To Sophia profile picture

To Sophia

About Me

To Sophia are a three piece acoustic band from Manchester, UK.Najia Bagi (vocalist), Paul Balcolmbe (guitarist) and Dave Johnson (percussionist), officially began playing together at the beginning of 2007. Since then, they have been gigging regularly at various nights in Manchester and London. Their influences range from Aretha Franklin, Billie Holiday and Sarah Vaughn, to Amon Tobin and ‘progressive’ rock bands such as Tool, Led Zeppelin and The Mars Volta. So their style is difficult to define! It has been described as “Folk ‘n’ Bass”, “Acoustic Drum ‘n’ Bass”, “Flamenco-inspired acoustic rock” and “Soul”.To Sophia’s only musical aim is to create something original, passionate and exciting, as music should be.I edited my profile with Thomas Myspace Editor V4.4 (www.strikefile.com/myspace)FACEBOOK PAGE: http://www.facebook.com/pages/To-Sophia/30321248106

My Interests

Music:

Member Since: 22/01/2006
Band Website: tosophia.com
Band Members: TO SOPHIA: Najia - Lead Vocals and a bit of dancing Dave aka Safe D - Paul aka Pea-Head - Guitar/Saxophone
Influences: We love: Nina Simone, Jurassic 5, Saul Williams,Led Zeppelin, Amel Larrieux, Tom Waits, Martina Topely Bird, Stevie Wonder, Mos Def, Common, A Tribe Called Quest, Bilal, Aretha, Les Nubians, MC Solar, samba drums, the amazing music I heard in a bar in Budapest once with a kind of open-top piano that you hit with sticks, well...The mars volta, Aesop Rock, Rokia Troare, ojos de brujo, antipop consortium, fugees, El Bicho, Aerosmith, De la Soul, Warrior Queen, Reef, Betty Davis, Amon Tobin, jungle, dub, funk, drum n bass, jazz, rock, flamenco, hip hop, bee bop innit
Sounds Like: Acoustic drum 'n' bass when we're live, according the lovely Meg (cheers Meg), and..."There's traces of Massive Attack's brooding claustrophobia, hints of Portishead's sonic intricacy and...vocals - soulful, potent, vaulting between seductress and antagonist, and delivering some awe-inspiring lyrics which are 'literary' in the best possible sense" according to David Sue of the good old MEN. We think we sound like we're having lots of fun...
Record Label: Mostly Toast
Type of Label: Indie

My Blog

Check out this event: To Sophia support The Travelling Band March 6th at Academy 3!!

Hosted By:To SophiaWhen:Friday, March 06, 2009Where:Academy 3Oxford RoadManchesterDescription:We're very pleased to announce that we're going to be supporting The Travelling Band at the wonderful Acad...
Posted by on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 06:03:00 GMT

Lovely review, thank you Jon A!

Recent review for To Sophia:Their songs are split into three pure, distinct parts  Voice / Guitar / Percussion. OK, this may sound on the face of it, like a regular combo, but To Sophia are unlike an...
Posted by on Mon, 02 Feb 2009 03:00:00 GMT

Check out this event: To Sophia EP Launch Partay!

Hosted By: To Sophia When: 19 Dec 2008, 20:00Where The Ram and Shackle393 Wilmslow Road, FallowfieldManchester, M204WAUnited KingdomDescription:To Sophia Click Here To View Event
Posted by on Fri, 05 Dec 2008 03:05:00 GMT

Found gig TONIGHT guys - just a cute reminder

Well this is sort of a cross between a blog and promotion for our gig tonight but here goes...We're playing with Found Magazine tonight and we'd really like a good crowd to come along. Found publishes...
Posted by on Mon, 06 Oct 2008 14:34:00 GMT

Cancelled GIgs

Hey everyoneWe're not sure if anyone was planning on going to our gigs at Poetry Party and/or Jabez Cleg but unfortunately our drummer had an accident (he's fine) the other day and we're unable to do...
Posted by on Sun, 29 Jun 2008 01:03:00 GMT

New Very Exciting Live Recordings

Hey allWe are pretty excited that we now have some recordings that sound like us!! It's incredible... it's so hard to go into a studio and make a recording that actually represents your live sound, so...
Posted by on Mon, 09 Jun 2008 08:35:00 GMT

Gig tonight at The Pinch - we’re so excited we posted a blog about it!

OK so this is a short blog and sort of seems like a plug for our gig but if anyone is around the Northern Quarter tonight I strongly advise you come down to The Pinch - it's a really good night that i...
Posted by on Tue, 22 Apr 2008 03:08:00 GMT

DPercussion Rules...It’s Good To Be Back

Hey heyI am writing this on Monday morning, well, afternoon. I am just getting over Saturday night - we had a post DPercussion gathering in my back garden and it was great...there was alot of drink an...
Posted by on Mon, 06 Aug 2007 14:00:00 GMT

Manchester Evening News article- we appear to rock! yeah!

Well, our first paper review, it felt like exam results day before I saw it! wicked review though, didn't realise the MEN had such good taste. http://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/entertainment/musi...
Posted by on Sun, 29 Apr 2007 05:57:00 GMT

Words, Words, Everywhere

Here is a poem written about a gig we did at The Lounge by Martin Milner. It's good you know:To Sofia From the comfort of The Lounge One guitar, one cajon, And there's Najia with and within the song. ...
Posted by on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 16:11:00 GMT