Sophia Elena

South Bay Rocks Music Contest Winner

An 18-year-old singer-songwriter from Manhattan Beach, Sophia has been performing live shows for several years and continues to grow as an artist. Now a freshman at Loyola Marymount University in Playa Vista, she balances her love of music with an unexpected academic twist as a mathematics major, something she says often surprises people.

Sophia’s earliest musical inspiration came from Adele, whose soulful voice and powerful lyrics sparked her passion for singing and songwriting. “When I was younger, I loved how much power and soul she put into her music,” Sophia shared. “It really resonated with me, and I realized I wanted to create that same feeling with my own music.”

She began performing with South Bay Music Connection at just 14, though her love of music started much earlier. Her favorite part of performing at South Bay Rocks was seeing the younger performers shine. “I was definitely one of the oldest performers there, so I loved seeing all the amazing young talent. I can’t wait to see what everyone does with their music as they get older.”

Looking ahead, Sophia hopes to make music her full-time career, sharing her songs with a wider audience and continuing to perform live. When she’s not on stage, you can find her at the beach with friends, especially for sunset swims.