We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Sonia Kazarova . We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Sonia below.
Sonia , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. When did you first know you wanted to pursue a creative/artistic path professionally?
Since I was a tiny pea pod growing up on a micro ranch in the foothills of the Rockies, I knew that I was a performer. From the day, I could make any sound I was singing. I was acting out elaborate stories and making up songs. When my dad would take me brunch at the Fairmont in downtown Denver for a special occasion. I would always find the band leader and tug on pant leg until he let me hop up and sing. Usually something crazy for a 5 year old like Fever or Georgia on my mind. They never really was a choice. I auditioned for absolutely anything that was even remotely close to where I lived, my mom even drove me to Kansas once in his snowstorm to audition for Disneyland, and my first director, Melody Paige at the Boulder Act sat all of us down at around 10, and told us that if there was anything else we could possibly do besides being a performer or an actor /singer to please do that because it was on heck of a hard life. I just looked up at her, beaming, knowing that there was only one way for me to go… all the way to the top!!
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
For folks who may not have read about you before, can you please tell our readers about yourself?
My name is Sonia Kazarova and I am an Americana Country artist, singer songwriter / storyteller and actress. I am so grateful to be creating and performing my Country Opera stories through music, it is so beyond what I thought would be possible.
As a kid growing up in the foothills of the Rockies in Colorado, I dreamed of singing country music acting on stage and in film and opening my arms wide to the whole world. When I released ‘Desperado Debutante’, my debut solo album last year, it began to feel like it could all be coming true. I have always been an actress and story teller.
How did you get into your industry ?
I got my start as a kid in Boulder Colorado, I was 8 and performing at a Theatre Company called ‘The Boulder Act’ led by the stellar director Melody Paige, and master story teller Betty Kopit. Both of whom left an undeniable impression by teaching us all about our unique voices and perspectives, they treated our productions with the same professionalism and craft as any I have experienced as an adult performer. They taught Stanislavsky and Alexandar Techniques along with the principles of theatre and music. This was my start. Despite their warnings that a life is an artist should be avoided at all costs, unless there is no choice. It was too late for me- I was was hooked! I always loved the thrill of live shows and the way that every moment anything could happen, even when something went wrong, it was really a gift.
What do you think sets you apart from others.
Nothing sets me apart from others, if anything, I hope I am becoming closer to others while sharing our lives, loves and stories together. The more I get to create music and collaborate with others, the more I celebrate the fact that we are all part of this collective conversation. I am so happy that I am alive at this time to collaborate and be a unique expression in the universe. Hopefully, we have the possibility shift and grow and move forward together.
What are you most proud of and what are the main things you want potential followers/fans to know about you and your work?
I am a survivor of domestic violence, both mental and physical but I am not a victim anymore. I am a survivor.. I hope my music can help others suffer in silence . Change is possible and it’s like my son ‘Not too late’ says. ‘It’s not too late to stand up.’ Part of my mission has always been to give voice to the voiceless and to shine light from within and on others . I did not realize that I that was trying to help others before I even helped myself. I know how small and hopeless one can feel. But there is the other side. and it is glorious. no matter what I was going through. I never gave up my music. I kept it close to me. It protected me and ultimately it pulled me out. I truly love performing my music and hope that the songs that come through me can help people find strength and feel less alone. My stories belong to the people that listen to them. I just want to remind myself and my fans that dreams. have no expiration dates.
I am so grateful for my many misguided steps, failures and mistakes. I am even happy that I lost my voice for eight years, because I was able to hone my craft as an actress and become a better storyteller with more vulnerability and choices. I really have found freedom in breaking rules, pushing myself, going beyond my comfort zone. Most recently by crossing over or expanding into Americana and a whole new genre ‘Country Opera’.
Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?
A major thing that happened in my life that might demonstrate resilience was loosing my voice for 8 years.
