Sophia Treadway Talks “Cuidado,” and Musical Influences

INTERVIEW

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INTERVIEW ✦

Born in Greenville, South Carolina, singer-songwriter Sophia Treadway has intrigued audiences over the past few years with her well-trained vocals across a string of impressive tracks like the Y2K-heavy seductive charm of "KissNTell," or the vibey R&B ambiance of “Cabo.” However, with her brand-new bilingual track “Cuidado,” Treadway is officially open to the excitement of embracing new challenges.

Through the release of “Cuidado,” Treadway uses the single to initiate a compelling, fresh chapter of her career by showcasing her versatility as an artist and a dedication to connecting with fans — acting as the first track where the ambitious pop singer has blended English and Spanish lyrics while combining multiple genres and production concepts.

And with the hypnotic song out now, we had the opportunity to chat with the hard-working pop star about her music, timeless influences, and more.

Photography: Kelsey Hale

The majority of artists have a longstanding connection to music that goes back to their childhood — which, from my understanding, you're very familiar with! What are some of your earliest memories of music, and is there an artist or song that stands out as being particularly influential?

Sophia Treadway: Growing up, I listened to all different kinds of music, but my earliest memory is listening to and watching Hannah Montana at a young age and wanting to do what she did. Many artists stand out for me. I grew up listening to a lot of Michael Jackson, Britney, and other artists, as well as Justin Bieber.

You've had impressive achievements early on in your career, like winning the national competition IPOP in 2014 — a platform embraced by names like Garret Hedlund, Lucas Till, and Ariana Grande. What was the biggest takeaway you had from that experience?

Sophia Treadway: It was my first ever competition, and winning first place was very mind-blowing. I was super humbled by it all. When I won, I got a lot of callbacks, and that whole experience made my parents and I realize that I was talented and that I should go for my dream.

As a mentee of Grammy-Award Winner Autumn Rowe, how has her mentorship impacted your growth as a musician and songwriter over the last 7 years?

Sophia Treadway: Working with her has been extremely influential, and I have learned a lot. I hope to continue to grow as an artist and learn as much as I can every day. 

Photography: Kelsey Hale

Your upcoming bilingual song, "Cuidado," is such a hypnotic track that marks a new and exciting milestone in your music career! What were some of the most important qualities or details that you wanted to incorporate into the track?

Sophia Treadway: I wanted to keep the track pop and add some relaxation elements to it. I really wanted to create a song that showed both sides of me, and I think this song achieved that. 

"KissNTell" feels like a unique, modern spin on an early '00s song, and it's absolute perfection! Were there any specific musical inspirations that helped shape the track?

Sophia Treadway: I love the Y2k era, and I really wanted to take inspiration from Britney Spears and Jlo and create something fresh and totally different. 

The single "Title" is another standout song with some real R&B power behind it. What are some of your favorite traits associated with that genre of music?

Sophia Treadway: I loved creating “Title.” It's a song that I put a lot of emotion into, and I wanted it to feel really meaningful, and the R&B sound helped achieve that. 

Looking ahead, what are some of the most consistent aspirations of your music career, and how do you envision your sound evolving?

Sophia Treadway: I want to continue to release more songs, and a goal of mine is to open up for a major artist on tour one day.