Off Radar had the chance of speaking to Nance about her influences, growth, and creative pursuits.

Sophia Nance has always been a musician. As a high schooler in Laredo, TX, she started Modern Sophia, a dreamy, synth-pop project that she carried with her to when she moved to Austin to study engineering. Nance’s Modern Sophia roots are foundational, but now she feels ready to grow beyond the garden that first nurtured her. Living in Austin for nearly six years, Nance has been able to explore different facets of rock music and joined the “Neo Soul Art Rock” group lluvii, where she sings background vocals, plays keys, and sometimes plays violin. 

Internally, Nance has been growing too. She’s been focusing on her mental health and tapping into being her unapologetic self, which she carries into her new project electronic ULTRAvioletcoraline.

Off Radar had the chance of speaking to Nance about her influences, growth, and creative pursuits.

Off Radar: Perfect. So where are you right now?
Sophia: So I am based in Austin, Texas. In South Austin.

Off Radar: So how long have you been there, and how has it influenced your music?
Sophia: I’ve been in Austin for about seven years now. Living here has shaped my music a lot. Austin is so rock-based: indie rock, psychedelic rock, punk, even electronic rock. Going to shows reminded me how important rock is for me. I’ve always been mainly an electronic artist, but watching all the creative things people do with guitars has inspired me to incorporate more rock elements into my own music.

And it’s not just the music: the culture here is really fun and inspiring. I love seeing how everyone dresses up for shows, the energy of the scene, and how approachable musicians are. It’s easy to make friends, jam, and learn from each other. Austin’s music community feels loving, non-competitive, and community-driven. It makes you feel like you can belong.

Off Radar: Are there certain bands in Austin that influence you?
Sophia: Oh, definitely. I love my band, lluvii. Even before I joined, I thought they were special. Watching them inspired me.

Off Radar: Can you tell me about how you got into lluvii? Obviously, it’s a shift from your previous music. What has the shift been like, and how have you grown?
Sophia: I actually met Felix, our keyboardist, in three different ways. First, through my sister’s boyfriend’s roommate, who happened to be Felix. Then, at Austin’s annual synth salon, where I was playing the theremin. Felix came up to me, super friendly, and wanted to hear what I was working on. And third, through a band my friend was in, Felix played in that band too.

Eventually we jammed together, and he brought Carol, the lead singer of Lluvi. Our musical chemistry clicked instantly. We gravitated toward similar genres and chords. At first, I just did background vocals at live shows. Then, as we kept playing and bonding as friends and musicians, they asked me to officially join.
Being in lluvii has been incredible. They believe in me and challenge me. Sometimes they ask me to do things outside my comfort zone, but that’s how I grow. It feels amazing to be trusted by my peers to create something good together.

Off Radar: How is being in a band different from making music independently?
Sophia: With my older bands, like the previous iterations of the Modern Sophia live band, I just wasn’t ready to lead. Leading a band takes patience, wisdom, and a lot of energy. With lluvii, I can sit back, observe, and learn instead of delegating. That’s the approach I need right now.
I’m still making solo music, but mainly in the production sense. I’m not performing live as a solo act because it’s a lot of work. Right now, I really enjoy helping bring someone else’s project to life, because that teaches me how to bring my own projects to life too.

Off Radar: Can you tell me a little about your solo production work? Didn’t you start making music under a new name?
Sophia: Yes! My solo project is called ULTRAvioletcoraline. The name comes from my old Stardoll username. I loved Coraline, and Violet was just pretty. Recently I revisited that name and realized it was my first creative outlet as a kid. Now, it feels right to reclaim it for my adult creative work.

With ULTRAvioletcoraline, I make music just for me. I’m less focused on promotion and more on being authentic, even if it’s unapologetically weird. It’s electronic, experimental, and true to what I want to create.

Off Radar: Authenticity can be hard to find in music. How do you hold onto it?
Sophia: Honestly, it takes work. When my grandma passed away last year, it hit me how short life is. I realized I don’t want to waste time pretending to be something I’m not.

I try to stay grounded through meditation, therapy, and reflection. Sometimes I record myself when I catch myself comparing to others, then listen back and write notes on how I can improve. It’s an active effort. But staying authentic feels worth it.

Off Radar: What inspires you?
Sophia: Seeing other femme artists in Austin doing amazing things really inspires me. Growing up in a small town, success in the arts felt like a fantasy. But now, seeing peers my age proudly making their art makes it feel possible.
I’m also inspired by my mental health journey. I’ve made a lot of progress, and it pushes me to keep going. My family inspires me, too. I want to make them proud. And honestly? Fashion inspires me. I love seeing outfits at shows. Fashion feels like another love language.

Off Radar: Where do you get your creativity for fashion? Have you always been into it?
Sophia: Definitely. Fashion has always been a form of expression for me. It’s not my main craft, but it’s always been special. I’d love to get more involved in fashion communities someday.

Off Radar: Any exciting updates or things you’d like to leave with?
Sophia: Yes! I didn’t get to finish naming some Austin bands that inspire me in various ways, so shoutout to modernform, The Opera, Die Spitz, Lucía Beyond, Eighty Sixth Truth, Dodo, Height Ashbury Medical Clinic, and Hey Cowboy. They’re all amazing.
And finally, I’m planning to release an EP at the end of this year. The songs are ready; we just need to finish it up. I’m so excited to share it.