Art as a Practice for Self-Reflection & Leadership with Paula Sofía

RFU072 - Paula Sofia
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Rosalyn Intro: [00:00:00] Hey friends, I'm Rosalyn Dennett and welcome to season five of Refolkus. Each episode I am joined by incredible guests from all areas of the music industry, for good conversations and informative chats with a focus on folk.

Rosalyn: Hello everybody. Our guest today is Paula Sofia. Paula is a Guatemalan singer, songwriter and arts leader based in Toronto, performing entirely in Spanish. She creates vibrant, intimate performances where storytelling, curiosity, storytelling, and playful audience connection comes together. Her music blends. Latin American folk pop. Inviting listeners into reflective and joyful moments that transcend language. Since releasing her debut album, Quinto Dora in 2020, she has performed at festivals and venues including Hillside Folk Music Ontario, SunFest, So Far Sounds and the Aga Khan Museum. Alongside her music, Paulo works in arts leadership leading programs like the Small World Music Incubator, where she supports musicians through mentorship, community building, and conversations around building sustainable artistic practices.

Welcome Paula. How are you doing?

Paula: I'm great. Thank you so much for having me. I'm really excited to be here.

Rosalyn: I'm very excited to chat with you and get to catch up a bit. Last time I saw you was, probably at the, conference at the

Paula: I think so, yes. How have you

Rosalyn: Canada. Yeah, I've been good. It's, you know, One of the neat things about encountering you at some of these events is that you play in multiple roles. so you know, you're in an. Credible artists, and I've seen you do incredible showcases and performances and, and you're interacting, in that sphere.

But you're also working now in the music industry and in nonprofit leadership. How has that been for you to add additional roles into that space when you're doing these industry events?

Paula: I was gonna say it's a challenge, but [00:02:00] at the same time it's like, it just expands what we as artists already do. Like we're already wearing a lot of hats. I like to think that it's helping me expand my bandwidth in life. So, it has been an amazing experience, honestly, because I started getting myself into the conference role like four years ago as an artist, like an emerging artist. And thankfully I had so many people around me that were supporting me throughout the journey. And, uh, I remember, a bit out of topic, but like just to give you a bit of a context of where I was at my first I was showcasing, my band was not there yet, and it was first day. Thankfully I was with the folks from small world and some other artists friends, but I was freaking out the whole day. It was like this, very overwhelming. It is my first conference and I don't wanna mess it up. And I was showcasing until night and right when my band got there, like an hour before the show, I took them to have pizza outside of the hotel.

And I just started crying with them. Just like,

guys, I'm so happy you're here. I feel supported by you guys and I [00:03:00] don't wanna mess this up. so thinking of me crying at a pizza shop like four years ago because I was so stressed up to here. It's been a journey for sure. And, Not only as an artist, but also, supporting in the arts admin world, in the leadership world.

I don't know how to, fully describe it, but, co-leading the incubator program has been a beautiful gift And being able to share what I've learned over the past couple of years with the artists that come through the program is really also reassuring to me that, oh, I have been learning a bit.

I know that I'm quite new to it and like the big picture of things, but I'm able to share a bit of what I've learned, so that's really nice.

Rosalyn: What do you feel has, changed for you in that conference experience, so from the crying in a pizza shop to now, leading emerging artists through that experience, what was the journey like in between those moments?

Paula: looking back, I can see how the journey. Has had the right pieces at the right moment, and I've met the right people, who are supporting me in the, in the journey as well. So when it comes to [00:04:00] a point where I have to help other artists, I have the example of the mentors that were with me.

So I just tried to give. What I've received. So looking back at the crying at the pizza shop, I had people around, I had small world supporting. Then the next year I got into the incubator program. I got mentorship through there. I understood how the. Canadian music scene worked, little by little.

I was also running my own project at the same time. I was playing a lot back then in, Toronto, and I was developing my musicianship, with my band mates. I was, playing the repertoire at that point, and I got a lot of experience on the ground and after that, 2024, I got called to be one of the leaders of the incubator program next to Neda Moham Pur, who's my coworker. And little by little people, see that you can do something and they're like, okay, you go and do this And then they see that you can do that, and it's like, okay, They let you go little by little, and that's very scary, but really nice.

