By: Taylor Berry
Genre-blending singer Sophia Mengrosso pulled from personal life experiences to pen the 13 tracks on her debut album, Unforgiven, and hopes to inspire and empower the masses.
Technically, the trained opera singer took years to write the record since it chronicles her life journey, which started in her teens. Inscribed in each track are memories she and her friends share, trials and tribulations she endured with and without them, and things she has witnessed.
Like life itself, which is dynamic and ever-changing, each track in Unforgiven is distinct, with its own unique sound. While ferocious guitars and thunderous percussion suffuse the album, certain songs like “Dream, “Medicate Me,” Another Dose” and “Sank in the World” are graced with delicate and sweet piano melodies, presenting a layer of tenderness to the overall intensity.
In contrast, tracks such as “Under,” “Demonizer,” “Sweet Sacrifice,” Mind Splits in Two” and “Down” are powered by distorted guitars, imbuing a gritty texture to them, which amplifies the album’s unrefined energy.
While Mengrosso doesn’t necessarily have a favorite track, the singer-songwriter believes “Demonizer” is the strongest track on the album.
“It’s just very strange and strong. This is how I want it to be,” Mengrosso said. “I want it to be very powerful because I had a lot to say, and I want to support victims of domestic abuse and or any kind of abuse. I don’t think that it should be a category. I want to say to use your voice and be loud and aggressive because I don’t believe you can always forgive and forget. We have to let it out a lot of times to feel better. Don’t just shovel your pain away…you have to really sometimes burn it out and let it out instead of just pretending everything is fine. That’s what “Demonizer” is.”
What started as 4- —or 5-year-old Mengrosso flippantly playing the ivory led to the singer taking her music journey more seriously by taking professional vocal lessons with an opera singer. The classically trained vocal powerhouse started training with classical music. However, her music preference expanded when she heard Amy Lee-fronted rock band Evanescence, one of her influences known for blending rock with classical music.
Mengrosso adores blending two polar opposite genres with her band, which she loves playing and making music with.
“I love classical music so much, but I feel like they’re more strict compared to other genres, like rock and metal,” the singer said. “Rock gives you the opportunity to express yourself…gives you a lot more room to move.”
Mengrosso is unapologetic with her music and aims to inspire others in any way, shape, or form.
“If it makes them feel better or stronger, [then] that’s what I want them to get [from] my music. If they feel inspired and empowered [to] write their own music, that’s amazing,” Mengrosso stated, adding a message she directed to her listeners. “IF you have a goal, go get it and don’t be shy about it. Be loud. Do what you like. Be strong. Be brave. Your thoughts and insecurities won’t be able to hold you back. Just go after what you want because no one will do it for you.”
Listen to Unforgiven, and follow Sophia Mengrosso to see her next moves in her music career.
Published By: Aize Perez
