Press Quotes
"Bonadea was something completely different, especially with her stage presence of sitting in a rocking chair! Her set was very chilled out and relaxed, my favourite song in particular was called, "Looking for America", which was due to her smooth acoustic playing and elegant vocal melodies."
"I stayed in the Hayloft for a while waiting for Sophie Bonadea, who was also waiting for the aforementioned to finish so people could hear her set. Bonadea was very personable – funny, relaxed and cracking jokes about being pregnant and playing her set as a duet with the other half in-utero. Her sound was a laid back americana style, with a gorgeous voice and lovely acoustic guitar strumming. She really suited the americana vibe, and I absolutely loved her set (and her skirt, feel free to donate me it)."
"The main stage music took over at 4pm and it was with singer-songwriter Sophie Bonadea's compelling voice that the show opened; her song, These Days, showcased her strong, warm voice".
"The organiser of songwriter gatherings around the Highlands, Bonadea is a fascinating talent whose music brings together disparate influences from folk and americana to psychedelia and grunge."
Belladrum Tartan Heart Festival Review
praise
“Sophie Bonadea is a power soul voice for her generation and has also done her fair bit of world stravaiging, based in Austin and Berlin for periods of her musical journey, now landed and based out of the Highlands. Wherever she has been she has always impressed and supported her community, her Song Gatherings have become a popular feature of the Highland Music Scene of late and her name a regular feature on Festival posters across Scotland.” - Rob Ellen, Promoter, Mobile Moose Medicine Show
Electronic Press Kit
Artist Bio
•AMERICANA COUNTRY SOUL MUSIC MAMA•
•CRYSTAL MOON WITCH • ACTIVIST • MENTAL HEALTH IN THE ARTS ADVOCATE•
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Wandering singer songwriter, Bonadea finally comes home to tell stories of love and life never spent in one place, creating the soundtrack to a road less travelled with her debut album, The Understanding.
Interweaving with her own experiences in love and out of love, The Understanding, takes a reflective look at Sophie Bonadea's relationships and the insights she has gained from these experiences, which have ultimately shaped her and her songs, with the album title giving reverence to the spiritual journey she has embarked on during these chapters: leading her from wild child wanderer to the freeing wisdom of womanhood.
"Dreamy-country-soul-americana" captures the essence of Bonadea's songs: freely exploring references from the 60s and 70s road-trip-americana music she grew up with; her songs effortlessly moving through folk, rock, alt-country, americana, noir and even pop to create a sound that has been described as both totally unique and warmly familiar. Regularly likened to pioneering female singer songwriters, Joni Mitchell, Stevie Nicks, Lucinda Williams and PJ Harvey for both stage presence and songwriting style, star on the rise Bonadea is already becoming a respected voice for women in the contemporary Americana music scene amongst fans and peers.
Bonadea often credits her work as a crystal healer, long time Vipassana student and meditation teacher, honed in the ancient practice of harnessing moon energy, as the magic ingredient in her songwriting process, casually referencing to these teaches and their symbolism in her songs.
Following a decade of songwriting in Berlin and a calling to return home after seventeen years on the road, 2019 can be claimed as Bonadea's breakout year into the Highland music scene. Her interview with Rob Ellen for the transatlantic online roots music program, The Medicine Show Radio Moose Mobile, created an opportunity to introduce her music to americana and alt-country fans both nationally and internationally. Her performance on the show has so far received the most views to date, and generated interest from local and national music industry promoters and musicians, prompting invitations to open for Canadian artist Orit Shimoni on the Scottish Highlands leg of her UK tour, and to perform as part of Celtic soundscape musician and artist, Wilson Noble’s, Solstice Sessions.
Bonadea was asked to perform as part of the first ever all female line up for the Porch Sessions at the iconic music venue Macgregors, owned by BB2 Radio Folk broadcaster and Blazin’ Fiddles founder Bruce Macgregor, and was selected as one of the Highlands most promising unsigned acts to perform for legendary LA music producer and engineer Ken Allardyce, who has worked with many powerhouse names including female music icons Stevie Nicks, Cher and Everything but the girl.
Summer 2019 saw Bonadea performing at several award winning festivals including Scotland's biggest largest arts and music festival Belladrum; also debuting at The Black Isle Brewery Festival, Jocktoberfest and Woodzstock Festival where she opened the main stage. Her live performances have gained both respect and accolade from press, media and fans alike for her introspective and relatable storytelling, her honest songwriting and captivating performances.
Known for speaking candidly and compassionately about her own experiences with PTSD and anxiety, Bonadea has collaborated with the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival and keeps the conversation open on her social media channels, about the challenges she has faced, she uses these channels for activism and empowerment, and regularly encourages her fans to seek the gifts within their own mental health struggles, by using art as a way to transform it into a thing of beauty and creativity.
Already the host of her own musicians gatherings, her aim is to unite the musical community of the highlands, whilst creating a hub for collaboration; offering a regular showcase where complete beginners could share the bill alongside established artists, resulting in an accessible and welcoming environment. Arts for Wellbeing asked her to host a special charity open mic and awareness night for artists and performers to share their own experiences with mental health as part of the Scottish Mental Health Arts Festival. A highlight of the night included a performance by Michael Wadada of world music dub collective, Sons of Arqa, known for their work with 808 state; A guy called Gerald and performing at Glastonbury and the first Womad Festival.
Mother, musician, feminist, witch and spokesperson for mental health in the arts, animal, environmental and human rights, Bonadea is passionate about bringing people together through music and using her voice to create awareness for change.
Bonadea currently resides in the North East of Scotland where she lives with her partner and their daughter in a rural coastal town on the stunning Findhorn Bay Coast, famed for its dramatic scenery and draw of spiritual seekers.
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Sophie Bonadea is currently in the production stage of her debut album, The Understanding; collaborating with many established musicians and artists local to the area. Her intention is to create an album that very much has community spirit at its core, from the artwork to the instrumentation, to the many local hands that are making this project possible.
For professional enquiries please contact: hello@sophiebonadea.com
Artist resume (PDF Download)
