Meet Sophia Warren: singer-songwriter, activist, and rebel heart. With her newest EP Adesso, she leans into raw emotion and radical honesty, crafting songs that are messy, real, and deeply human. When she’s not making music, Sophia is fighting for animals through the nonprofit she co-founded, Animal Defenders Alliance. From challenging unethical rescue practices to rescuing dogs from crisis situations, her mission is as bold as her sound. Read more below as Sophia opens up about her journey in music, the stories behind Adesso, and why she refuses to stay quiet—onstage or off.

Where are you based?
Austin, Texas

What inspired you to pursue a career in music?
As a pre-teen, I began to experience anxiety and depression. I found comfort in emo bands like My Chemical Romance and Panic! at the Disco. I discovered a space where other people were feeling exactly the same. I wanted to give back a small bit of what these incredible musicians had given me.

What was the moment that inspired or sparked your idea for Adesso?
Bloodstone, my first EP, delves into a lot of external experiences. I was never focused on myself, in Adesso (EP 2) I wanted to take an inward look at how these situations have affected me and the person I am today. The good, the bad and the ugly.

You've described Adesso as a coming-of-age story told by a “rebel heart.” What does that rebellion look like sonically and spiritually on this EP?
Rebellion on this EP isn't about flipping tables. It's about finally letting myself be real. Sonically, it’s raw, unfiltered, and sometimes uncomfortable. I stopped trying to sound perfect and just told the truth. Spiritually, it’s me refusing to water myself down to be more ‘palatable.’ Adesso is messy, emotional, and kinda brave in its own quiet way. It’s me saying: I'm not here to be small anymore.

This is your second EP, which is when artists usually choose to define their sound. Do you feel like Adesso is a declaration of who you are, or more of a transitional step into what is next?
I am always trying to grow and become a better artist, constantly expanding and trying something new. I feel with Adesso, I've found a deeper connection with the instrumentals. More raw in tone and vibe. I try to be as raw and as true to my expression in the moment but it's constantly flowing.

Was there a shift in how you approached your songwriting emotionally or structurally that differs from your first time around?
I have a pretty defined way I like to write. I usually start from something really specific I've felt and build out from there. That hasn't changed. But emotionally, this time I wasn't afraid to go deeper or sit in the discomfort. Structurally, I let myself be more fluid. If a lyric felt raw or weird or too much, I left it.

Are your songs drawn from specific memories, or are they more emotional composites over time?
Both. Some songs are straight from a moment I can't forget. Others are stitched together from years of the same feeling showing up in different ways. Either way, it’s all real.

We love that you founded Animal Defenders Alliance (ADA) to challenge the status quo in animal rescue. What inspired the ADA?
We started ADA because we were tired of watching dogs get failed by the very systems claiming to save them. The cruelty, the coverups, the lack of oversight, it lit a fire in us. Now we’re taking that fight to the federal level, demanding real accountability and laws that actually protect animals.

What gaps or failures did you feel existing organizations were not addressing? How is ADA stepping in differently?
Since 2024, we've stepped in to help well over 100 dogs who were “rescued” only to be dumped, neglected, or left to die. The system was failing, and the silence was deadly. At ADA, we show up differently: fully transparent, boots on the ground, and fighting for federal oversight.

You have talked about unethical rescue practices that oftentimes go unchecked. What are some examples of this? What systems of transparency and accountability has ADA put into place to avoid falling into the same traps?
We've seen rescues collect donations for dogs they never vet, leave them in boarding for months, sometimes years call it “saving.” No follow-up. No accountability. At ADA, we do it differently. We post every dog, every estimate, every bill, and every outcome good or bad. Because the truth matters more than appearances & trust is built through transparency, not performance.

You co-founded ADA with your mother. How has family played a role in shaping your sense of responsibility to animals and justice?
My mom’s been fighting for animals since before I can remember. She taught my brother and me that animals aren’t “less than” they deserve our protection, our empathy, and our voice. That shaped everything in me. Co-founding ADA with her wasn't just about rescue, it was about carrying forward something she planted in us early on.

We love that you also work with CUDDLY, which seems to be a lifeline for animals in crisis. How did this partnership come about?
When we started ADA, we were looking for a reputable partner, someone we could trust when fundraising for vet care and supplies. CUDDLY stood out because they only work with vetted, ethical organizations. That kind of integrity matters to us. It’s been a lifeline for the dogs we fight for.