Rosalyn: yeah, it comes off [00:05:00] very brave because you're, hopping into things that are new and unfamiliar That maybe like scare you in the moment, and then are you able to, to work through them so, just thinking about, showcasing in general, I'm wondering if your relationship has changed with that now that you've, done a lot of showcasing now, you know, as I was listing off some of the festivals and showcases you've been a part of.

what is your personal relationship like with that type of performance now?

Paula: You know, I really, really enjoy that format because it resembles what I. kind of want to do like long-term, with my music. I feel like my stories and in my songwriting, it's meant to be listened to, but also I, I try to leave a bit of. Either reflections or hope or just anecdotes in people.

And I feel like people at these type of conferences are there to give you their whole attention, and it's been a very intimate space that we're able to get in for those 20, 25 minutes. And I'm very lucky that the vibe that we create with [00:06:00] my band on stage is very well received. Supported by the audience, so I really enjoy them.

I really do.

Rosalyn: in your bio you mentioned, working with so far sounds, And I'm wondering what kind of role those more intimate spaces play in, like how you connect to the audience? do you like to have more intimate audience setting?

Paula: I honestly learned so much back when I was playing. Uh, I had an 11 week residency at the, for example, it's a venue that doesn't exist anymore. It was in Kensington Market a small venue every Tuesday. And of course a lot of people go out on a Tuesday night. So there were some times where I would have five people in front of me and it's a, like a living room vibe.

So. at one point I would sing the songs. They would clap and after that silence and I would look at them, I was like, guys, can you talk? Or a little like, but like, it was complete silence. But because they were really attentive to what I was saying and, and think that part of my.

Journey so much because it helped me be okay with [00:07:00] silence, be okay with talking with people, but also knowing when to stop. Like knowing how much to say and like how to get the night going in a way that I weave stories and anecdotes with the music and that repetition. having literally five people in front of me sometimes was really scary at the beginning, but.

With time, I realized that that's something that really, really helped me. So going from there to so far, where it's also like a 30 to 50, amount of people, same. Bringing that intimate vibe into the, the stage has really helped me and I really enjoy it because the fact that I write in Spanish too.

I have probably 5% of the audience that it's, that understands Spanish. So for me it's important to tell the stories and saying it in a way that it immediately takes people who don't speak Spanish, writing to the song and writing to the the feeling. And I've had many people coming up to me later in the night being like, Hey, I know that I didn't understand anything but.

I wanna let you [00:08:00] know that you moved something in me and like I really resonate with that story and like, thank you so much for the storytelling that you do because it helps me get into your world. that's something I am very proud of and I'm still, it's still in the works for sure, but it has become a very distinct signature thing that I do.

Rosalyn: With the storytelling playing such a, big role in the way that you're communicating your songs. is it hard to have that kinda level of, vulnerability or, or kind of openness? Is that something you've, worked on or does it come naturally to you?

Paula: I think it comes natural, but also I feel like part of the vulnerability that you show on stage is very distilled because you had already gone through the depths of whatever you're creating while you're creating it, right? So when you, go on stage. You have dissected and you have processed part of that vulnerability.

So it's something that I feel comfortable doing, but now that's changing a little bit because, right now I'm writing, a new project and, it's part of a five part [00:09:00] project that I will release throughout my whole life. It's called Quin Toyota, and it's, 12 one minute songs. So the idea is that to get to an hour of one minute songs throughout my life, so that project is divided in five chunks.

I'm working on the second chunk right now, and writing these songs is coming from a more like a grownup P for sure. Like it's been six years-ish, seven since I, I wrote the first one and right now I can see how I've changed how I. share things. Also, it's reflecting a bit more the journey, the introspective journey that I'm having some heartbreaks and it's like easy to say all of these things and like we hear it all the time, like the journey that we go within.

thing is to like know that you're going through, but also like when you're going through it and you're. Taking the time to sit with it and dissect it. That is very vulnerable, and I'm putting that on my songs and I'm singing them now, which is lovely. I'd love them to be heard by new people and for [00:10:00] people to hear the new stories that I have to share.

But I, I was playing it to a couple of friends the other day. I was like, whoa, this feels different now because it's different stories. It's showing a different part of me that I don't really necessarily show to others a lot,

Rosalyn: I feel like there's almost like more of a dialogue the smaller the audience is. it kind of opens it up for more of that dialogue. with the people that are watching you, do you find that, it kind of starts to lean that way? are you like kind of opening up a bit more in those types of spaces?

