Meet The Musician: Interview with Sonia De Los Santos
Welcome to #MeetTheMusician! We’re big fans of music around here, in all its forms. From the upbeat and playful to the sleepy and gentle, there’s a tune for every family with Yoto - and what better way to celebrate the joy of music than to meet the awesome artists behind some of your favorite Yoto tracks? This month, we sat down with artist Sonia De Los Santos, Latin Grammy nominee and creator of Canta Con Sonia!
About Sonia: Hi, I’m Sonia De Los Santos, and I write and perform songs for children and their families inspired by the Latin American and North American Folk Music Traditions. I love positive songs about joy, hope, nature and migration. I am originally from the country of Mexico and I’ve lived in New York City for 17 years!
Q: Share a memory of music in your childhood - why is it special to you?
A: I remember spending a lot of time by myself in my room listening to cassette tapes on my purple boombox. At some point I got one of those microphones you could plug into a speaker, and I would sing along to every tune I knew. It is a special memory because I realized at that point that I could make music on my own with just my voice. it’s good to remember that, even today!
Q: Why do you love making music?
A: Music is my favorite way of expressing myself and I couldn’t see my life without it. I like that it brings people together and I love seeing just that: families sharing a musical experience that connects them.
Q: What was your inspiration behind Canta Con Sonia?
A: First of all, I feel so honored to be part of the Yoto family! I thought about sharing a collection of songs that represented some of the music we’ve been making over the last few years in Spanish and English. It’s so great to be able to reach your homes for the very first time in this way.
Q: If you were a musical instrument what would you be and why?
A: That’s a hard one! I’ll go with one of my favorites: the jarana. It’s a traditional guitar from the south of Mexico, my native country. I chose that instrument because it represents part of my cultural roots, and when I play it, it feels like home.
Q: Where is your favorite place to dance?
A: In the house - kitchen, of course! But there’s nothing like the feeling of dancing outdoors: big open air, under big trees and to the sound of drums. Even better? Sprinkle some stars, fireflies and a big moon.
Q: What’s your favorite sound and why?
A: Morning birds, for sure. They bring me so much peace. I love listening to the different sounds they make and it’s the perfect way to start the day. No wonder why I’ve written a few songs about birds :)
You can follow along Sonia on all her musical adventures on Instagram or her website. Stay tuned as we feature more artists as a part our monthly #MeetTheMusician series. Who would you like to see featured next? Let us know on social media, or send us an email at hello@yotoplay.com! 🎶
