We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Bobia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Alright, Bobia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. How did you learn to do what you do? Knowing what you know now, what could you have done to speed up your learning process? What skills do you think were most essential? What obstacles stood in the way of learning more?

As a kid I discovered my passion for singing by performing to an invisible audience. Singing to myself, listening to music, and replicating what I hear. Performing the music videos I would see, but in the comfort of my bedroom. I joined choir & theater in 5th grade and kept going throughout high school. Through choir and doing musicals I was able to discover how my voice functioned. I was able to learn proper singing technique and what my vocal range was. I was able to take those experiences and that knowledge and apply it to the kind of music I wanted to make.

My biggest thing was learning how to work more with others instead of keeping it all to myself. Collaborating with other creatives that were able to elevate that sound I wanted to create. When I released “Can’t Function” I was very solitary in my singing/songwriting process but I’ve evolved since then with my most recent project, “Verde”. With that project I collaborated with Joe Timmins (drunksallie) and I was able to learn how to creatively layer my voice and having more fun with the music I was making. That ended up being a very collaborative process.

Communicating what I wanted in a song ended up being a very big skill I learned throughout these years of creating music. It was hard to describe the feeling of the song and what I wanted to portray through the lyrics. Working with a producer who would straight up ask me “I need you to tell me what you want” helped me to get out of my shell.

Honestly, myself. Because its hard to look at yourself and say you need to change. You’ll get the same results with the same process. So if I want to create a different project or song I need to push myself in a different direction.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Bobia happened my junior year of high school. It was when I finally started showing people the songs I had written. I had friends who played piano and guitar, so at lunch we would just jam out. One day, my group of friends just randomly called me “Bobia” and since freshman year of high school it just stuck. When I started uploading music I would type my original artist name Sofia Sicilia and it seemed oversaturated already. Bobia was unique, singular. Bobia is a completely different genre than what Sofia listens to. I have always loved Amy Winehouse has always been a huge vocal inspiration. Lana Del Rey was another inspiration but for aesthetic. Bobia feels chromatic, but I make sad upbeat music. The beat will get you dancing but then listening to lyrics will bum you out. I recently released a track, Saving Grace (Original). When I wrote that song I didn’t know what the lyrics meant until we started mixing and mastering it two years later. I am proud of myself for actually releasing the song. Taking that time with it and releasing it when it felt right for me. I plan on using Bobia more as a tool for actually understanding what I’m feeling. Journaling is better when there is a beat.

Looking back, are there any resources you wish you knew about earlier in your creative journey?

I wish I had been introduced to my producer, Joe, earlier in my singing career. Working with him is definitely more fun than finding a beat on YouTube. Meeting him helped me grow in my collaborative capabilities. On “Verde” I had a song called “Little Walden” that I recorded entirely on GarageBand in high school. About four years later when I met Joe, I showed him what was originally titled “Crappy Sad Song” that had two instruments on the track. Within 2-3 hours he completely reimagined this track that I had record with headphones in my bedroom.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My goal with Bobia would be growth. Lyrically, sonically, and have people clock in to what I’m putting out there. I want a Bobia track to come on in the club, or to be that getting-ready-song for someone. I want people to enjoy the outcome of the art, even more than I enjoyed making it. That’s what makes it worth it.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/bobia/saving-grace-original
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bobiabobiabobia/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bobiabobiabobia
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/bobiaa
• Other: https://linktr.ee/bobia

Image Credits

Sebastian Rojas-Rincon