All Eyes on Soph_Eye: An Interview With Sophie "Soph_Eye" Matera.

If you have an ear for music, you''ll want to keep an eye on Soph_Eye! Soph_Eye's charm glittered just as much as her cityscape backdrop from our roof top photo shoot.  Fusing elements of Hip-Hop, Drum & Bass, and Soul, Soph_Eye's smooth vocals and dope beats make her the most promising of local artists!

ODE: Soph_Eye, what first got you into music?

Soph_Eye:  My Mother. Since I was born I've been listening to everything from Bach, Beethoven, and Vivaldi to Pink Floyd, and Led Zeppelin; Annie Lennox is probably my biggest vocal influence. My mother has a video of me as a toddler, jamming in my diapers to "Walk Like an Egyptian", totally clinging to the t.v.... Yeah, I have to give that one to mom.

ODE: You mentioned you used to break dance, how'd that come about?

Soph_Eye: Well I always admired breaking.  I came across it through friends, a couple of my boys were getting in to it as well, so we were all kind of learning from each other. Another friend of mine took me under his wing, and he was the one who really taught me how to get down. Six hour practices for two years. It was crazy, but I fell in love with it.

ODE: Tell us what it's like for you to be on stage...

Soph_Eye: Being on stage is a challenge; it's like an adrenaline rush. There is something about knowing that people are seeing me, and knowing they are watching and enjoying themselves, that's fulfilling for me. Being on stage is a way for me to sort of test myself, and force myself to be unashamed of what I do. It's just fun...

ODE: Your music is laced with several sounds, ranging from Hip-hop, to Drum & Bass, to Soul... What type of music would you say you make?

Soph_Eye: I like to think of myself as a soulful singer. All of those genres have influenced me. Even as far back as jazz and blues, those feelings of sound have hit me the hardest. I think they help fuel me.

ODE: You've built quite a following fan base. What do you think has helped you gain so much momentum?

Soph_Eye: Being receptive to people, and open to ideas really, rather than being a negative individual. I'm so appreciative of my listeners. Honestly, I feel beside myself when I see people's reaction to my performing. I go on stage with the mentality that I'm doing my job, and I hope you as my audience enjoy it. When people approach me after a show and tell me they liked it, it's just unreal. 

ODE: What advice would you give to other young aspiring artists?

Soph_Eye: Don't give up, or allow external negativity to influence you. If your that passionate about what you want to do, what you put out is ultimately what finds its way back to you. There is nothing you can't have if you want it badly enough, you just have to work at it... really hard.

ODE: What can Soph_Eye fans be on the look out for?

Soph_Eye: Well I've been working on Drum & Bass music, and I'm in the process of branching out to other styles of electronic music. I'm even toying with some ideas of jazz and getting back into hip-hop. There might be some cover songs in the near future as well. Most exciting is I'll be performing at Winter Music Conference. Other than that, I'll be working on putting my album together, so there's a lot to anticipate.

ODE: If for some reason you couldn't make music, what would you go after instead?

Soph_Eye: I'm currently pursuing my Bachelors in commercial music at Florida Atlantic University. If I couldn't make music, I would totally manage someone else; I can definitely see myself promoting. The way I look at it is I'd still be getting someone else to where they want to be. I also want my own publishing company. Either way, I plan on sticking to the business. Music will always be it for me, whether I can sing or not.

Come check out Soph_Eye hosting Stank Love this weekend at South Beach's Jazid!!! 

1342 Washington Avenue

Miami Beach, FL

Find this event on Facebook for details- Stank Love. 

For songs, events, and more from this artist, add Soph_Eye on Facebook- Soph_Eye.

Black and White: Hints of CHANEL.

Black and white. Those were her favorite colors. In the early part of the 1900's, she was considered a woman ahead of her time; and quite avant garde. She refused to wear cinches, feeling that women should be able to look fabulous while still being comfortable. My point, Gabrielle "Coco" Chanel was one badass lady.

Today's outfit has hints of CHANEL. 

Black tipped manicure

Mix & Matching with Prada messenger bag.

Cap-toed studded clogs.

A Splash of Summer: Button-Up Suits.

Clearly, I am OBSESSED with strapless bathing suit tops this year! 

Colorful, and almost a retro style striping; I love this pattern! There are buttons on my bathing suit... enough said.

These bags are a little known secret, so gossip about them to everyone! Dime Bags are originally from Colorado. They are made from hemp, with organic cotton lining. This eco friendly bag is perfect for any summer outfit...

Draped-like (as best as I can describe this adorable top) bathing suit tops are timeless. Let texture take the lead next time your looking for a suit!

Check out more great bags like this at DimeBagsAreForever.com, soon to be featured on AGirlsBestFriend.biz, a must-visit site for art, music, and life, for girls who mean biz!

Style Clash: Heavy METAL.

I'm digging metallics, really anything that's 'industrial chic'. Somewhere in this ambiguous vision I picture the Industrial Revolution; different shades and textures of shinny metal everywhere!

Give me Ambition.
Give me the American Dream.
Give me endless possibilities.