I went to college on a scholarship for acting. I kept sneaking over to the Opera department to sing, on my college found out, they threatened to take my scholarship unless I stopped. I should’ve cut bait and ran, but I didn’t even know I could. They gave me a teacher inside the theater department who taught a kind of vocal technique that destroyed my voice. I went from winning vocal competitions throughout high school to being unable to sing at all. I was lost without my voice. It had defined me. Having lost such an incredible instrument took everything I was and could imagine being away from me. Even so I just wouldn’t give up. I wouldn’t even admit it to myself. When I graduated university, I kept pursuing singing even though my voice was a joke. All I knew was the university system, so I approached the interim head of a music department at a university, which shall remain nameless. I studied with her for three years, and was no further along and repairing my voice. After discovering that, she had triple charged me for lessons, lied to her board of directors, and intentionally barred me from auditioning for the program at her university, I was devastated and on the brink of giving up. But again, I absolutely refused to believe that it was over. Incredibly, during the time that I had no voice, I been studying acting again at the Beverly Hills Playhouse, and ran into my teacher and Director, He asked me why I looked like my best friend had died. I told him my story, and he was shocked to even learn that I knew how to sing it all. I hadn’t even let anyone know for the eight years that I had been at that theater. When he found out, I was in trouble! One of his main missions in life was to rehabilitate the artist, and so he immediately insisted that I bring an aria to perform in class. I was terrified because I did not even know one aria. I had been told that I couldn’t sing anymore. Let alone even try to sing an aria. He didn’t care and told me too be there on Saturday. So I had three days to figure out how to sing an aria. I brought in Puccini’s ‘Un Bel Di Vedremo’ from Butterfly. I put the music on the stand and sang in front of the packed house, full of actors. I was terrible, but when I finished, the whole room jumped to its feet in a standing ovation. This kind of thing didn’t really happen. I was shocked and broke down, Milton then asked me to train like I used to when I was winning. He brought me to Joann Zajac and Seth Riggs. I couldn’t believe it. I knew that to go to those teachers you had to have a recommendation from a respected vocal coach. He made a recommendation and he made sure that I went to those master teachers. I studied with Seth and then Joanie and within three weeks I could hear that ‘world class sound’ again! She just gave it back to me! My voice, my life, and my whole future. I was and will always be so grateful and humbled by these gifts. I was on fire and pursuing my dreams again. I played my first role of Tosca in ‘Tosca’ within one year and continued to play in ‘Carmen’, ‘Don Giovanni’, ‘Salome’, ‘Faust’ and many others. It was definitely harder for me as I didn’t have the formal university training or conservatory background most of my colleagues did, but with the guidance of Maestra Zajac and later, with esteemed Maestro Douglas Sumi, and the great Maestra Monserrat Caballé. I was on my way. Through my journey, I have become a composer and singer songwriter and better musician.
What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?
Our country is in dire need of a new national endowment for the arts. The majority of countries all over the world, have prioritized and supported artists in order to increase artistic expression to help heal our soul and spirits. Great leaders have often said if we do not have art then what are we fighting for? Our society loves to consume film music plays dance, but without a support structure, it begins to die off and become less rich and transcendent. We need a true infrastructure that will support the growth of art in America across all cultures that exist in our diverse country. Since the loss of our endowment for the arts, the majority of our artists in this country Live in poverty, without the ability to create their projects, installations, and compositions. I’m a first generation American, and I know it is through the sacrifices of my parents and grandparents that I was able To pursue my dream to be an artist. Now my fans are taking up the torch And I am grateful and will create as much music, story, film, dance and light as I can dream up. But every beautiful light out there in the darkness deserves a chance to shine and we As a collective can help.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.soniacountry.com/
- Instagram: @sonia.country
- Facebook: https://m.facebook.com/BadassDivaWarrior?mibextid=LQQJ4d
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/sonia-kazarova-aa619020
- Twitter: @soniakazarova
- Youtube: http://youtube.com/@soniacountry
- Other: Album link Spotify: https://spotify.link/WpcTHWOPRDb
Image Credits
Capture by Jim Coke @Electric Lodge Venice, CA Christina Bielen Capture @Dodgers Stadium Randy Roberts Capture @ Aviator Dreamland Malibu, CA Christina Allen capture Album release Ranch picnic party Nelly Rechia makeup and all studio captures at The Wiltern Theatre, Los Angeles, CA @Cinema secrets studio Paula Chrichton – Video BTS Stills from ‘He’s Still Here’ by Sonia Kazarova capture @ central coast of California Ivan Stekovic- Cinematographer- He’s Still Here’ by Sonia Kazarova capture @ central coast of California