An Interview With Edward Sylvan
I want people to listen to my music and be able to find solace in knowing that they might not be alone in their particular situation, whether that be relationship struggles, self-worth, anxiety or even more positive feelings. There’s something beautiful about being able to relate to others going through what you’re going through and experiencing similar emotions. It’s my way of embracing acceptance and honesty in being true to who you are and how you process things. Sometimes the world can be cruel and you can feel alone in your thoughts, but being able to turn to music has enabled me to feel heard in my times of need and to be that voice for others who may not find it so easy to speak out or have someone who understands them on a personal level is what drives me.
As a part of our series about stars who are making an important social impact, I had the pleasure of interviewing Sophia Saffarian.
Emerging from London, rising artist Sophia Saffarian began her journey with music at an early age. From initially being classically trained, having a short spell in musical theatre, to developing a passion for gospel and most recently experiencing the pop industry as part of a girl-group, Sophia has developed a wide appreciation for all genres and the industry as a whole.
Through the years of finding an outlet in writing, creating and performing, Sophia has shaped a voice and sound of her own that identify who she is as both a person and artist.
Embodying lyrical content that stems from personal experiences surrounding topics of relationships and internal battles, she invites fans into the depths of her mind.
https://www.youtube.com/c/SophiaSaffarian
Thank you so much for joining us on this interview series. Can you share with us the backstory that led you to this career path?
Music has played a key part in my life for as long as I can remember. I never thought it would end up being my career purely due to the fact that the industry is so over-saturated and difficult to navigate. I joined Stage Coach at a very young age and performed at the Albert Hall when I was 10. I trained classically and learnt to play the piano, joining every choir and taking part in every competition I could. I used to post covers on SoundCloud, one of which had nearly half a million plays, which at the time was a lot and I remember being so excited by that. At the age of 15, I joined Birmingham Community Gospel Choir, the only under-18 there. Here, I met a producer who I began working with and over the next 3 or 4 years, began to write my own music. I then went on to complete my GCSEs and A-Levels in order to go to university to become a Veterinarian, this gave me a secure ‘back up’ option, also a career which I knew I would have enjoyed. Whilst I was at uni, I secured a weekly residence performing at the Sky Bar at Resorts World in Birmingham. I would travel up from uni every weekend to perform with Reuben, my guitarist and I absolutely loved it. It was at this point that I decided to apply for the XFactor. I was fast-tracked through a couple of the initial audition stages and went straight to the final one before the TV auditions. I was unsuccessful as a solo artist but was provided with the option of auditioning for a girlband through a third-party management company which would then go on to enter into the show. I was successful, along with 3 other amazing girls and that’s when Four of Diamonds was created. We reached the live finals of the XFactor and ended up coming 8th place. We then went on to tour the UK and signed a record deal with Virgin EMI Records. Fast forward 5 years, we achieved over 20 million streams worldwide and collaborated with the likes of Burna Boy, Saweetie, Mr Eazi and supported artists such as Rita Ora, Lionel Ritchie and Ariana Grande up and down the country in some of the UK’s biggest arenas. When the pandemic hit, the girls and I couldn’t perform or get in the studio together and had no choice but to take some time to focus on ourselves and our individual paths. Here I re-discovered my love for song-writing, taught myself how to engineer and got cracking in the studio. It just kind of snow-balled from there really and a year later I have a repertoire of around 60 songs that I love and am finally releasing!
Can you share the funniest or most interesting story that occurred to you in the course of your career? What was the lesson or takeaway you took out of that story?
Probably meeting the Four of Diamonds girls. We were put together by our management and went through a rigorous audition process where 30 girls were whittled down to just us 4. Within 5 days of being put together, we were performing on national television in front of millions of people. Our journey on the show was far from straight-forward and full of ups and downs but it made us resilient and provided us with an amazing platform and some priceless opportunities. It’s so crazy how we went from being complete strangers to such close friends who lived and worked together, spending every day with each other. I don’t think any of us went into the process thinking we would end up signed, collaborating with some of our favourite artists, let alone as a group. It’s a true blessing. When I look back and see how much we were able to achieve, that’s something I never could’ve imagined or predicted, only hoped for and it’s crazy to think that it happened so quickly and so unexpectedly.