Naturally, the geometric elements of heavy machinery finagled their way into the outfits , hence the conic top, and the tube shaped heels. I love the directions new styles are taking, stark lines & bold shapes!

Top: 90's BCBG
Belt: Vintage Italian Leather
Pants: See by Chloe

This jacket is dope. It was custom tailored, so it's a one of a kind, made specifically for yours truly! There was some makeshift cinching involved in shooting Ms. Cuadra, to say the least.

Jacket: Doll Fit

This necklace is one of my FAVORITE accessories! I'ts a Loehmann's buy that I've had forever (fashion junkies- Loehmann's is where it's at).

Headband: Blanc Couture

Shoes: Calvin Klein
Bag: Marc by Marc Jacobs

I don't know what got into me this week. Maybe it's more what's leftover in me, still lingering from the new year. Beginnings always move me to reflect on past times, ironically enough. There are a lot of new things in the works this year, all waiting to be cranked out and sent on down the assembly line.

Stay tuned to see what's in store... Next week expect:

"Dogs, Clogs, & Photo Blogs."
"Enlightened Style: Lotus House Thrift Boutique."
"Turn Back Time: Classic Color Scheme Tribute"

GUEST SPOT: Shoot & Interview with music artist SophEye!!

The Beginning: Lasting Impressions

Sizing Shoes.

That's the last thing any one person would expect themselves to be doing. Sitting in the shoe department, I remember watching the ebb of the afternoon traffic. I watched the red strip of the sidewalk curb vanish and reappear as the cars went by; now you see it, now you don't. That was the moment I decided I wanted to be a photo journalist. That was the day I decided that I wanted to be anywhere but there, there being Pasadena, California. I hadn't read this since later that same night, when I wrote it. To all my 305'ers, this one's for you.

Back At the Starting Line

There is a place where you live, and a place that you call home. It’s funny how for some people they are mutually exclusive. Some of us stay in one place our whole lives, while others are constantly in motion. The rest fall somewhere in the middle of either extreme, moving at some tempo between where they are from, and where they are going. Regardless of your final destination, everyone’s got that one place that feels like home.

Up until two years ago I lived in Miami. When a certain romantic endeavor relocated itself to the west coast, I packed my things and made a modern day rush to California. Since my little expedition, I’d settled in Pasadena. Where I was living was a modest, one bedroom apartment, four miles south of the city. Everyday at 10:30, the postman delivered my mail. The Montebello 30 took me in to work five days a week. If you were looking for me past 7:30 on a Monday, you were sure to find me at my neighborhood tea house. A thai iced tea, and my hot pink Mac Book, made me pretty easy to spot. So why did I still feel so disconnected from my setting?

No matter how we may design our lives, home is always our starting point. When we map out plans for ourselves, what draws the line between house and home? For me the answer was simple. Home is where the heart is, and mine was still following Miami’s beat.

The vibe in Miami is eccentric, with a frequency no one can tune out. During the day the air is hot and sticky, and sweet when it hits your nose. A summer night in Miami could make anyone fall in love. Even the moon is more enchanting in Miami. Maybe we just have better satellite reception. No matter what stereotype you identify with, there is no need to fit in with Miami. Stay there long enough, and Miami finds a way to fit in you.

So I’m packing up and heading home. The intent of this blog is to reveal the magic behind the madness, and expose you to the side of Miami that is rarely unveiled, through the eyes of a native, through the mind of a devotee, from the person that understands it best.

I am Miami.

There's no place like home. This was my first post, and a lasting impression.

Right On Track: An interview with Gianna Lynn DeMercado.

 On the right track. Full speed ahead. Think of any analogy for ambition you can fathom, and that's Gianna Lynn DeMercado. With smut like The Jersey Shore distorting today's female image, it was refreshing to shoot Gianna. Her energy raced along the tracks of the set; she was just enchanting. At 25, she runs Heartbeats Unlimited, her non-for profit, and just collaboratively launched A Girl's Best Friend, an online collective of several artistic and determined ladies. Ode was lucky enough to have Make-up Artist Jen Shaver of Kabuki Kosmetics & Demented Dames Boutique, also of A Girl's Best Friend, doll up Gianna Lynn for the Shoot.

ODE: Gianna, tell us what we need to know about you...

GLD: Well the most essential thing to know about me is that while I'm adaptable, I don't fit into a mold or conform to preconceived notions. By day, I am a career-driven professional, by night I indulge in my more creative side. I have strong values, but I'm not without a few vices. I'm a lover, not a fighter... but I will fight for what I love. I am my own biggest critic; I'm a perfectionist and an overachiever. I'm a firm believer in the idea that nothing worth having comes easily.

Dress: Vintage Floral
Shoes: Bally
Hat: Blanc Couture

ODE: What do you draw on for motivation?

GLD: Sounds cliche, but I think that my biggest source of motivation lies in the idea that anything is possible. I truly believe that open-mindedness, and the ability to define your destiny, are key to self-discovery. In another aspect, the majority of what drives me comes from the struggles and changes I've experienced. Some simply growing pains, and others more serious in nature. Nevertheless, I think these low points act as an extreme motivator for me, and I've managed to come out of some sticky situations with a renewed sense of purpose.

