Trained opera singer Sophia Mengrosso takes back her power with hard rock single Demonizer

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Sophia Mengrosso was a teenager when she stumbled upon the music video for the Evanescence song “Bring Me to Life,” which would serve as her introduction to rock music after growing up playing piano and harp and classical music. 

“I just liked the visuals, I liked the notes and the musicality,” she says. “Ever since I started listening to rock music, I just like the way they organize the music. There are a lot of classical elements in it; a lot of similarities between rock and classical styles. Now I see concerts by bands like Evanescence and they bring the whole orchestra to the concert. I find there to be a very organic flow between the two genres.”

There’s at least one big difference, though: for Mengrosso, no other genre can match the powerful nature of rock music. It became a way for her to express herself––and her own powerful vocals after training as an opera singer. After years of analyzing the music and exploring her own style, the songwriter had built up such a catalogue that she decided it was finally time to share her work with the world. 

She released her debut single, “Dream,” last summer, and has since released three more tracks––all featuring blistering guitars and distortion, as well as Mengrosso’s mezzo-soprano voice. 

“I had so many ideas and I couldn’t just keep them to myself,” she says. “Otherwise I wouldn’t feel like I completely fulfilled myself. At some point it wasn’t a choice, it was just happening. Those stories were meant for release.”

In “Demonizer,” one of her four singles, Mengrosso manages to release some pent up anger from her past. The song was inspired by violence she faced while growing up––and watching friends experience similar situations––and Mengrosso says writing a song about it was the only way she knew to help. 

“Nobody wanted to hear our voices and do something about it,” she says. “At least I could write something and release my anger and my point of view. It was very chaotic at first, I didn’t have any direction where I wanted to go with it; it was just a bunch of words, just lyrics. When I grew older and could make more sense and reflect on what happened, then I was able to organize it into a song.”

“I just want to let people know that they have to be heard and not be afraid or ashamed and it’s not their fault,” she says. “It’s never your fault as a victim.”

“Demonizer” will be the third track on her upcoming debut album, Unforgiven, which is set for release this year with 13 songs. Each song has a story, and the project builds from track to track. While “Demonizer,”, an early climax of the project, is about claiming back her power, the song “Unforgiven” follows with a “now what?” vibe. 

“After you’ve done all that work to not be afraid or ashamed, ‘Unforgiven’ comes next because now you have to work on yourself and your own shadows and see how you’re going to make yourself better now that you’ve done all that other tremendous work,” she says. 

The album is a storm that comes and goes, Mengrosso says, just like our own life and emotions. 

“Nothing is steady throughout life,” she says. “It always comes in waves and that’s how I want people to relate to this album. Everyone can find something from their own life and experiences with each song.”

Stay connected to Sophia Mengrosso on various platforms for new music, videos and social posts. 

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Caterina Ross sings about the strength deep in your soul in the new single “Strong” off her fourth album Yes, I am Cat

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Spanish pop musician Caterina Ross has had international success, putting out music on two different continents. Now she is releasing her fourth studio album, Yes, I am Cat, featuring the single “Strong,” where she sings about inner strength.

“I think that is more important than what you show on the outside,” Ross said. “It is important to be strong inside and show that you can face everything, and can do anything.”

The song is complete with a music video that she filmed with horses, which she notes are strong animals, but at the same time they are very sensitive. This is a major theme in the song “Strong,” and something she was able to bring to visual life in the video and relates to humanity, as well.

“You don’t have to be afraid of showing your feelings or weaknesses, because it is a beautiful part of being a human being,” Ross said. “

Ross was born and raised on the island of Majorca, Spain, and has been singing since she was a teenager. She eventually turned to theater acting in classical plays, and went on to television and and musicals. Ross sang in several several pop rock cover bands, but then in 2013 she released her first single titled Don’t Miss the Time.” The next year she released her first album titled Pieces of Me through her production company Blau.

In 2015 she released her second album titled Remixed that included the award winning song “Sólo Me Queda Soñar, which was a big hit in her home country. This song was originally composed for a film in international festivals, and thanks to this track, she was able to come to the U.S. to sing. She was invited to various festivals to perform after the song became a huge success. One of Ross’s songs, “Let the sun just shine” received plenty of fanfare, as well.

In 2018, Ross was the recipient of 15 international awards, and in 2020 she was “Best International Artist” through the Hispanic Music Awards in Acapulco, Mexico.

Ross’s first two albums were in English, but her fans in Spain wanted her to speak in their native language. In 2021 she released Nunca Se Pierde, which she received several awards for in Mexico and Spain.

“During the pandemic I had a lot of time to compose that album, and the one I am going to release now,” she said.

Yes, I am Cat’s title is a play on Ross’s identity, as people call her Cat for short, but it is also her favorite kind of pet. The album is composed of 10 songs in English, with sounds of pop and a little bit of soul.

“In this album, I talk about the things around me,” Ross said. “I talk about friendship and things that I find important in my life. I am more mature than in the other albums so I reflect on things that have happened to me, or around me.”

Ross touches upon aspects like nature in her new album, as well. There is a song called “If I talk to the Earth,” speaking about being thankful and also apologetic to the Earth about all that has been done to it. There is another track about stray cats called “My Sheltered Cat,” as she operates and helps at shelters.

The record was created by Ross composing the songs and recorded with the help of her producer Daniel Ambrojo. Ambrojo has worked with established musicians across Spain, and is an excellent pianist and guitar player that Ross has high respect for. Ross said they put the bass line to the songs, and add other electronic instruments to help bring her ideas to life on record.

Ross explained that she doesn’t just sit down and compose songs. Normally she is in the car driving, and a song will come to her and she’ll start singing. The melody will come and then suddenly the lyrics will be there, and voila: she has a new song.

“I think I am quite content with the ideas in this album, with the melodies,” Ross said. “I expressed so many things I have inside. It’s expressing myself through music, and that is wonderful. It makes me feel very good.”

Being her fourth album, Ross was able to put out material that she loves and is proud of. She admits that she is not a fan of her first three records, saying she can’t even listen to them because this one is so much better.

“There is an evolution,” Ross said. “Growing up and learning. I have a vocal coach and I am still learning and developing my music. I am learning from other artists, especially the artists of the ‘80s like Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Madonna and Queen. I learn everyday. I want to do it better and grow up musically speaking.”

As Ross said, there is a constantly evolution in her music. She wants to improve the lyrics she has in English as it is not her native language. Ross will be taking courses in April to be able to grow as a songwriter.

Musicians like Michael Jackson have helped her develop the sound she currently has. Ross has always wanted to be like him musically, and said that his work taught her to believe in herself and put her all into her work.While she is inspired by the musicians she reveres, Ross also said it is important to not be too influenced by others and “just be you.”

“It is important to be authentic,” she said.

Check out Ross’s brand new album Yes, I am Cat, and the single and video for “Strong,” available on all platforms on March 22.

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