What would you advise a young person who wants to emulate your success?
Don’t over-work yourself. Work smart. And listen to yourself — there’s no point forcing creativity if you’re not feeling creative, you’ll just burn out and feel deflated. When I find myself in this mindset, I try to focus my energy on another aspect of being an artist — maybe the business side of things or networking. There’s always something you can be doing. It’s a gift and a curse haha. Oh and you need to rest. Take that day/week off to re-charge. Have your little things that you do in your spare time to make you feel good and allow you to escape. You can do absolutely anything if you really put your mind to it.
Is there a person that made a profound impact on your life? Can you share a story?
My family. I am so lucky to have such a strong relationship with my family and eternally grateful to them for their unconditional love and support. They give the best advice and take a genuine interest in my passion which is all I could ask for. Being an artist is a full-time job, a business, and I see them as my business partners in a way, they play to their strengths when I need them to — my sister has been helping me with my PR and marketing, my parents both have a very good ear for commercial music and great business minds and my brother helps me navigate what’s current and in-demand and how to approach and target the right people to make things happen. Combined, we make the best team.
Also my extended family AKA my friends, a few of which happen to be in music. Zues Sherlock and the V1 music family along with the community at the Qube have provided me with a space I can thrive in creatively whilst encouraging and enabling me to really own my authentic self, both personally and musically.
Finally, I couldn’t not mention Pierre Medor — my mentor and producer. He is the catalyst in me pursuing my solo music career. He believed in me from the get-go, at times when I didn’t know if I could do it and is someone I can utilise as a soundboard who I know will always keep it 110% real with me. He’s someone I’ve looked up to for a long time — working with some of my musical inspirations such as Usher, Alicia Keys, Brandy and India Arie. We actually connected through Zues and his relationship with Tricky Stewart, another absolute legend in the industry. It was so organic and natural and I truly believe that we were meant to cross paths. I’m so grateful for him and his talent.
How are you using your success to bring goodness to the world? Can you share with us the meaningful or exciting causes you’re working on right now?Â
My music provides a much-needed emotional outlet for me. Everyone needs to be able to let themselves really feel the things they’re going through and to know that it’s ok to not not always be ok. The most important thing for me is to provide that kind of outlet for my listeners. I want people to listen to my music and be able to find solace in knowing that they might not be alone in their particular situation, whether that be relationship struggles, self-worth, anxiety or even more positive feelings. There’s something beautiful about being able to relate to others going through what you’re going through and experiencing similar emotions. It’s my way of embracing acceptance and honesty in being true to who you are and how you process things. Sometimes the world can be cruel and you can feel alone in your thoughts, but being able to turn to music has enabled me to feel heard in my times of need and to be that voice for others who may not find it so easy to speak out or have someone who understands them on a personal level is what drives me.
The project I’m currently working on focuses on the emotional peaks and troughs a 20-somewhat young woman of my generation might face. There’s a song for everyone in there… self-empowerment, self-doubt, relationship struggles, new and exciting love, reflection and everything in between. You’ll find songs you can dance to, cry to, sing along to and songs you can just listen to and hopefully enjoy for what they are and what they mean to you.
I plan on using my platform to promote individuality and normalising being open and accepting of our differences. A no-judgment zone.
Can you share with us a story behind why you chose to take up this particular cause?
Growing up in this generation has its own challenges. A world that is driven by social media and a constant pressure to look perfect and like you always have your shit together, is a world that is ridden with mental health struggles and is not actually realistic. My career so far has led me into industries that don’t have much patience or room for uniqueness and ‘out-of-the-box’ characters, despite how they might come across. We want creatives to be creative but not too eccentric… we want people to be expressive but not too outspoken … you’re told to ‘be yourself’ but not quite completely or you’re considered ‘weird’. It’s like you have to follow a kind of formula for success and that’s what I don’t agree with. I stand by the fact that if you are really true to yourself and embrace your uniqueness and differences that the majority might not initially approve of or understand, you can really make a difference. You can be that person that a younger you can look up to or that person that an older you might wish they had in their younger years. Some of the most influential artists of our generations and those before us have been the most weird, wacky and wonderful characters who don’t follow a formula, who don’t try to emulate the success of others. Embracing those things that people may have bullied you for in school or that you may not have felt comfortable in your life could be the answer to you breaking out.
