Exclusive Interview with Sophia Mengrosso

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Paper Planes: How do you stay inspired and motivated throughout your creative journey?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
I am inspired by so many things! My family, my friends, people that I don't even know! I deeply care about everything that is going on in the world, and in individual lives. I think people individually have their own worlds, by this I mean that we all have our own universe. And things happen within that universe. And I have mine mine. So, I find inspiration in every experience I have in my life from my past and present. 
 
Paper Planes: Can you share some insights into your creative process when it comes to producing and arranging your music?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
I do not have a specific recipe or a plan when It comes to the creating process, it can take a few hours or a week, depending on what we do. I write my music on my piano and I would have a draft of what I want to do, and we get together with my band and work on music together, everyone has their ideas and input, so it takes the whole band to create the final product. My band and I have a lot in common, and I think the most important thing is that we find the most amazing  creation in chaos! So, I can describe my creation process as something that comes out of chaos! 
 
Paper Planes: How do you collaborate with other artists or producers, and what do you look for in a collaborative partnership?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
I love collaboration! My dream is to do a collaboration with Green Day!. I think collabs with other artists can give a lot more to the fans in terms of new perspectives on music, and  creating new styles. Right now I am doing a collaboration with a big rap artist , I will share more about it  when  our product is out. Also, exploring new music styles where I can create soundtracks for movies and games. I do n ot limit myself when it comes to the creative process and I am open to new experiences in music.
 
Paper Planes: How do you handle the business side of the music industry, such as contracts, royalties, and marketing?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
I am lucky to have an amazing manager who handles all of that, because I personally hate to stare at the screens! I also know nothing about marketing! 
 
Paper Planes: How do you balance your personal life with your music career, and what self-care practices do you employ to maintain your mental and emotional well-being?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
I do not have much of a personal life right now, and this is my choice, music is my personal life at the moment, so all my time goes to it. Mental health is important to me, and I find it really helpful to do some sort of exercises whenever I can, I like to do some meditation and stretching, and I really love aerial acrobatics! Silks, aerial hoop ( lyra), contortion training! So if  I am not working on my music, you can find me spinning in the air on an aerial hoop))) 
 
Paper Planes: Can you tell us about a challenging moment in your career and how you overcame it?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
I had many challenges, and I think one of the biggest challenges was not believing in myself, and being afraid of my voice. When I was at school, I was told things about my voice that did not allow me to fully express myself, also I was put in a "box" of rules of how to sing and what style to sing. That was when I was training to be a classical singer. There are a lot of rules in the classical world of singing and expectations. and if you choose to not follow them, you will run into some problems. So I think the biggest challenge as I mentioned was expressing my style and vision in music, because I was told that i would not be successful. 
 
Paper Planes: How do you incorporate your personal experiences and emotions into your music, and what themes or messages do you often explore in your lyrics?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
My music is about all of those emotional experiences. I started writing music  when I was 14 years old as a way to heal myself emotionally, and after that it was to help my friends. To me it was about overcoming sadness of trauma and losses that I was constantly witnessing. And losing myself in music was the only way I could deal with that and it was a  good healthy way. I am very thankful for that, I think music saved me in a lot of ways from making some bad choices. I think it is about finding something you can hold on to that lifts you up and pulls you out of darkness. This is what music is to me and I hope I can help others by sharing my stories. 
 
Paper Planes: How do you stay current with trends and developments in the music industry, and how do you adapt your work accordingly?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
I love to learn, so I think I am doing a good job of adjusting, however that doesn't change my style or me. I think adjusting for me is about learning new platforms or doing collaborations. I think these days we really do not have a choice but to adopt and learn, just take the best from it and do not change who you are. Modern tools and technology are great if we use it in the right ways. 
 
