Page 16 - THE ORACLE MAGAZINE SUMMER'23 EDITION

“But then I started singing, and that was it. Because
once you start playing, it's fine. When you get over the
initial process of showing up and greeting people, when
you have the songs ready and have practiced a bit, it's
not that difficult once you get in your zone.
”
Playing at four electrifying gigs, where the palpable excitement of
the audience varied from 150 - 250 people per night, the student-led
band dominates the young people of Prague. Sho Dawgs consists of
5 members, and today, the lead guitarist, Sophia Hutchinson, has
generously welcomed the opportunity to talk to me about the
journey of her music.
Now aged 18, Sophia began her musical career with determination
and motivation inspired by seeing a female lead guitar for the first
time, Ayla of Calpurnia.
“I was like, this is the coolest thing I've ever
seen, I want to be this girl,
” she reminisces.
Since a young age, Hutchinson has been involved in music: her
parents had signed her up to an art and music school where she
played piano once a week for six continuous years, which she hadn’t
enjoyed in the slightest.
“I hated it, the teacher even told me I was
the worst student,
” Sophia laughs, remembering the tempestuous
journey that led to where she is now. Eventually, she began playing
ukulele which she received for Christmas,
“got the whole family
included in the tuning”
, and after many months of practice, made
her switch to electric guitar. As of today, Hutchinson has spent
almost three successful years playing guitar, and a year singing in
her student-led band,
“Sho Dawgs”
.
In particular, Sophia highlights the summer music camp she first
attended in 2020 as a key part of her journey, and distinguishes it as
the moment where she really expanded her interest in bands and
playing guitar.
“I believe that if I hadn't gone there, I would never be
half the person I am now,
” she says, a soft smile painting itself onto
her face as she spoke.
M E E T S O P H I A
H U T C H I N S O N : T H E
I N S P I R I N G L E A D
G U I T A R I S T T A K I N G
T H E P R A G U E M U S I C
S C E N E B Y S T O R M
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