In my case, I was always made fun of when I was younger for having moles on my face. Fast forward to now, I am embraced in the modelling industry for it. My moles are what make my face unique to me, make me recognisable and I love that I was made this way. Sometimes people don’t know what to think of something different/something they aren’t used to seeing and that’s ok. You being confident in yourself and showing the world you’re not afraid of peoples’ opinions will open doors of opportunity and more importantly, allow you to love yourself in the most healthy way.
Can you share with us a story about a person who was impacted by your cause?
There have been a couple of examples of young girls who follow me who have reached out to express their personal struggles with body image or appearance. I’ve seen them blossom and come in to their own over the course of time and whether that’s partly due to my input or not, knowing that I’ve been a part of that journey in whatever capacity is massively rewarding. This is especially meaningful to me and I take it really seriously that someone would feel comfortable enough to open up to me, someone they don’t necessarily know on a deep level, about their inner-most thoughts. I will stay behind at shows and take time to get to know the people who are the reason why I am able to do what I do and love. I always try my hardest to provide a space for my followers and supporters to be themselves and be honest with themselves about how they feel and how they want to feel so I will always listen share my own experiences where necessary, both in conversation and through my music, in the hopes that it might allow them to feel heard and encourage them to share, in turn helping others in the same boat.
Being able to talk to someone you don’t have to see every day can sometimes be the best option. Someone who you know faces social media pressures and understands what it’s like to have people judge them based on how they look or how they think they act. My experiences so far allow me to be that person for others and that makes it all worth it.
Are there three things or are there things that individuals, society, or the government can do to support you in this effort?
- Providing equal opportunities for people of all gender orientation, ethnicity, race, shape and size — allowing people to believe that they can get to where they want to be without having to fit a criteria or change any aspect of themselves.
- Championing and creating more positive press coverage for those companies and charities that listen, provide a voice for those who choose to speak out and don’t categorise people based on their struggles. We need less stigma around mental health still — it’s better than it was but we’re not there yet. There doesn’t need to be one Mental Health Awareness Day, week or month for us to be aware of every day struggles. And not everyone needs to be categorised or labelled for feeling down or anxious. People just need to be heard and accepted without the worry of being made to feel like they’re not ‘normal’. Making therapy more easily accessible and more imminent in the time of need could make a massive difference here, which is definitely much easier said than done.
- Re-inventing the music industry and its practises, starting at the top. Some of the standard measures are so out-dated and don’t fit with our ever-changing societal needs. Older generations might not be able to fully appreciate and understand the hurdles we face growing up now and that’s not their fault. It just feels like we’re outgrowing the way things are being run and I personally think there needs to be a serious shift to allow artists to be fully appreciated for their work without being exploited by the old industry ways, based on very different methods of marketing and profiting from music and all areas surrounding it, sometimes unintentionally at the artists’ expense. Work that they pour their hearts and souls into that the world relies on every day to uplift them, create memories with and in many cases, benefit from financially, too.
What are your “5 things I wish someone told me when I first started”?
Nothing is ever what it seems — the industry is not all glitz and glamour and even when you sign a major record deal, it is far from easy to get to where you want to be. It often looks like people are living the high life/rich and famous etc. but social media is good at showing the best parts of any lifestyle. For the majority, it’s not the kind of industry you can make good money in quickly, it’s oversaturated and for most people takes a long time before any financial benefit is seen. Think outside the box, build yourself as a brand and don’t expect anything to just happen overnight.
Be prepared for the rollercoaster of emotions — no one can prepare you for the peaks and troughs. That’s exactly what they are… the ‘ups’ are exhilarating and momentous, but there are ‘downs’ where you feel de-motivated and uninspired. Having a strong support system and unwavering belief in yourself and your ability will help you stay consistent and sane throughout these.