Paper Planes: What advice would you give to aspiring musicians who are just starting their journey in the music industry?
Sophia Mengrosso: 
Be who you are, create your style, there is only one of you, you are unique, don't hide yourself, show the world what you have got, be true to yourself. Once you create something, put it out there , and network with other artists. Get out of your comfort zone, perform a lot, showcase your music, and just work hard! If you stay true to yourself and believe in yourself you will succeed. The worst mistak eis to quite before you even tri enough times. This it, really, I think in these industry the only and best advice is WORK HARD AND DO NOT STOP.

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Belgian artist A-mask continues his drive into hip-hop stardom with “Dough & Dash”

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In the next step on the way to his debut album, Belgian hip-hop artist A-mask and his collaborator, Leslie Baker, a primary artist and the producer on the album, are releasing “Dough & Dash,” a fun, hard-charging party track that is also a proclamation of confidence and a statement of intent.

“It’s really something that people should have fun to listen to in any kind of environment where you want to feel confident,” said A-mask.

“It brings up the energy and uplifts you. You feel powerful, you feel strong, you feel like having fun, you feel, you know, all the positive — the open — intensity that you need.”

A-mask has been making music for over five years but, until the last 2 years, he put his tracks only on YouTube. Now he is moving out as an artist into the larger world of hip- hop. This track is a statement of intent.

“It’s like a stamp to say I want to be part of the game. I want to start my journey to the top of the game, to show that I'm a great lyricist and i make great hip-hop records.”

“Dough & Dash,” the track and the video, are releasing today.

A-mask (Aron Mukendi Kamba) is obviously having fun with the beat and the hook, which is his part of the track. He shows off his vocal chops with the double-time lyrics and, at one point, shifts into high, demonstrating speed, flow and control of the pace.

The theme is explicit, even a little raunchy, but the message comes through that A-mask is aiming for the top:

I get the dough then I dash — yeah

I get the dough then I dash — yeah

Me and my n---a the best — yeah.

Me and my n---a the best — yeah.

Moving fast like a fast train you ain’t never gonna stop us — yeah!!

The vibe in the track, reinforced and amplified by the video, is pure celebration.

The song is based on an experience from his life. The two parts, his and Leslie’s, share a theme but take different approaches.

“He’s more — how can I say? — deep. I’m just on the surface, like letting people know this is based on my life. I’ve worked hard, I got the money, and now it’s time to dash, to go straight forward toward the top.”

“Dough & Dash” is the third single that A-mask has released this year in working up to the release later of his debut album, Stuck in My Head. The two singles already released are “In My Head” and “Stuck on the Plan.”

A-mask and Leslie are the primary artists for all the tracks. Leslie is the lead vocalist on “Stuck on the Plan,” with A-mask featured. On “In My Head,” the order is reversed.

Hip-hop is at the core of A-mask’s musical being.

“That’s what I love to do,” he said. “That’s what I’m known for. I consider myself a hip- hop artist, but I also like to dabble in other genres. I don’t like to stay in a box.

“In My Head,” the first single they released off the coming album, has a slow, flowing melodic pace, a more R&B feel to it. “Stuck on the Plan,” the most recent release, is more melodic, but the beat and flow of rap are much more prominent.

The album is a collaboration project between him and Leslie, who, in addition to being a lyricist, a beat-maker and an artist, is also the album’s producer.

“We will also have some featured artists on it,” said A-mask.

Of the five years he spent making but not releasing much music, except a few things on YouTube, A-mask says he was “testing myself out.”

“I felt like I wasn’t ready. I was incomplete as an artist. I didn’t know my sound yet, and I didn’t know exactly who I was as an artist.”

Now he is ready. Aron Mukendi Kamba knows who the artist A-mask is, and who he wants to be.

“When I’m in the studio,” he said, “the producer is playing different beats, and the vibe, the atmosphere and the ideas just come off of what’s going on in the studio in that moment, and how I’m feeling. That’s where it all starts.”

“‘Dough & Dash’ will definitely make you feel good, make you feel like turning up when your energy’s low, make you want to have fun,” he said.

Connect to A-mask on all platforms for new music, videos, and social posts.

Spotify
YouTube
Instagram
TikTok

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