Uncomfortable doing that.

Paula: I think that what I'm trying to do with my songs in this dialogues that I have, with my monologues, with I, that I have with myself on stage, but also after, the show is really connected with what I really want to create in people. As an artist, I know that we here. Universal messages of life throughout our lives, like cliches, or the same teachings that we are like, oh yeah, I know, I know that, I know that.

But like actually putting it in practice, it takes you [00:11:00] several years and listening to different people say the same thing in a different way. For it to click. like I'm, I'm sure you've gone through those moments where you finally hear that same message that you've been hearing the whole, your whole life.

But the way that this, person said it, you're like, ah, I get it now. So I want to contribute that to people where I try to dissect those. Messages, those learnings in life in a way that I really, really, really, the intention is, for them to click with them. And I know that maybe they might hear me and they don't, click for them, but it leaves more Footprint and their path that they can get closer to making that message click.

Rosalyn: what you're saying about, sometimes it takes the right person or the right message at the right time to click. because you're taking these, these snapshots of different times of your life, now that you're working on, the second act of this, bigger project.

looking back, was there anything you would say to [00:12:00] Paula doing the first act of the project? Is there any advice that you

Paula: Again, this is like really cliche and we've heard it a lot, but like listen to yourself more when I first recorded the first part, I had no idea of how to record my music, how to exist in the world as a recording artist or, or someone who's like a singer song writer. But, I had Alicia Brilla, with me supporting like the production of, of the project. I learned a lot from her, but still I was taking the backseat of.

I don't know nothing. So you come and teach me, which is totally valid, which is what you are supposed to do when you are just starting, right? Then I had the second project, that we recorded two years ago. With Diva Johnny. he was my, drummer, but also the producer. And at the same time I was taking the same attitude.

He's like, I'm taking a seat back. This is my music. This is my message, but you are the one who knows how to do it. I'm gonna learn from you still. It's valid, but. There were things, when I look back to both [00:13:00] projects, I'm here like, oh, I think I didn't fully reflect what I wanted and I didn't even know what I wanted at that point.

So I know that those two projects were very valid to happen the way they did. But now for this one, I am here like, okay, I've learned some things and there are times where I want to. Reach out to the people that I'm working with and I'm here like, can you tell me what you hear here? Or like, can you tell me what to do here?

But then I catch myself and it's like, no, you don't look for answers outside because that's just you getting back to old habits and things that don't really. Do a service to what you have inside. so, yeah, that's, I'm navigating that this year and we'll see how that goes. I'm already going through the, like, uncomfortableness that that brings, but I think I see the light on the other side of what can happen and it excites me

Rosalyn: what's the process like right now, making this next part of the project? What's the process [00:14:00] like? I think you're planning to release it. Is it next December? Is that right?

Paula: Yeah, December. It's a cute just thing with myself where. It's all thematic, right? It's 12 songs, 12 minutes. I released the first one on December 12th at 12:00 PM

so I just wanted to make it that thematic. I don't know if that's gonna happen this year, but,

as for the process for this one, I am still figuring a lot of things out. of course I'm getting ideas and help from, friends and musicians that I have around, but I know for sure that I want to record it with a musician in Montreal. His name is Lucas Melo.

He's an amazing guitarist and, uh, bassist from Brazil. So he's bringing also new sounds to, to what I do. I am currently, as of today, s. I have finished seven songs like writing them and like thinking of the arrangement ish. I still need to go to Montreal a couple of times to workshop [00:15:00] them, with him.

But hopefully I'll be recording in August and a lot of artists are doing this lately and I really wanna do it, go to like a nice cottage and uh, just spend like five days there and record it. So I will try to do that and. Because it's gonna be very stripped down me on guitar vocals and an upright bass and another guitar.

Maybe not sure how that will evolve, but I'm seeing it as a very stripped down and like reflecting also the, the internal processes that I'm going through right now.

Rosalyn: Mm-hmm. Speaking of some of that, self-reflection, in transitioning to also incorporating, this kind of mentorship part of your career where you're working with, small world and doing the incubator and mentoring all these, emerging artists. Have you found that that's a really reflective process as well?

Like are you kind of mining your own experiences to do that?

