Atwood Magazine sat down with the multi-talented Sophia Galaté ahead of her Chicago show and discussed everything from Chicago jazz clubs to viral moments to long-term goals. It’s clear Galaté is headed for stardom.
Stream: “Please Don’t Talk To Me” – Sophia Galaté
The crowd murmurs inside, shaking snow off their shoulders. Despite the chilling February air, there’s a whisper of excitement inside.
Warm lights glow against the cozy interior. Soft music overtakes the room, a blend of vocals and brass echoing across the bar.
“We’re all going to dress up like it’s the ‘20s with little fur things,” Sophia Galaté explains, “and we’re going to film it like it’s a movie.” She lights up as she speaks of her dream show at The Green Mill, drawing you in the same way she does with the crowd during a live show.
Galaté has been singing since the age of five. She would make up songs as a child, with her first one called “Ballerina Pink Bunny Rose.” It almost foreshadows her appearance on stage opening for Naomi Sharon at Lincoln Hall in Chicago, with a hot pink dress and glittering accents.
Galaté properly started singing in elementary school through musical theater, then transitioned to choir in high school, and eventually studied music in higher academia.
Although she’s from Malibu, she sees Chicago as home. Galaté relocated there to attend The University of Loyola at Chicago to study jazz. Chicago’s rich history with jazz — and music in general — served as a backdrop to her budding artistry.
Galaté is a longtime fan of jazz and R&B, consuming and studying the art behind the genres before her higher education. “I always wanted to be an artist, but when I moved here [Chicago], I got really fearful of pursuing artistry,” she says.
“I actually didn’t sing that much in college. But I would go to the jazz clubs, and also at that time in Chicago was when Chance [The Rapper] was popping off.”
During the early to mid-2010s, Chicago’s music scene captivated national audiences in a way that was novel, thrilling, and enticing.
The city is often the subject of many artists’ point of self-discovery, pushing them to new heights. Around the time Chance The Rapper was on the rise, prominent musicians like Louis The Child and Beach Bunny were on the rise in Chicago, too.
Galaté’s eyes light up as she recalls her moments of musical discovery when she first arrived in the city. “It was the moment that everyone was on their come-up. I feel like I was so inspired at the time,” she says.
Although she wasn’t actively making music on her own, Galaté was constantly surrounded by music. Outside of her education, she frequented iconic jazz venues such as The Green Mill, Jazz Showcase, and Andy’s.
“They [Andy’s] used to have a jam session on Sundays that I would sometimes sing at, and it would be the same jazz standard every time,” she says with a laugh. “I would always sing ‘Stormy Weather.’ It’s the only jazz song I [would] feel comfortable singing.”
It’s easy to be envious of those who witnessed her at an open mic; Galaté is a powerhouse. Her classical training embeds itself within her vocals, capturing the audience’s attention with just a microphone.
“When you’re young and you want to pursue something like this, you think people are going to judge you, and it’s the hardest thing to pursue. All of that fear came over me, so I kind of wanted to pretend that it was a hobby.”
In an age where audiences are often tapped into digital conversations about art before engaging with it privately and in person, a threat of judgment often looms overhead. Galaté stresses that once she began singing and pursuing her own artistry, no one judged her. In fact, most encouraged her.
She’s been releasing music since 2020, but she’s been involved in the industry long before that. “I worked in touring,” she says. “I’m really good on the business side of things, too.”
Earlier this year, Galaté shared a snippet of “Room In My World” on TikTok. Her video features her vocals and production, but she encouraged other artists to have the song. Several were quick to comment that Galaté should keep the song for herself and release the track on her own, rather than sell it to another artist.
“I always imagined that ‘Room In My World’ was going to be my first placement as a songwriter,” she says. “I’ve been sending it to pitch for so long.” Her lyrical brilliance shines in the verses, featuring layered vocals to create a soothing harmony.
