Sofi Mayen - I Hate You
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Ok, no, not really. I don't hate her. I quite like her in fact. It's the English translation of her first single from her newly released self-titled debut album. (Get the album HERE!) And I was lucky enough to be given the chance (Thanks Javo @ EMI!) to spend some time walking around, chatting and taking photos of this up-and-coming Mexican singer songwriter.
We met for the shoot in lovely Coyoacan, a neighborhood in southern Mexico City known for it's lovely central square, Frida Kahlo's house, and lovely streets lined with colorfully painted homes. It's those walls and streets I wanted.
I instantly felt a connection with her because she seems to have an old soul and I'm, well, old. We spend the first 15-20min simply chatting about everyday things like deep-fried quesadillas, the nasty weather in Holland, how she looks forward to traveling around Europe, and the forthcoming release date of her album. We turn a corner, and wham! beautiful light smacks us in the face! I waste no time doing the exact opposite of what most would think of doing ... I turn her back to the light!
I know right then we're going to have a good session. She gets what I want immediately and is like a giddy child when I show her the first few shots. The ice is officially broken, we can get down to work!
She slips her arm into mine (as if we've been friends for centuries) and we continue walking down Avenida Fransico Sosa with Sofi occasionally humming or lightly singing some notes as she lets her thoughts wander (with Javo and her uncle following behind). And it's exactly how I envision a true artist who's mind is always swimming freely in something deeper and more, well, artsy than the rest of us. I don't interrupt again until I see a shuttered gate that simply must be photographed, with or without a subject. Luckily for me, this day I have a perfect subject by my side.
I can think of no more appropriate way to show her other than floating seeing as that's the sensation I get watching her walk, talk, sing and think... as if she's physically here all the while floating somewhere else us mere left-brained people just can't understand.
We continue wandering the streets, lost in talk and looking for good light/locations. We have fun, I avoid getting run by cars whilst laying on the ground getting one of my "Montage" shots (see slide show at end), and Javo steals us a chair for the below shot. All-in-all a good day.
Her music and voice is distinct. Yeah yeah, everyone says that in hopes of selling the artist as the "next big thing", I get that, but really, there's something different with her and maybe just those of us who've gotten to know Sofi (even as little as I have) are in position to see that she and her music, while technically "pop" or "indie chick pop/rock" or whatever, defies what you expect from a big label album release nowadays. There's a level of depth and emotion I wouldn't have expected from someone so young and I imagine the masses who buy/hear her album will also notice...even if you don't understand the lyrics seeing as they're in Spanish. It goes to show how sometimes those working at big labels don't just look for what they can sell, but also at what art they can create... we should all be thankful.
One thing I wished I had done better during my brief time with Sofi was to show her flashing her lovely smile. I went into this thinking I didn't want any 'posey' cheesy commercial shots with Sofi wearing a ton of make-up (her beauty is natural!) and forcing smiles, and I was right in thinking that because I love the images. However, I should have also asked for something showing the happy spirit side of her.. that was my mistake. Next time I won't be so focused and narrow-minded because I'm not sure my images, as much as I like them, did the fullness of her personality justice!
So, check out her album, better yet buy it! You won't be disappointed and you can say you got in early on a career that I suspect is going to be long and successful despite her not spewing the same old superficial crap pop that is so prevalent nowadays. Her album is the type of work that even if not commercially successful right away, down the line people who know anything about good music will wonder why the fuck they didn't have this album earlier.
And finally, check out Sofi's official "Te Odio" music video
Other places you can find info, news, and fun stuff about Sofi Mayen:
Sofi on Myspace (where you can hear some of her songs!)