FEATURE: Spotlight: Sofia Portanet — Music Musings & Such

FEATURE:

Spotlight

PHOTO CREDIT: Lucio Aru & Franco Erre

Sofia Portanet

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WHEN it comes to artists who are included…

in this section, I normally concentrate on those who have a few more tracks under their belt. Even though Sofia Portanet has a few cuts in the ether, there are a lot of people getting excited about her latest gem, Planet Mars - myself included! There are a few things that strike me about this artist who is Spanish-German and grew up in Paris. Not only does she have varied and rare D.N.A., but there is this wonderfully eccentric slant to her newest song. Not to call the rest of the musicians out there boring; one could never accuse Portanet of lacking flair and energy! Even though she is still making her first steps in the industry, Planet Mars is so refreshing and different! This article talks more about Portanet and her bombshell of a track:

“Now with the release of her fourth single Planet Mars ahead of her three showcase gigs at Reeperbahn Festival in Hamburg. Sofia takes a contemporary twist on Neue Deutsche Welle and post-punk.

The new single Planet Mars—a sci-fi love song—gives us a taste of Sofia’s dramatic vocal style and twists elements of her music which has been compared by some to some German and Austrian artists such as Kraftwerk, Falco, and Nina Hagen.

The is also a fair amount of British and American new wave to be found here as well, such as the vocal theatrics of Lena Lovich combined with the space-cadet weirdness of Kate Pierson and Cindy Wilson circa early B-52s.

In fact, Sofia seemingly simulates the classic b-movie science fiction theremin with her vocal acrobatics, brilliantly comparing the wailing sound to the whizzing of a flying saucer.

Sofia explains:

“Planet Mars is a rather untypical heartbreak and goodbye song: it has a dramatic twist and plays with it in a humorous way. Because no matter how hard a heartbreak may be, it’s essential to keep the humour up!”

Maybe it is me, but I do think Pop music especially has lost what it needs to be popular and memorable: a sense of fun and memorability. It seems that, today, Pop music can be popular, but it doesn’t need to pop; meaning we have a very different-sounding scene to the one we had years ago – when there was the last surge of epic Pop tunes around. I am not suggesting Pop is doomed or Sofia Portanet will resuscitate it all by itself; when a song does arrive that pricks the ears and stands you up, it is leaves its mark. In terms of sounds, I do think there is a lovely slice of The B-52’s that gives Planet Mars humour and quirk. Some might take a bit of time getting accustomed to a song and artist like Portanet, but in a good way! As we look towards 2020, many people are predicting which artists will break through and who we should keep our eyes open for.

PHOTO CREDIT: Ania Sudbin Foto

Although few have started calling their picks, I am putting Sofia Portanet right in the mix! There is really nobody out there like her, so it will be interesting to see what direction she heads in. Check out her YouTube channel (the link is at the bottom of this feature) and you can check out her other material. Give her a follow on Twitter because, as we roll into the new year, I think the scene is going to change quite a bit. Not only will artists like Sofia Portanet make big statements and get huge kudos; I think female artists will continue their dominance and we might, finally, start to see equality in areas that have struggled to make changes – such as festival line-ups, for example. In terms of interview coverage, there is not a lot online pertaining to Portanet, but I think she has just completed her first interview with Rolling Stone. Followers are flocking her way and, although there are few tweets, biographical details and interviews for us to peruse, Portanet is still fresh and next year will be a huge one for her. I would not be surprised to see her at a festival like Glastonbury. There will be touring demands around Europe, and there is that burning question as to whether we will see an album or E.P. Releasing those first few tracks is always tricky! So many artists take a long time to get noticed and formulate a sound that is their own yet appeals to a wider audience. With Planet Mars – and avoiding puns here -, Sofia Portanet has reached new heights. The coming year is sure to bring her excellent and original sounds to the masses. Keep your eyes trained the way of Sofia Portanet. If you do not know her now, you soon will do. Planet Mars is one of my favourite tracks of the year and it has not escaped my brain ever since I first heard it weeks ago! Sofia Portanet is a fascinating young artist who music sure packs…