Meet Sonia Flores | Musician, Visual Artist & Floral Designer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sonia Flores and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sonia, why did you pursue a creative career?
I would say rather that a creative career or path chose me. No one chooses it willingly. If you were to read the life of artists and or musicians past, they all had that drive to create and most suffered for it. It’s an inner urge to explain the unexplainable, to make sense of the world.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?

I am an upright bassist, free improvising musician and visual artist. I am set apart from my peers and contemporaries due to that I started playing later in life. Usually when a serious musician begins their journey, it’s done so by an early age. That was not the case for me. I was a young mother in my early teens/twenties, so I couldn’t fully devote myself to dedicated study. Once I had the opportunity to study music at a college level, I knew that I had to go about it in a different way. I have a heavy visual background, my father was a commercial sign painter and involved in theater. I have always been surrounded by color and performance. Naturally, I incorporate costuming in my solo performances, which opens the door to storytelling. I really do believe I handle music differently because of this unique view. Songwriting and performing is like painting a work of art.

What I am most excited about is that I recently completed a large project that allowed me to fuse together all my creative outlets. “Ascendants From the Future”, was an immersive macrame installation completely programmed with music throughout the month of June of 2022. I came up with the idea during quarantine, as I had taken part in a handful of online experimental music streaming festivals. Myself and a team of helpers created large panels of nebula like macrame structures. Once the visual component was done, I focused on the musical programming that took place. Other experimental artist were featured but this also allowed me to flex my music improvisational skills.

It has been a long journey to have gotten to this point, to be comfortable to juggle so many artistic disciplines. I’m a bit of an outsider when it comes to music. I studied jazz, though I would not consider myself a jazz musician. Jazz simply has become the foundation in which I am able to explore freely. There are no wrong notes in music and I truly hold on to that belief. I’m not sure all that study jazz think that way. I’m also not a far leaning textural player in strict improvisor circles. I appreciate a melody, a bass line and atypical harmony. I don’t hold myself to one genre and I do hear the music in birds and trees. If I want to learn a simple song I heard in passing, I’ll transcribe it. If I need to play a 15 min solo of the most clashing chord and melody, while I sing every wrong note along the way, I do so with abandon. I found my biggest power in performance is intuition. It has not been easy to master my craft due to that Houston does not have a large enough free jazz scene. Not many contemporaries in Houston approach music in the manner in which I do. Therefore, my favorite way to play is solo. It’s a lonely path but I don’t have to rely on other players that may not take the risks that I do. There has to be certain amount of fearlessness in this approach. Performing in this manner is a cathartic and honest experience.

The biggest lessons I’ve learned is to always, always practice. You have to have a home base in which to reference. You have to go at it without judgement and allowing yourself some grace and humor.

As a true dedicated artist, you have to play the songs and music in your heart. You can’t play the story of others. I believe that that’s why certain music sounds alive. For example the original funk and jazz players of those eras, they lived the stories that came out of their instruments. This is exactly what inspires me to play. To thine own self be true is my philosophy.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?

If you asked me this ten years ago, I could tell you exactly which bar and club to hang at. Now I’m a lot more low key and like to keep things simple. I hope this friend likes eating and longwalks cause these are the simple joys that I indulge in.

First, we would start out in the Southwest area of town. Any restaurant off of Bellaire Blvd., especially in Dun Huang Plaza will not disappoint. We would definitely stop at 85 Celsius for egg tarts and sea salt coffee. But because I’m a lush, I would also take you to Six Ping Bakery for the coffee cream bread. Not to worry though, we’re going to walk this off later at the Houston Arboretum.

We will also come to this side of town repeatedly throughout the week. Too many restaurants to mention but a few of my favorites are Golden Dim Sum, Nam Giao, Jasmine, and Fufu Cafe.

On the days that we’re not gorging on food in the Bellaire area, we will be on the east end of Houston doing a taco tour. Yes, we will visit the historic east end no doubt, hitting up Cilantros on Telephone Rd. and El Haragan on Wayside. But our east end travels will take us closer to Uvalde Rd. and Freeport st. As of lately, that part of town has become a taco truck haven. We will no doubt get the best tacos at a small bakery by the name of Tomas. There, they roll the fresh flour tortillas in front of you as you order and they have the best sweet bread that rivals El Bolillo.

And again, lots of walking in Houston area parks. Eleanor Tinsley, Tony Marron, Hermann, etc, etc.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
The mentor that has had the biggest impact in my life is Michael Taylor. He is the dean of a bible study group that I attend, Institute of Divine Metaphysical Research. He has looked out for me when I was lost, guided me, encouraged me and supported all of my endeavors. He has taught me the meaning of friendship, and I hold that dear.

Instagram: @aurum.son

Image Credits
1,2: J. Gonzales 3. Concepción Huerta 4. Alicia Solis Dodson 5. Photo Still of Ciclo Ruido 6. Lynn Lane