Twenty-year-old Canadian-Portuguese musician Sofia Camara is no stranger to the power of social media.
In fact, like many successful young artists, Camara harnessed the inimitable power of TikTok to showcase her talents. But, what has since blossomed into a promising music career truly began in early childhood.
Camara first picked up a guitar when she was a young girl as a means to cope with her anxiety, and soon started taking weekly lessons. Before long she threw singing into the mix, “and now here we are,” she said jovially, gesturing to Now Toronto’s studio as she sat illuminated under its lights.
The Toronto-based singer draws inspiration from powerhouse vocalists like Ariana Grande, Adele and Christina Aguilera. Camara’s enthusiasm and deep-rooted adoration for them is palpable, so much so that she almost springs out of her chair at the mention of their names. But, like a true and seasoned multi-instrumentalist, her taste spans the ages and is unbiased, eclectic, and rich beyond her years.
For Camara, the distinct high-volume distortions of Led Zeppelin, Metallica, Guns N’ Roses and Nirvana often fill the space between Ariana Grande’s soaring riffs and Adele’s melancholic odes to lost love, all contributing to her refined melodic knowledge, skillful guitar playing and her love of piano.
Viewership of Camara’s covers on TikTok and YouTube has swiftly gained momentum over the past year; her vulnerability and songwriting prowess unquestionably resonate with people, evidenced by her burgeoning TikTok following, which sits at a cool 329,000 as of publication.
It didn’t take long for Camara to smash the multi-million like mark on TikTok, or for her to garner the attention of superstars like Miley Cyrus, who recently voiced her approval of Camara’s “When I Look at You ” cover, which she recorded in the echoing halls of a Toronto subway station.
@sofiacamara @Miley Cyrus bringing this one back ⭐️😭 #singer #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #singing #song #music #fypシ #fypシ゚viral #trending #viral #coverchallenge #singingchallenge #trendingvideo #cover #trend ♬ original sound – Sofia Camara
Camara acknowledges that social media has been integral to her success thus far, pinpointing it as the main reason she was able to build a fan base. “I have to give it to social media,” she said, which has also helped to foster international interest in her budding career, but Camara was an artist in her own right long before she shared her first video online.
Though instinct certainly played its part, being thrown into a cultural melting pot as a child certainly informed Camara’s sense of musicality.
“I think Toronto is very known for its versatility in music and its people in general,” Camara, who moved to the city as an immigrant, told Now Toronto. “Growing up here you get used to different opinions and different energy…so, I think it allowed me to have an open mind, especially when it comes to music,” she said.
Camara released her first song “Never Be Yours,” just over a year ago. In that time, her life has shifted drastically, a change she defined as “chaotic but a lot of fun,” with the highest of highs and the lowest of lows. She is thankful for it nonetheless, “I wouldn’t change it for a thing,” she said with resounding certainty.
Her latest song, “Different’’ is contemplative and honest about the confusion she felt towards the end of a meaningful relationship in her life, navigating through the possibility of friendship in the face of dwindling romance was no easy feat for Camara.
“Do I love you? Maybe a little bit, but not as much as I did before,” is how she summed up the message behind her latest single.
Moved to make music by heartbreak and pain, Camara said she has felt a lot of love in her life, “but hasn’t figured out how to put it into words just yet.”
She speaks with uninhibited candour and openness, a beguiling trait that carries in the youthful and pop-centric quality of her music. Camara is immediately likable and warm, undeniably talented, and determined to make her mark on the music industry.
Camara is embarking on a national tour this November with fellow Canadian musician Scott Hellman.
Video Courtesy: Sehaj Goyal
