Recently, several Rising artists took the TIDAL Stage at Budweiser’s Made in America Festival.
The Knockturnal is premiering a recap video featuring several of the Rising artists including Bibi Bourelly, Kevin Garrett, Sophie Beem, Kacy Hill and more! The video includes performances as well as interview clips of the artists; it is viewable by TIDAL members and non-members alike.
Sophie Beem is a pop singer-songwriter and dancer. She is a beautiful young lady with many talents. Beem was born and raised in Manhattan, New York on the Upper East Side. At the young age of 16, she was signed to Beyoncé’s new record label, Parkwood Entertainment along with two other very talented young ladies by the names of Chloe and Halle.
After being signed to the Queen B’s new record label, Beem has released a self-titled EP containing her hot new track with feature artist Fetty Wap called “I got it.” Beem also has a new music video for her debut song, “Skyline,” which she has released in early April 2016.
We had the pleasure of speaking with Sophie Beem about her exciting new life being one of Beyoncé’s new artists.
What age did you discover that you wanted to sing?
Sophie Beem: All of my life I kind of knew that I wanted to be a singer. Growing up, I would always sing around the house. I just loved it. It was something that came natural to me. When I got serious, I was around the age of 10 and I started asking my mom for piano lessons and voice lessons.
Who were some of the artist that inspired you growing up?
Sophie Beem: The Beatles were really the first group that started to make me want to write songs. I really loved their song- writing style and their music. Around the ages of 8 or 9, I was really obsessed with the Disney Channel show “Hannah Montana.” She made me believe that I wanted to go to school by day and be a Rock Star by night and that was just so intriguing to me. It was my favorite show and I just wanted to have her life basically. Growing up, Lady Gaga was a big influence to me. I really loved Imagine Dragons and some others were Rihanna and Beyoncé.
Speaking of the Queen B, describe your experience performing with her as one of her new artist?
Sophie Beem: I opened for her in Milan on the Formation World Tour and that was so crazy because I performed in front of about 15,000 people on a stadium stage. Oh my Gosh, It was amazing. I am just so lucky to have her for these experiences. If I didn’t have her, I would not have been able to have done that at 17 years old. I am really grateful.
Everyone is super jealous of you to have Beyoncé as a mentor. Talk about what that has been like and why she has been such a big influence for you.
Sophie Beem: First of all, she has been through it all and she has experienced everything, so to get her advice on what I am going through, whether its me performing on stage and trying to nail a move, if I am stuck on a lyric of a song or something like that, it has been really special because I have been able to actually sit down in a room with her and discuss my music and talk about it. I actually got to go to one of her rehearsals before the Super Bowl to see how she rehearses and stuff like that. It is a truly learning experience for me and take it all in. It is something that I appreciate so much.
You are an amazing dancer. Have you ever had any formal training?
Sophie Beem: I was actually on a dance team from kindergarten until sixth grade so it was something that I loved to do and it was so great because, growing up, I didn’t realize that you could combine dancing and singing so I’m happy that I can sing and dance.
How has it been managing school, music and just being a young lady?
Sophie Beem: School is definitely hard. I am doing an online program right now and I really have to make the time and set goals for myself. Since I like to work in the morning, I usually set 2 hours of my time for schoolwork and get it over with then I will go into my day where I’ll do my writing or work on my music and stuff like that. School has definitely been hard but it’s so great to have an online schooling program that allows you to have flexibility in your schedule. I am so happy that I have the opportunity to do that.
Who would you say is your biggest supporter?
Sophie Beem: My mom. I love my mom. She has been with me since birth obviously and she’s still with me. I love her so much. She helps me along the way. She is my biggest supporter I would say.
You play the guitar and piano. Are there any other instruments that you play?
Sophie Beem: No, just piano and guitar. I actually prefer the piano just because of the way my voice sounds with it.
What kind of Guitar do you play?
Sophie Beem: Just acoustic guitar.
Your not rocking out with the electric guitar yet?
Sophie Beem: No, no yet. I feel like it would be fun though. I would want to try it someday.
I love your track “Nail Polish”. You’ve got such crazy swag on it. Talk about putting that song together.
Sophie Beem: “Thank you so much. I was actually at Made in America performing that song live for the first time with my dancers. I love that song too.”
Are you a big foodie? If so, tell me the spot you like to go to?
Sophie Beem: “I definitely am a foodie, I mean who doesn’t like food. This place called Koi, which you can find in New York and LA has really good crispy rice. “Crispy rice” is a bed of rice that is crispy and it has spicy tuna on top. It’s amazing if you like sushi but if you don’t like sushi, you could also get the Blazed Green Beans and they are phenomenal.”
Who is your celebrity crush if you have one?
Sophie Beem: Growing up, Ashton Kutcher was a big one just in all of the Romantic comedy movies. I’m obsessed with romantic comedies. But pretty much, Ashton Kutcher and The Killers.
Lastly, where do you see yourself in the next 5 years?
Sophie Beem: Hopefully my own tour. That would be amazing. One of my dreams is to perform at Madison Square Garden so to have done that would be a dream come true.
-Kiava Nero
