Originally from San José, Costa Rica and now based in Berlin, Sofi Paez is a pianist, singer and composer whose intimate blend of modern classical and songwriting transforms quiet, unspoken emotions into powerful, universal stories. Her music is rooted in the expressive possibilities of piano, voice and cinematic arrangement, drawing inspiration from artists including Nils Frahm, Hania Rani and Ólafur Arnalds. Her debut album Silent Stories established her as the first signing to Arnalds' OPIA Community, introducing a deeply personal sound shaped by memory, loss and belonging. Since relocating to Berlin in 2022, Sofi has performed across Europe, Japan and Costa Rica, gradually developing a musical language that sits between contemporary classical, ambient and songwriting. Her work has also been recognised beyond music; she was named among Forbes Central America's Most Powerful Women in 2025, highlighting her growing influence as a Latin American artist working internationally. Silent Stories also received Best Classical Contemporary Album at the ACAM awards in Costa Rica that year.

On her second album, Bodies of Water, Sofi turns to water as both central metaphor and emotional thread. Inspired by the landscapes of Iceland and shaped by experiences of grief, resilience, reflection and renewal, the album traces the different emotional states that emerge when life is in flux: its movement, stillness, unpredictability and resolve.

"Water can be both beautiful and powerful. In Iceland, I was reminded of how much it mirrors life and how much it has been a present element for me and my music. We are shaped by what we see and experience and I can't wait to share this journey with you through these songs.” — Sofi Paez

Across the record, water becomes a mirror for the inner world. Waterfall captures the relentless motion of trying to move forward, while Pond finds stillness in moments of quiet reflection. Ocean finds resilience in the vastness and contradictions of the sea, and River reflects on time, loss and the importance of staying present. At its vulnerable centre, Water, inspired by Charlotte Wells' film Aftersun, explores memory, mortality and the fragility of connection. Sonically, Bodies of Water expands Sofi's world without losing the intimacy at the heart of her writing. Flowing piano motifs, expressive string arrangements, ambient textures, voice and subtle electronic elements create immersive pieces that unfold patiently, allowing space for contemplation rather than resolution. The album moves between delicacy and expansiveness, finding moments of light within darker emotional landscapes. Written between Iceland and Berlin, Bodies of Water features collaborations with Lara Somogyi, Miguel Murrieta Vásquez and Evan Gildersleeve. It is Sofi's most ambitious work to date, bringing together the personal and the cinematic, the fragile and the expansive. Like water itself, the album is constantly changing shape — carrying hope quietly through even its darkest moments.
Bodies of Water is out on 25th September 2026 on OPIA Community.