 ODE: Tell us about Heartbeats Unlimited...

GLD: Heartbeats was an idea literally conceived in a dream of mine, which eventually manifested itself as Heartbeats Unlimited, Inc. The initial vision was to create a lifestyle brand which drew upon my personal experiences fundraising for the American Heart Association, while incorporating a message of creativity and empowerment. Today, it's transformed into somewhat of a campaign for social awareness. So far, we've done a line of t-shirts, events, mix-tapes, and we currently have a series of ongoing artistic projects with few things in the works. The goal is that everything related to Heartbeats Unlimited convey an underlying message of 'passionate involvement, creative expression, and purpose driven action'. While It's very much still in stages of evolution, we're  always in search of potential partnerships/ collaborations; with its ever expanding resources, I'm anxious to see what this company can accomplish in the future. 

ODE: How did A Girl's Best Friend get started?

GLD: Similar to Heartbeats Unlimited, the idea behind A Girl's Best Friend was directly inspired by the creative abilities of those around me. So many of my close (girl)friends have devoted their time and energy into self-run businesses, projects, and professions; as a means to further expose their talent and drive. Following the concept of 'strength in numbers', together we formed a collective of diverse, yet like-minded, female entrepreneurs and artists. Challenging the idea that diamonds (or any material item) could ever truly be a girl's best friend, we represent the fact that when directed with passion and purpose, a personal sense of ambition is the vessel that can get a girl to where she wants to be in life.   

Make-up Artistry by Kabuki Kosmetics

ODE: What are you excited for, and what can we expect from AGBF?

GLD: I guess the better question would be, what am I not excited for...?! Not to say it's easy to be (or that I am) so positive all the time, but at this point in my life I realize that reaching a goal is just a platform for setting and reaching your next goal. You have to have a sense of excitement and urgency about your goals, or it's easy to put them off or abandon them for no good reason. I tend to keep my mind busy, so I constantly have ideas for collaborations and a desire to share with others what I find interesting and newsworthy. A Girl's Best Friend, (and Heartbeats Unlimited) really fuel this passion for me. The plan for A Girl's Best Friend is to make it an online portal for news, events, and promotions from girls in the collective. We have plans to create an online shop and put together some kick-ass events for later in the year. Ultimately, I see AGBF as our own personal empire, allowing us to spread the word on everything from fashion and beauty tips to health and career issues, to various causes, and so on... if we can dream it, we can do it!

Jacket: Vintage UPS Denim
Undies: Dime Piece Designs

ODE: What do you think is essential for a girl to have style?

GLD: Well there's the most obvious, confidence, but I also think style is about being creative and taking risks. I often look at a piece of clothing and ask myself, "can I really pull this off?". Ninety percent of the time, I go for it and see what happens. My personal style incorporates a lot of influences from costumes and theme dressing; I like wearing things that remind me of a certain era or character. I definitely use fashion as a way to both express myself and pay homage to things I love. Some people might not get it, but for me, it's fun. I know I'm not the first to say this, but the most important thing about style is not taking it too seriously, and feeling good about yourself. 

ODE: Gianna, you're 25, smoking hot, and extremely successful. What do you think has gotten you so far at such a young age?


GLD: I honestly feel like true success is an illusive thing. But I can say that I have taken advantage of opportunities when they were presented to me, and this has gotten me farther than one might imagine. Maybe I'm being modest, but I don't see myself as extremely 'hot', intelligent, or even business-savvy. On the other hand, I haven't let a lot slip by me and it seems to have pushed me to the forefront in a lot of situations, despite my young age. 

ODE: What challenges have you faced in reaching your accomplishments thus far?

GLD: I think our generation is unique in that we have grown up receiving so many messages about who we are, and what we can be. These perceptions make it difficult for a person, (especially a girl) to feel confident about being different and finding their own identity. Like many girls my age, I've had to experience life and make my own mistakes in order to learn from them. A major turning point for me was in 2005, when at the age of 20, I was diagnosed with a serious cardiac condition and underwent a major open heart surgery. This experience left me feeling both vulnerable and determined. It forced me to shed a lot of my fears about life and death, and while I still find it somewhat awkward to share this fact with certain people, It's been an opportunity and inspiration for me to appreciate life in a way I never could have before. 

ODE: What exciting new projects can we look forward to, from you?

GLD: Well, I definitely suggest you keep an eye on agirlsbestfriend.biz and heartbeatsunlimited.com for the latest news and updates. Otherwise, I've set some goals to do some campaigning/ public speaking for the American Heart Association in the coming year, and I just found out that I will be the featured Earth Girl for April 2011, on earthgirlz.org. Like I said before, I'm finding it hard not to be pretty excited these days!

Articulate, capable, and inspiring.  Gianna Lynn DeMercado was an absolute pleasure. 

For more visit: Heartbeats Unlimited, A Girl's Best Friend

For Make-up booking visit: Kabuki Kosmetics