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Photo: Olivia Parker and Parker Hao

Panamanian singer-songwriter Sofía Valdés has officially entered her ethereal melancholy era with “Easy,” a dark-pop single detailing the brutally untold truth of immigration.

The new track is set to appear on the 23-year-old’s forthcoming EP Silvia, out August 11, which will featurs major production from Motomami’s Michael Uzowuru, alongside a few more renowned producers. As we witness Valdés evolve into her next iteration of artistry, with deepened ability and a sharpened sense of personal style, she’s taking advantage of perked ears and peering eyes to tell a story many wouldn’t dare touch.

Moving during the pandemic and being forced to confront the harsh realities of the immigration process as she relocated to LA, Silvia is set to encompass the inner destruction that many immigrants suffer through silently. One of the first singles to release from the highly anticipated project, “Easy” speaks to this disorienting journey. “I wrote this song at a time when I was asking so many people for help, but there was no help to be had,” Valdés says of the single. “People would tell me things like, ‘Oh, just go sleep it off,’ which was a weird thing to say when I didn’t have a house to sleep in. I kept telling them, ‘That’s easy for you to say,’ and that’s how the song came to me.”

Her vocals are hypnotic as she plays with fire, veering through deep hues of indie. The project’s title pays homage to her great-grandmother Silvia De Grasse, a famed Panamanian singer who is thought to be guiding Valdés as she picks up exactly where she left off. “I learned from my dad that my great-grandmother was very rebellious for her time— she always spoke her mind, and had the strength to do whatever she wanted.”

Strength is no stranger to Valdés. A Panamanian alt-pop songstress allowing herself to be as musically versatile as she is speaks to her cultural heritage, advocating for broader artistic risk without compromising on telling the true stories of her roots. As “Easy” furthers the tone of what is to come next, we can certainly rest assured that Silvia will be a project well worth the wait. 

Listen to "Easy" below: