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Photo By: Val Schnack

Sofia Valdés is a Panamanian singer-songwriter casually after our hearts. Her latest release, "Handful of Water," is the dreamy alt pop we've been waiting for. The 20-year-old singer has been on a path to success in music before she was even born. Valdés' great-great-grandmother was famed Panamanian singer Silvia De Grasse and her great-grandfather was the legendary Cuban musician Miguelito Valdés. So, the "I'm going to be great at music" gene was already in her blood. Valdés found music at a young age. When she was in school as a kid, she struggled to stay focused in the classroom. At one point, a therapist suggested that she start learning how to play guitar to help with her coordination and concentration. So, at age 8, she began playing guitar. That eventually turned into her writing her first song at the age of 13.

Part of what makes Valdés' music feel so familiar and relatable is her perspective on the world because she's lived in and traveled to so many places. To finish high school, she left Panama to attend Interlochen Arts Academy, a boarding school in Michigan. There she was able to sit for hours with classmates and work on music nonstop. This was also the period where she mastered speaking English. After Interlochen, Valdés attended Liverpool Institute for the performing Arts in the UK. This was when she began posting songs online, grabbing the attention of the music industry. Fast forward to Fall 2020 and she releases her debut single "Little Did I Know."

"Little Did I Know" is a poignant reflection on a past relationship. The production is straight forward to give Valdés' voice room to captivate. On her latest release, "Handful of Water," the production is a bit more up-tempo and breezier. If you close your eyes while listening, it's easy to imagine being on a beautiful beach with an endless horizon with Valdés' voice serving as the perfect sunset. Valdés' is working on her upcoming debut EP Ventura set to release in early 2021. We can't wait for it.

Watch the video for "Handful of Water" below and watch the video for "Little Did I Know" here.