotion, Castillo drew inspiration from her personal experiences. She also looked at people around her, including her mother. “Subconsciously, I think I take a lot of inspiration from my mother’s experiences. She can relate to the story of not being from this place and moving to a new world,” she shares. “It takes time getting used to the culture, the way people talk, the way people think. That was the story that inspired the project. I dived into the psyche of this character, put myself in her shoes and tried to immerse myself in her world.”
On The Standout Moments Recording Like a Star
As she revisits the creative process leading to the release of Like a Star, Castillo can easily identify two pivotal moments. The first one was writing the title track, which gives name to the EP. Through “Like a Star,” Castillo found the record’s sonic direction and clarity about where the project was headed.
Meanwhile, recording “Supernova” was an opportunity to put a personal spin on reggaeton music, which Castillo usually finds challenging despite her love for the genre. “In that session, I said, you know what, I want to make a reggaeton today, but I’m not going to go with any restrictions or expectations. I’m not going to pressure myself to fit this mold. I’m just going to make it my own,” she recalls, deeply engrossed in the story.
The result was a dreamy and confident track that speaks of Castillo’s ability to add a personal imprint to her music, regardless of the genre. “The song has really positive affirmations. It was a special moment because it made me realize I don’t have to try and fit a mold when doing these genres. It reminded me that I should do what I love to do, which is fusion music.”
On How She Kickstarted Her Music Career
Castillo’s lifelong dream has been making music. As she tells No Manners, she can’t recall a time in her life when she didn’t dream about singing. When she was only five years old, she dipped her toes into musical theater. In the years that followed, and thanks to her family’s support, Castillo made steady progress toward fulfilling her musical aspirations.
“I started to go to a musical studio to write and record songs when I was about 15. Then, in the first lockdown [during the COVID-19 pandemic] I didn’t have access to a studio or a producer,” Castillo explains. “I started making my own demos and beats at home, developing production and writing skills. Then I would send my demos to a producer. He would make these songs come to life [from home]. That’s how I did the majority of my first releases. From then it’s been a journey of growing, learning and being more consistent with music.”
On How Her Latin Heritage Informs Her Musical Identity
Castillo grew up in a Latin American household, where playing Latin music, enjoying family gatherings and speaking Spanish was the norm. She looks back on the experience fondly, remarking on the influence that Latin American, and especially Colombian, culture had on her upbringing. “I was always very immersed in the culture, speaking Spanish at home, as well as just being around lots of Latinos — my family and family friends,” she shares.
As she grew older and her music career started taking shape, Castillo found inspiration in Latin genres such as salsa and reggaeton as a way to honor her heritage. “I grew up in the UK, but you always have in the back of your mind your heritage, your roots and your connection to your family. I realized I wanted to pay respects to my culture and use it for musical inspiration because we have such incredible music in Latin America.”
While introducing the Spanish language and Latin rhythms into her music portfolio felt like the natural next step, Castillo admits the process was intimidating. It took time for her to feel in her element. Once she did, she found the confidence to freely experiment with different styles.
“It was new, so I eased my way into it. I put a little bit of Spanish in each song until I felt ready and confident to try a Latin genre, which was the first bachata I made, “Call Me by Your Name.” I made the beat at home and put a lot of time into all the details, designing all of the sounds and creating the melodies. I made something I really loved and connected to because it was a Latin genre, but it also had my own touch to it.”
The Music of her Childhood
A lover of the genre and the romanticism it oozes through the lyrics, Castillo remembers religiously listening to salsa during her childhood. Despite salsa’s contagious rhythm, its poetic nature and rich storytelling didn’t get lost in her.
Take, for example, one of her favorite salsa tracks, “Rebelión” by Joe Arroyo. The Colombian classic tells the story of an enslaved woman in Cartagena, whose abuse sparks a slave revolt. “I loved that song so much growing up. I loved listening to it and how it told an entire story, which is a very significant story about the roots of Latin culture,” explains the singer. “That’s one thing I really love about salsa, that there are so many songs that tell a really powerful story and give a nod to the history of our continent.“
Influenced by her grandmother’s love for Celia Cruz, Castillo also recalls listening to the Latin music essential, “La vida es un carnaval.” The song even served as a bridge between her Latin heritage and her school life. “In my UK school, all my friends, for some reason, knew that song. We had a Zumba class and they all loved it. We all bonded through that song — that one really reminds me of my childhood,” she says with a smile.
The Music of her Teenage Years
Growing up in the UK, Castillo had what she describes as a “very British” teen experience. In her playlist, English rock bands such as the Arctic Monkeys, The Kooks and The Vaccines co-existed with American post-grunge groups like The Pretty Reckless. “I was really immersed in that [kind of music]. I used to go to the shows, concerts, and festivals. It might not have shaped me sonically, but I definitely learned a lot listening to that kind of music,” says Castillo.
Among her music-defining moments, however, the singer vividly recollects the first time she listened to Lana Del Rey — a rite of passage for any girl of our generation, I suggest. Castillo agrees. “I just thought it was such a fresh approach to pop music and I think she was the first kind of alternative, pop mainstream artist to be unapologetically romantic, unapologetically poetic, raw and vulnerable. She wasn’t afraid to just talk about her life and make it beautiful, even though what she went through was difficult,” she reflects.
“I immediately fell in love with her sound. She’s my main inspiration. I’ve always been inspired by her. I think that [listening to her music] had a big impact on me as a teenager. It really shaped me as a songwriter and a vocalist.”
“I hope that when people hear my music, they see someone who is authentically creating from their minds and not necessarily checking one box, but embracing all sides of themselves.”
— Sophie Castillo
On Her Musical Style and Hopes for the Future
Much like her music idol, Castillo doesn’t shy away from musical experimentation. While a big part of her discography retains a dark-pop edge, she’s comfortable expanding her horizons and embracing continuous transformation. “I feel that artists have traditionally been boxed in one genre and they have to stay in that lane. But now we’re in a really interesting time when you can have a multigenre approach,” she says. “I’ve intentionally tried to do that from my very first releases, so no one expects just one thing from me.”
As she emphasizes throughout the interview, Castillo is not concerned about making just one type of music or fitting a mold. Quite the opposite. The singer is open to evolution and change — a natural process for any human. She is also acutely aware of how complex and layered the human experience can be. “We don’t only listen to one genre of music. We don’t only think in one way. It’s always changing, and I think it’s nice for your music to reflect that. It’s not natural for any human to be in one box, so, personally, I think it doesn’t make sense to only make one kind of music.”
As for her goals as a musician, Castillo is clear about one thing. She wants to be recognized for her ability to take on different musical styles and reimagine genres in her own terms. “Whatever I’m singing, I hope people see me as a multigenre artist who can give them reggaeton or salsa, indie or pop. I hope that when they hear my music, they see someone who is authentically creating from their minds and not necessarily checking one box, but embracing all sides of themselves.”
Discover Sophie Castillo’s music on Spotify and follow her on her official social media channels.
