Sophie Castillo: A Rising Star in UK Latin Music
Introducing Sophie Castillo
On a sweltering afternoon in Austin, Texas, 93 degrees to be exact, UK-based singer-songwriter Sophie Castillo embraces the warmth by the pool at the Fairmont hotel. Dressed in a long leather blazer, she expresses her craving for sunlight, a rare treat following a week devoid of sunshine back home in London.
A Cultural Mission
With roots from a Colombian mother and a Cuban father, Castillo is committed to showcasing the Latin American diaspora’s rich musical heritage in the UK. Her sound is a sophisticated blend of electronic music infused with traditional Latin genres like salsa, bachata, and reggaeton. Castillo envisions this cultural mixture finding a substantial audience in the UK, similar to the successful integration of Afrobeats, ska, and bhangra into British music.
She remarks, “British people [don’t] get enough credit as to how open-minded they are. Whenever I’ve seen people react to Latin music in the U.K., they’re excited. They’re not like, ‘Oh, I don’t want to listen to that because it’s in Spanish.’ They’re like, ‘This is cool, tell me more!’”
Debuting New Music
During her performance at the Amigo showcase at Rozco’s on March 12, Castillo introduced her new single, “The Betrayal.” This track, part of her upcoming EP slated for April release, showcases the sultry rhythms of baile funk, echoing a tone of empowerment and theatricality. She describes the creative process: “I love Brazilian music, so I wanted to try out a funk fusion. It all came together with this Shakira-esque Arabic scale. The drama was there, cinematic element was there, which is what I love.”
Musical Heritage and Influences
Castillo’s passion for music is deeply rooted in her family background. Her father, Nelson Batista, a well-regarded salsa dancer and DJ, ventured from Havana to London in the 1980s, becoming the first salsa instructor in the UK. Her mother, also a talented salsa dancer from Colombia, played a crucial role in Castillo’s early exposure to the arts, which was further enriched by her uncles who took her to musicals and encouraged her involvement in after-school theater programs.
At the age of 13, Castillo took a leap into the music industry when her uncle Eddie delivered a CD of her work to Universal, despite her inexperience. “It was so funny. I didn’t know anyone in the music industry, nor the Latin music industry. How do you make noise?” she reflects.
Building a Digital Presence
Utilizing TikTok as a platform, Castillo began to connect with fans of Latin music and indie artists, particularly those such as Kali Uchis and The Marías, who blend English and Spanish in their work. In her own words, “I always wanted to sing in Spanish, but I was just a little bit shy.” She credits Uchis for paving the way for indie Latino artists to embrace multilingual music. Castillo’s track “Call Me By Your Name,” a dreamy bachata that gained popularity in 2022, demonstrated her unique perspective as a British Latina, capturing the attention of American audiences who were surprised by her cultural background.
Rising Through the Ranks
While statistics on the Latin American population in the UK can be challenging to verify, the 2013 census recorded approximately 250,000 individuals. Interestingly, a report from 2024 suggested a dramatic increase in the Latin American community, with numbers growing by 406% in London alone from 2001 to 2021.
Castillo’s journey has included performing at small venues in Brixton and collaborating with Latin alternative artists like Desta French. Her efforts culminated in an exciting milestone when she received an invitation from J Balvin’s team to open for him at the O2 Arena in London on June 5, 2024, making her the first U.K. Latina to take the stage at this prestigious venue.
Conclusion
“It’s amazing, you know — TikTok is like such a powerful tool,” Castillo says, reflecting on her journey. “I’ve been able to be a completely independent artist and have all the freedom and control to do whatever I wanted.” With her innovative approach and commitment to cultural representation, Sophie Castillo is poised to captivate audiences and enrich the music scene in the U.K. and beyond.