Be careful which advice you choose to let determine your important decisions — there is no book on how to be successful in this industry, there are no rules. The same way there is no cheat code or formula that you can apply in order to get to where you want to be. A lot of people think they know the recipe for success but everyone’s path is different. Everyone is effectively “winging it” and that’s because music is subjective. Trust your gut — take advice from experienced individuals that understand the current popular culture and understand YOU. Opinions can get you down so easily, so it’s important to evaluate which ones will be truly beneficial to you and your circumstances.
It’s not going to be easy — people did tell me this when I started but everyone has that little part of them that thinks it might be different for them. It’s not a straight path to success. There will be negative comments and people telling you that you’re not good enough but don’t let it get you down. An example I always think of… John Legend got rejected time and time again before he became who he is now and many of the biggest artists we know have similar stories of rejection before they reached the position they’re in now. It’s super rare for an artist to just blow up overnight and once you start to break through, it’s all eyes on you and a lot of pressure. Who is really ever prepared for that? But one thing I always say is, nothing worth having comes easy and if you truly are passionate enough about what it is you’re doing, it will always be worth it. Being an artist is hard but the rewards are so worth it.
Enjoy the journey, not just the destination — one of my closest friends always used to say this and I never fully understood what he meant until I did. If you’re constantly waiting to get to your destination, for the next big thrill, you will miss some priceless moments along the way. It’s so important to appreciate every step of your journey, they’re what shape you into the well-rounded person you will grow to be. Some of my best memories so far are not the big achievements, but moments along the journey to achieving them. I think it’s so important to live in the present moment and be grateful for the little things that make you happy, the things that you think might not be as significant because they shape you, teach you and help you grow. They prepare you for the next big thing.
You’re a person of enormous influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger.
One thing I stand by is trusting your intuition and uplifting those who are unique and different. There’s something special about owning your individuality which I think can be difficult in an era when social media and superficiality is so prevalent. I believe we should embrace our differences and celebrate diversity far more than we do. If we can champion those that do, I believe that the world would be able to take advantage of those hidden gems that often go unnoticed or underappreciated and ultimately reduce feelings of inadequacy or self-worth due to circumstance or background. To achieve equality through acceptance of who people truly are deep down is the ultimate goal.
Can you please give us your favorite life lesson quote? And can you explain how that was relevant in your life?
Don’t shape yourself/your career moves based on what others think of you — do what makes YOU happy. Sometimes this means caring a little less about outside opinions when it comes to certain things. I’ve always been a bit of a people pleaser, always wanted people to like me but you get to a stage where you realise that the people you really want around you are those who just accept and believe in you for who you really are, without you having to try. People will respect you for that, too. You can’t please everyone and what’s the point in trying to do so at the expense of your own happiness/peace of mind? When I fully realised and accepted this, I started to come into my own and embrace my authentic self and feel happier than I ever have. That’s the real win in life, being truly and completely happy. That won’t happen if you’re constantly worrying about what others think of you. It’s super hard in this age of social media, especially in a career when you’re vulnerable and knowingly opening yourself up to the world but it can be done and you can set boundaries for yourself. I’m still working on it, but it feels good. And that’s just it, doing what feels right to you. Your gut is your best friend.
We are blessed that some very prominent names in Business, VC funding, Sports, and Entertainment read this column. Is there a person in the world, or in the US with whom you would love to have a private breakfast or lunch, and why? He or she might just see this if we tag them.Â
Alicia Keys HANDS DOWN. She is my Superwoman (if you know you know) — an absolute inspiration to me. My mum used to play her music to me when I was so tiny and her ‘Songs in A Minor’ was the first sheet music I ever owned (well Mum owned but I claimed). I remember finding under the piano in my mum’s little wooden basket. I love everything Alicia stands for as an individual as well as her talent and relatability as an artist. She’s the kind of person you’d want to be friends with and I love that about her — down to earth and real.
Thank you so much for these amazing insights. This was so inspiring, and we wish you continued success!
Music Stars Making A Social Impact: How & Why Sophia Saffarian Is Helping To Change Our World was originally published in Authority Magazine on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.