Continuing our running Local Artist Spotlight series, this week’s article is focusing on CB East Senior and Singer-Songwriter: Sofia Devitt. Sofia is an immensely talented vocalist, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, and producer who plans to study Music Production at Berklee College of Music next year. As a true jack of all trades and master of many, Sofia showcases her impressive ability on her new single: “Peculiar”, released on April 7^th. “Peculiar”, a wildly catchy and danceable track, features Devitt on Vocals, Guitar, Piano, and Saxophone, as well as Christian Gallucci on bass guitar. The single was co-produced by Sofia and Josh Wurz, who give the song a clean, professional sound. Sofia’s songwriting style feels both modern and nostalgic, making a song that just about anyone is sure to enjoy. She cites Stevie Nicks, Bruce Springsteen, and Phoebe Bridgers as her biggest musical inspirations, and the influence is felt in Peculiar, which is sure to be a favorite of fans of any of those artists. Sofia’s upcoming EP: “Muscle Memory” is guaranteed to feature even more infectious melodies, heartfelt lyrics, and phenomenal musicianship from one of the best young musicians Bucks County has to offer.

Sofia has been surrounded by music her entire life, singing and playing instruments from a young age and beginning to write songs of her own at 13. “I was very secretive when I first started writing songs because I was insecure about them and I didn’t think they were that good,” Sofia admitted, “But after a lot of practice and repetition, I started to like my songs more and more, and I discovered a passion for songwriting.” Like many others, Sofia turned more to the digital aspect of songwriting and producing during quarantine in 2020. “I missed collaborating with musicians and making music with my friends, so I started to get into production,” she said. “Over quarantine, I made many songs and videos of my friends and I singing or playing and it was so much fun! … I produced music and videos for my middle school choir, my friends, and even just for myself.” This time spent at home allowed Sofia to become proficient at creating music in the digital age, which is absolutely crucial to success as a musician today.

While she’s a very talented instrumentalist and producer, Sofia’s musical strong point comes from her lyricism. “I put a lot of thought into emulating the message and story of my songs and I try to create lyrics that not only flow nicely, but express the emotions or stories I want to convey in my songs,” Sofia shared. “Peculiar” exemplifies this strength, as the song is extremely intelligently written, filled to the brim with clever wordplay. While the track is energetic enough to enjoy at face value, there’s a level of depth to the lyrics sure to captivate more analytical listeners. Sofia’s influences are clearest in her lyrics. When talking about Bridgers, Springsteen, and Nicks, Sofia said, “One of the things I admire most about these artists is their detailed lyricism. I love songs that have an element of storytelling to them, and I try to emulate that in my music.”

Overall, Sofia is absolutely an artist to look out for, as her musical career develops through the summer, and into her time at Berklee. Her music is fun and approachable enough to listen to casually, but also features a unique brand of lyricism if you take the time to look further into it. Sofia’s music has something for everyone, and with her debut EP “Muscle Memory” releasing at the end of the month, now is the perfect time to start listening to one of Doylestown’s most exciting young songwriters. Additionally, you can see Sofia perform live at Puck alongside local rock band Metaphysical on June 22. You can find Sofia at @sofia.devitt on Instagram, TikTok, and YouTube, as well as on all music streaming services.