I’m a Tulsa Kid: Sophie Raskin, Singer/Songwriter
Sophie Raskin
As the pandemic of 2020 get longer by days and months, 17-year-old Sophie Raskin decided to take her extra time and focus on her passion. Sophie worked as a nanny between song writing and being a senior at Booker T. Washington. All the hard work payed off, and Sophie was able to write and record her first EP!
TK: How did the pandemic affect you, and what did you do to pass the time?
Sophie Raskin: Because of the pandemic, I was definitely presented with an excess amount of time. I turned to music as an outlet, not only to pass the time, but express myself. It was a good way to disconnect from screens and the boredom of not being able to leave my house. I was able to write 10+ songs, two of which were featured on my EP. I also used the time organized with the musicians to make recording possible. I was also nannying for part of quarantine, which was a big reason I was able to financially make this project happen.
TK: How long have you been singing and song writing?
Sophie: I have been singing since I was little. My dad is a musician, and he really helped create my love for music. As I got older, it became more and more of a passion. I got my first guitar in fifth grade, and I wrote my first song when I was a freshman in high school and haven’t stopped since.
TK: What was the inspiration to your EP?
Sophie: There wasn’t one specific thing that inspired the songs in my EP. They were written over a span of three years, so my life and the person I was when I wrote each song was drastically different from the next. I really wrote what was inspiring to me at the time.
TK: What made this project so unique to you?
Sophie: This project felt so unique to me because I was finally able to create something for others to hear. I have always had big dreams or ambitions, but some of them have been too big for me to reach. I always wanted to release my music but was too scared because of fear of judgment. It intimidated me that others would be able to know some of my personal thoughts. But I pushed myself to not let that fear control me.
TK: What advice do you have for others who would like to follow in your footsteps?
Sophie: To not let something that might seem out of reach be inaccessible.
TK: Where’s your favorite place in Tulsa to find inspiration?
Sophie: Nature. It has always been very magical to me and definitely an inspiration to my music, even if a song isn’t directly about it. Sometimes even looking out the window to my backyard or going to the park near my house.
TK: Who inspires you?
Sophie: One of my biggest musical inspirations is Amy Winehouse. Her style of music and voice is so beautiful. I love jazz. The way she combined modern music with jazz is so incredibly unique and innovative. My father also inspires me. He is my root for music and why I have always loved doing it.
TK: What other hobbies do you have?
Sophie: Other than writing music I also have gotten into writing scripts. I have written a couple of short films and stories, while also starting a couple of plays/musicals.
TK: What do you want to be when you grow up?
Sophie: I would love to pursue music as a profession. It has always been my dream. I am also very passionate about the environment and climate activism and would love to go into a field regarding protecting the earth as well.
TK: What is a fun fact about you?
Sophie: I don’t know if this is necessarily a fun fact, but when I was younger, I was so incredibly shy. My mom took me to audition as a young child, and I refused to get on stage to audition. My fears and passions just didn’t seem to align. But I pushed myself out of my comfort zone because performing is what I have always loved doing, even though it still scares me to this day. And one other fun fact is that I am releasing a single later this month that I have been recording with one of my friends, Dylan Wagman.
