Tackling a Beyonce track is no easy feat – but KAIA’s Sophia made it look so easy. Emotions ran high watching the stunning performance video of SOPHIA’s rendition of Beyonce’s Best Thing I Never Had for PROD AXIA’s PAP Special, a series that highlights emerging and established artists putting on incredible live performances of their own hits and of their musical favorites. Marking it as her first solo performance apart from her projects with girl group, KAIA, Sophia’s performance of Best Thing I Never Had showcases the artist under a new light, breaking away from her established image as a dancer and proving the wide versatility she holds with her undeniable talent.
Dubbed as KAIA’s “ace,” her impressive vocals through this PAP Special truly shows audiences that Sophia can do anything! “As an artist, my forte is really dancing. I’m used to releasing dance videos, but this is officially my first singing one. I think it was about time to show something people rarely see me do. I am a member of a girl group called KAIA, and I am labeled as the ‘ace,’ and I want to live up to that — that I can do anything. Being in a group, it took a lot of courage in me to go solo for a singing performance. It even felt uncomfortable at first to do this without them, but despite the risk, I felt ready to take the opportunity,” Sophia shares.
As an absolute pro that she is, despite nerves and push-and-pull thoughts, Sophia took on the challenge of singing a Beyonce song, typically pretty difficult to perform for any singer. “It took me a while to settle with a song because I really wanted one that would showcase my vocal talent. I was even nervous to do Best Thing I Never Had by Beyoncé because it seemed challenging. I had to constantly cheer myself on and give myself pep talks to push through with it. I also didn’t have anyone to guide me, so after rehearsals with KAIA, I would stay behind to work on this song. I was only self-taught for the performance, but I think it turned out really well. It really spoke to me and called me out, that I’m better than how I think of myself and I should not let people tell me otherwise. Showing vulnerability is not something I do, but I chose this song because it was healing a part of me. Through this, I was able to turn my pain into something beautiful, and I am proud of myself for that.”
Sophia’s performance exudes emotion, and there’s a heartwarming story behind her mindset on the day of the shoot, sharing, “I recently lost someone I love and who always believed in me. The morning of the shoot day, I woke up from a dream where she was there, and I spent the morning of the shoot day crying. I felt so touched that she knew this shoot worried me and still showed up for me. I was scared I couldn’t sing properly during the shoot, but still, I felt happy that she visited me in my dream. If anything, I gained the confidence I needed for that day.”
This special performance is a gift of Sophia’s never-ending gratitude for her fans. “To the fans, I simply want you to feel empowered the way I felt. If you are going through the same thing, I hope this brings the
self-worth you are trying to find. Always remember that you’re doing the best, and you don’t have to chase anything or anyone that makes you feel less of what you are. I hope you love this performance because you deserve the best things in the world, and I will continue to strive to be the best for you.”
Check out Sophia’s awe-inspiring performance of Best I Never Had down below and be sure to stay tuned for more of PROD AXIA’s amazing content, including their previous releases featuring artists such as VER5US, YARA, ALEX BRUCE, KAIA ALEXA, 1ST.ONE, and DAYDREAM.
