Things That Matter to...La Chica

Uniting Paris Belleville and Merida, Sophie Fustec was born in Paris to a French father and Venezuelan mother. Between visits to Merida, Sophie studied violin and then piano, for 13 years in the conservatory and then sound engineering at ESRA (France). In 2010, Sophie became a founding member of the all-female band 3SOMESISTERS before embarking on her solo project, La Chica, in 2013. Her music is the result from a melting-pot of musical influences ranging from Indie Pop, US Hip-Hop and America Latina (from La Fania All Stars or Juana Molina) to The Beatles and classical music (Debussy). Her first album ‘Cambio’ was released on 2019, and now she releases 'La Loba' dedicated to her late brother. Through these songs, she expresses a new learning of life in the absence of a loved one.

by Amaranta Wright

My earliest memory is switching the side of a vinyl and listening to the music with gigantic headphones.

I grew up between Paris, France and Merida, Venezuela in the 80s. We were 5: my parents, my sister, my brother and I. Loads of laughing and love. I listened to a lot of music, all the time. I roller skated and used to speak with the trees.

My mother gave me fire. My father gave me zen.

In life, everything happens when it's meant to happen. Françoise Azema, my piano teacher for 13 years told me that on the phone. Just before she died. She was my mentor.

The hardest thing I’ve ever had to overcome is the death of my brother Pablo.

The album that most inspired me as a teenager was Rage against the Machine. It woke up in me the urge to fight the system and how powerful music is when it comes to ideas and ideology. And ofcourse the unique playing of Tom Morello!

I wanna live in 1Q84 by Haruki Murakami. That book where fantastic meets humour in a reality so close to perfection thanks to the characters

People are strange, and will always be strange. I loved the movie Arizona Dream by Emir Kusturica. So surreal, So funny, so human.It taught me tolerance because there is no normality. “Weird” people are more interesting.

All the people I met have shaped me. I swallowed all their stories and I grew up understanding many ways of seeing life. There are so many different centres.

I miss playing live. it always takes me to another dimensieon, as if I was in an alternate state of consciousness . It feels so good.

I Burned 2020. We made a sculpture of the old year with wood and we burned it.

Kindness is an undervalued virtue. Unfaithfulness is an overrated vice. It's in human nature, loyalty is more important.

I love M.I.A. She's a woman, in the music industry, saying out loud truths and denouncing the system through art. I admire her.

I’m inspired by Octopi. They fill me with love. Beautiful and smart creatures. If everyone should watch more octopus videos, the world would be more peaceful.

Everything matters and nothing is important.

A piece of advice I’d give my younger self. Trust yourself, everything is gonna be ok.

My favourite word is La plage, means the beach in french.

The motto I aspire to live by... Life is short. Live.

The inner demon I strive to conquer... Laziness. I want to evolve but sometimes I am lazy

My favourite question...What's your name?

I believe in…Art

What gives me hope....are Activists. All the people you don't see, in the shadow, fighting against discriminations, for the right cause, for the evolution of humanity, who make a change..

La Chica's album 'La Loba' is available online here and will be out physically on 12th February