Today we’d like to introduce you to Sondria.
Sondria, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
I started writing independently and full-time in 2010, as the Social Media Content Manager for the band Earth Wind & Fire, and several of its subsidiaries.
I traveled the world writing for the band for five years, even co-writing a song for them that made it to the Billboard charts all over the world. (“Dancefloor” from the album “Now Then and Forever”.)
I wrote and released my first collection of short stories during this time, and had a residency at Pomona’s historical MACHINE POMONA an art space owned by Judah 1, the current poet laureate of the town. During this time I also spent a lot of time taking photos, sitting in on recording sessions, going to shows, and generally lurking on and writing about underground Los Angeles and the Inland Empire hip hop scenes.
At the end of my work with Earth Wind and Fire–I joined the SNATCH POWER art collective, where started doing burlesque, co-hosting an online radio show, making films and I released another collection of short stories.
This year I started focusing on my individual career and set goals to get more magazine gigs and write a new book. This year I’ve written articles for Cultured Magazine (Florida), Reflekt Magazine (LA), LALA Magazine (LA) and Montez Press (Hamburg), and I’ll be releasing my third collection of short stories on the last day of this month. There is honestly so much to say… my work with Snatch Power has been in several installations around the world, This year I just performed burlesque at LACE in Hollywood…yeah…but I’m going to stop there. I’m a work. Of that, you can be assured.
Has it been a smooth road?
The road actually fluctuates. I operate smoothly… but some crazy shit has happened! My work with Earth Wind and Fire ended when I decided to divorce one of the band members.
My life was rocked again when Snatch Power went through deep internal changes. I got super into uppers and psychedelics before I became a mama. Motherhood happened unexpectedly in the middle of my divorce… I had to figure out how to be an artist and a single mother, and worked a full-time (non-art) job for a year before being able to return to full-time writing this fall! But damn damn damn… all that has made my writing spicy as hell!
We’d love to hear more about your work.
I am a writer. sondriaWRITES provides social media and blog content for bands, businesses, and individuals. I write artist bios and press kits and blurbs for fashion companies. I write articles for an art magazine. I am a songwriter.
I do live performances of my literature. I teach literature and writing in Los Angeles. I specialize in anything that involves written words. Language is my specialty and I’m known for being supportive and in the mix, and observing the things around me and providing some insight about them.
I’m also known for doing what I want… for advocating black freedom–not by marching or anything–but by LIVING freely and providing space and support for other folks to do the same. As a company, I’m most proud of my reputation for integrity. My community cares about what I have to say, who I’m listening to, and what I think and that makes me very proud. I like to say, I’m just a professional audience member.
How do you think the industry will change over the next decade?
People keep talking about paper going obsolete but I don’t think so. I see people growing tired of the unreliability of digital information and turning back to books and old newspapers and publications for something to hold on to.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.sondriawrites.life
- Instagram: http://www.instagram.com/sondriawrites
- Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/inktillitstink
- Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/sondriawrites
Image Credit:
Missinglewood, Stargazer Photography LLC
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