Paula: Oh yeah. Honestly, leading this program has made us netta and me grow so much. we have moments where we cry. [00:16:00] by seeing what we're being able to facilitate, because the program is a very special one. It's a five month program. We have a three day retreat at the beginning. That retreat is for everyone in the cohort to really connect with each other and create that sense of community that will accompany them throughout the five months.

And then we meet up almost every Saturday in person in Toronto, and. The fact that, and I'm mostly the person who's facilitating the, the day. So I mean, we bring speakers in. I am, connecting with the, with the speakers. I am, coordinating what time they're coming, what they're talking about, sending them the curriculum and like what we want the cohort to learn.

But at the end of the day, it's funny, we call them Inc. Babes, ever since like four, five years ago and last year was the first time that they called us Inq Moms And it shows that, I don't know it, we put a lot of care into this program and uh, I always learned so much about myself and I'm always, I have to stop because sometimes that is like [00:17:00] you have to.

Just live and not think as much. But because I go on stage and I, I facilitate the, the day I, I'm the one who does the housekeeping and everything, and I'm here like, Nera, did I say this properly? was that too much information? also the tone. I'm always thinking of how you set the tone, how you create the ambiance for the space, and that is.

something that is, uh, it's helping me a lot. It's helping me a lot. So at the end of the day is leadership. how you lead people, how you deal with the space, what things you say, what things you don't, the flow of the day, the people that you bring in. And that's really, really mirroring what you can do for your.

Professional project as well for like your music project. So I'm going to school for free, I would say, or like how to lead intentionally. and I think being in a, in the arts, being sensitive people and being aware of what's happening in the world, what's happening in your community, it's such an important and needed thing nowadays.

And I have the [00:18:00] intention of like learning how to do it well and not only support my community here, but eventually going back to Guatemala and bring some of the things that I've learned. And as an artist, you want to see the world changed in so many ways, and I feel that paired with what I am doing with my music and my process.

Part of my intention is to try to leave a little seat in people to be like, I can't be the one who changes the world, but I can inspire you to. Wake up a little bit of on, on the things that you can do, and at the end of the day, I can trust that the world is changing for the better because I know that you are doing your part and it sounds like so cliche, but if I know that you are taking care of the whales that I wanna save in, I don't know, Antarctica, or like, I know that you're taking care of the deforestation that's happening, around the world with like this little, initiative, I can sleep a bit.

More at ease because I know that we're working towards the same thing and I feel like we have forgotten With years, we stopped [00:19:00] asking where we're going as people and uh, we stopped talking with each other and it's very worrying to see the, the state of the world and to see that it has the capacity to change this much because we are talking.

This little, you know, with each other. So yeah, I feel like that's part of my, activism within what I'm doing. I'm trying to, through the incubator program and through my music, trying to understand how to better move people with everything that I do.

Rosalyn: That's beautiful.

Well, Paula, I'm wondering if you can. Tell folks a little bit about how they could get involved with this incubator program. Is there an application process? How does one sign up for it?

Paula: We run the incubator program every year from August to December, and applications open in April 1st to May 1st, so it's a whole month of applications. They go through a jury process, and then by June we should have our cohort, so. check out small world music, dot com for more [00:20:00] info on that, and you can follow us as well, so you can see the journey.

We try to post a lot of behind the scenes and just recaps of what the sessions have been with the incubators. So yeah,

Rosalyn: heard it from the incu mom herself. don't sleep on that. please go check that out on the small World Music website. but also, check out Paula Sophia's music 'cause it is absolutely beautiful. website, social media. Where should people go to find out more about, your artistry?

Paula: You can go out to my Instagram PaulasofiaMV that's P-A-U-L-A, Sophia with an F, not a PH.

Rosalyn: Perfect. And we will link to all of those links in the show notes. Paula, it is so wonderful, to chat with you and, I just can't wait to do it again. You're such a lovely person. Thank you so much for chatting.

That's all for this episode, folks. The Refocus Podcast is an original production by Folk Canada. Find out more [00:21:00] about us by heading to folkcanada.com/refolkus. The podcast is produced by Kayla Nezon and Rosalyn Dennett and mixed by Jordan Moore at the Pod Cabin. The opening theme is written and performed by King Cardiac, the artwork is by Jaymie Karn. Please give us a download, subscribe, rate, and review to let us know you're listening. And be sure to follow Folk Canada on social media for the latest updates, events, and more.