Q&A: Sorana Designs Her Own Path to Self-Expression
INTERVIEW
INTERVIEW
☆ BY LAUREN SANTIA ☆
Sorana is a multi-talented singer, songwriter, and fashion designer who has a knack for turning her experiences into captivating music. With an upcoming album, newly released single and credits on songs for Charli xcx, Doechii, Illenium, and most recently, Katseye’s “Pinky Up,” it’s clear that Sorana continues to claim her own spotlight.
Hailing from Romania, Sorana moved to London alone for a fresh start before eventually making her way to Los Angeles to pursue fashion and music full time. With unique and iconic light up hair, self-designed costumes and a fun EDM pop sound, Sorana’s individuality and artistry is reflected in everything she does as she effortlessly creates a universe and path that’s entirely her own.
In a conversation with The Luna Collective, Sorana opens up about her latest and upcoming music, her inspirations, fashion and the story behind her recent hit song for Katseye “Pinky Up.”
LUNA: Can you please tell us about your upcoming album?
SORANA: I wrote my album with Madison Love who’s been writing on projects with me since 2019. The album has ten tracks and I’m dropping multiple singles beforehand to highlight my favorite moments. My most recent song from the album SKINcare is all about society’s obsession with being perfect. The song is a bit sarcastic and ironic because the need to feel and look perfect is something so many people deal with at one point of their life or another. I’ve fallen victim to this as well and it’s a message that’s been engraved in our brains.
LUNA: Do you feel like all of your songs on this album are inspired by your own personal experiences?
SORANA: Yes! Right after I moved to LA, I was writing a lot of pop songs, love songs, and heartbreak songs because I was really thinking from the perspective of trying to create the next hit song. I wasn’t creating the art that I actually wanted to make. I was struggling with my mental health and this feeling of stuckness. During this time I was also going online and doomscrolling through social media way more than I used to. I didn’t know how to get out of that. Topics like mental health and the digital world we’re dragged into really started to occupy my mind and I really wanted to write music about this and what it feels like to deal with all of it.The entire album is basically a therapy session in the club with EDM beats running through it.
LUNA: Aside from your own music, you’ve written so many hits for other talented artists including one of Katseye’s latest songs. Can you tell us a bit about the story behind the song “Pinky Up?”
SORANA: “Pinky Up” is probably the biggest song that I co-wrote so far. It was really amazing to see it blow up all over social media. It’s a great feeling and such a big achievement. I wrote the song in 2024 with my friends Magsy and Dwilly. A lot of the songs that we write end up getting cut. We were in a session and Magsy had the idea for the title! We thought it was silly, but we did it and Katseye picked it up. After a few rewrites, we got the version that everyone loved. I love the angle of the end of the world feeling. It’s about living life to the fullest as if it’s your last day. The song’s topic of staying in the present moment can even tie back to the mental health topics I write about in my own music.
LUNA: As if all of that wasn’t impressive enough, you’re also immersed in the fashion industry. What made you want to get into fashion?
SORANA: Since I was little, I’ve wanted to find my expression and identity. I was making wigs out of yarn and tweaking my clothes so that they looked different. I even sewed a hula hoop into a dress. I've always had an interest in being visually different and unique as an artist. I don’t want to go to a store and just buy a costume; I want to be wearing clothes that are authentic to me and my brand and artistry. My music and clothes are all me, my ideas and my creativity.
LUNA: Do you have any advice for those who want to have a career in the music industry?
SORANA: I think everyone who wants to be in this industry needs to work hard and be passionate. There are many days where I’ve worked from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. and I’m able to do that because I love what I do and I have that passion. I left my home country of Romania alone so that I could pursue this career. Jason, who is now my manager, believed in me and got me into the studio, but it took me four months of emailing him and that’s the kind of drive you need. When I started, I got a job at a Starbucks and had to split my time between that and music. It’s not easy, but the time, work, effort, and having people who believe in you are the only things that will get you where you want to be. Don’t give up even when things get hard, you need to keep pushing through it.
