By: Natalia J.
Siberian singer, Sophia Mengrosso, delves into the duality of self and life experiences in her new album “Unforgiven.” She blends both instrumentation and themes that reflect contrasting facets of the human mind. Sophia explores the tension between forgiving herself and feeling unforgiven, using rich lyrical imagery paired with a unique fusion of operatic vocals, hard rock, and alternative metal.
Trained in classical music as a child, Sophia is an opera singer, composer, pianist, and also plays the harp. She developed an appreciation for hard rock and heavy metal early on, captivated by the power and emotional intensity these genres can create. Inspired by bands like Evanescence, she loved how they creatively merged classical notes with gothic rock. Sophia envisioned combining her operatic vocals—a style traditionally viewed more as regal and elegant—with the darker, more intense tones of gothic rock and metal. “Unforgiven” uniquely embodies this juxtaposition both in musical and emotional composition.
The album chronicles Sophia’s internal battles, marked by love, pain, loss, and gain. Between the inner demon dialogues, heartbreak, and the desire for love and inner peace, she contemplates whether certain aspects of her life are forgivable or forever haunting. The journey begins with the song “Dream,” which captures the gripping feeling of being trapped in a false reality: “I can’t see, I can’t believe, I can’t breathe, I can’t feel,” lyric fragments that convey the desperation for freedom and the realization that sometimes the path you’re on doesn’t feel real.
A favorite lyric she mentions from the album, “Put me under, give me another dose; when I feel nothing, then you love me most,” captures the numbness of trying to be the person her lover wants her to be. The further she separates from her actual self, the more pain she feels in the growing gap until she feels nothing—and only then is she loved. In reflection of that pain, Sophia shares that real love often involves freeing yourself from relationships that no longer align with you, and she emphasizes the importance of “letting go.”
From life to song, drifting in and out of reality, in and out love, the title track, “Unforgiven,” serves as another emotional peak (or valley) of the album. Filled with dramatic and vivid imagery, she sings, “tears that fall like crystal rain,” illustrating the depth and complexity of Sophia’s inner turmoil. She explores themes of societal challenges, feeling unaccepted, and the struggle of being different. Yet, in isolation, she finds solace in music—where the soul can feel bigger than life itself.
When asked about her favorite part of making the album, Sophia said she loved becoming completely immersed in the creative process. She describes the feeling as parallel to diving, another favorite world of hers, where submerging into water makes time feel suspended, where you can explore alternative perspectives and feelings. She said she loved being underwater and looking up at the sun, as it reminds her of our smallness in such a vast universe. This duality of being a small part of the world while also possessing the power to be big encompasses not just the spirit of “Unforgiven” but also that of Sophia Mengrosso.
“Unforgiven” is available on all streaming platforms. Follow Sophia Mengrosso on Instagram for updates on live performances and upcoming remixes!
Instagram: @sophia_mengrosso
Listen to “Unforgiven” on Spotify
Published By: Aize Perez