The track was officially released on July 22 as part of an EP featuring songs Galaté had previously released. She opted for a waterfall release, where an artist slowly categorizes a series of singles into an EP to increase visibility. “All these new people were like, ‘Oh my God, we thought you were just releasing a single and then you gave us all these other songs.’”
Her show at Lincoln Hall in early August was her first performance in a long time. “I just miss singing. And I love talking to the crowd.”
Galaté has dedicated the last few months to working on her album, set to be released “for the end of the year.” “A season,” she adds, noting she hasn’t properly announced it yet.
In a 2023 interview, she noted that she didn’t view herself as entirely one genre, whether it be R&B, jazz, or soul. While elements of all three of those genres appear across her catalog, no song can completely fall into one of them.
“I feel like a lot of people who don’t actually know what jazz is try to pigeonhole me into jazz,” she says. Her upbeat hits like “Options” and “My Girls” feature more modern R&B beats with a catchy chorus, while ballads like “Should I Tell You” and “Body” have clear soul elements.
Her latest single, “Please Don’t Talk To Me,” was released on August 21st. “It’s a birthday gift,” she says with a laugh. Complete with Galaté’s signature layered vocals and delicate instrumentals, the song provides thrilling insight into her upcoming album.
Earlier this year, she released “My Girls” feat. Sierra Sellers. The visuals are bright and colorful, with a ‘70s nightclub vibe. It feels sleek and thrilling to match the lyrics.
She sings: “Me and all my girls we’re fun like that, so if you ever need to get down like that, I bet you won’t get sick of us.” The inspiration for the song is rather unique, which excited many of Galaté’s fans online and captured the attention of new ones.
A couple of years ago, Galaté attended a music festival that Anderson .Paak was performing at. “His tour manager needed like 30 women to go on stage,” she recalls. “They asked me and three of my friends to go up.”
“He [.Paak] had this line of 30 girls, and he would call different girls up to dance. He would just cheer them on from the side,” she explains, “nobody touched him.” He called Galaté’s friend up to dance, and she “decided to literally grind on him.”
The song is centered around female friendships; if you’re with your girls, you’ll have a good time. The playful visuals elevate the concept, paying homage to the story behind it.
In previous projects, the colors were often more muted and sultry, leaning into the more melancholy aspects of Galaté’s work. Her debut album SOFIA features her in a long black dress with straight hair; the “Spell It Out” demo secludes her in sunglasses and a hair scarf.
“I really feel like one of my goals with this new project [her album], and new music in general, was to make songs that were fun and wear color,” she shares. “My hair’s naturally curly, so keep it curly so I can have fun with it on stage. You’ll see a lot more vibrance.”
Authenticity is at the forefront of Galaté’s involvement in music, from her time in college to touring to working as a solo artist. If she were to focus on highlighting the commercial aspects of her music, it “ruins the essence of it.” Her entire catalog is based on personal experience; everything she creates is born out of a need to tell stories rather than wanting viral recognition or fame.
In an age where it seems like several people are searching for the thing to make them famous, Galaté’s authenticity is what makes her work timeless.
People can engage with it at any point in her career and capture her emotions, rather than feel tied to a particular piece because of its virality at a moment in time.
“I feel like I’m a singer first, an artist second, and a songwriter third,” she says. Galaté’s elegant lyrics and thoughtful production impact a wide range of audiences so profoundly that it would be a disservice to know the music industry without her.
Want more? Listen to her episode of “On The Record,” a podcast about all things music, here.
Stay up to date with Sophia Galaté here. Follow her on Instagram and TikTok. Listen to her latest single, “Please Don’t Talk to Me,” here.
— —
:: connect with Sophia Galaté here ::
— —
— — — —
Connect to Sophia Galaté on
Facebook, 𝕏, TikTok, Instagram
Discover new music on Atwood Magazine
© Annaliese Baker
© Annaliese Baker:: Stream Sophia Galaté ::