You have recently helped 14 Chihuahuas from a hoarding cause in the Rio Grande Valley. This sounds like a crazy story! Can you tell us a bit more about how this all went down? How did CUDDLY support that rescue?
We usually get the call when it’s one of the worst cases, rescues or street feeders reaching out because no one else will help. This hoarding case in the Rio Grande Valley was one of them. Fourteen Chihuahuas crammed in filth, barely surviving. They needed everything: vetting, food, meds, supplies. CUDDLY stepped in immediately. They helped cover their supplies and supported our campaign to raise the rest. It was truly lifesaving.

How do you decide which cases get featured on CUDDLY, and what is it like emotionally to choose between animals in desperate situations?
We usually call in CUDDLY when it’s a large group of dogs in crisis, situations where we need to raise serious funds fast for vetting, supplies, or transport. Choosing which cases to feature is gut-wrenching. They’re all desperate. But we prioritize the ones with no safety net. The emotional toll is heavy, every time we choose one, we're thinking about the others we couldn’t help. It weighs on us, but we keep showing up.

Bully breeds are oftentimes misunderstood and criminalized. What kind of outreach or
education are you and The Bully Sanctuary implementing to change the narrative?
At ADA, we make sure our bully breeds are seen, not just as the stereotypes, but as the loyal, loving dogs they are. We share their stories openly, from the trauma they’ve survived to the joy they bring in the right homes.

The Bully Sanctuary doesn’t have any specific program to address the bias. Instead, they promote positivity and giving chances. They’re starting to hit the road to show the country why bully breeds can make fantastic companion dogs and why their nature is that of love of loyalty, creating a strong impact on positive pet-owner relationships.

Breed discrimination is still a huge issue in shelters and housing, have you worked on policy or community programs with the Bully Sanctuary to address that kind of systematic bias?
We haven’t worked on policy yet, but we talk to people every day especially because we have three bullies in our own home. Breed discrimination is still a massive issue, from shelters to housing. Just having them with us opens up constant conversations. Education happens in real time. We use our platform to push back on the fear and bias, and to show who these dogs really are: loyal, smart, and worth fighting for.

You currently have five rescue dogs — one of whom is paraplegic. Can you tell us about them? How did they come into your life?
We have five rescue dogs, each a reflection of why ADA exists. Kira survived parvo and came to us as a medical foster, but with her neurological issues, we knew she’d be hard to place. So we kept her. Fawn was found emaciated and abused on the streets of Dallas. She was on the euth list, and we knew we had to save her. Now she’s the mama of the house. Chevy, our paraplegic boy, was abandoned at a vet hospital by an unethical rescue. When they tried to dump him at a shelter, we stepped in. We hoped to place him in a sanctuary, but most are full so he’s with us, safe. Leia was a street dog too, but she found me and she’s never left my side. Thelma was used for donations and discarded by a rescue when she was no longer convenient. Now she’s part of our pack. Every one of them was failed by a system that’s supposed to protect them. That’s why we fight for transparency, accountability, and the animals left behind.

The story of your paraplegic pup is heartbreaking, can you please share it with our readers? What was it like emotionally when you found out what happened to him, and how has he healed with you?
Chevy was hit by a car and left on the side of the road, paralyzed. A rescue stepped in, raised funds for his care & then abandoned him at a vet hospital, never paying the bill. We got the call: if no one took him, he’d be dumped at the shelter. So we said yes. He came to us with nothing. No wheelchair. No supplies. He was so sad, it was heartbreaking. It was devastating, but we knew he deserved better. Since then, Chevy has taught us more than we ever imagined. He’s found joy again. He’s learned to trust. And in the process, he’s healed us as much as we’ve healed him.

Do you ever write songs inspired by your dogs or moments you share with them, either directly or indirectly. Are they present in your creative world too?
Not in a direct way, but the vibe they bring definitely finds its way into my creative world. Like, they're always around when I'm writing bringing this calm, grounding energy that probably shapes how the music feels. So while they're not the focus, they're definitely part of the atmosphere that helps the songs happen.

It has been a crazy past few years, and we suspect at least four more. How have you been staying positive?
I try to stay present. When the future feels overwhelming, I bring it back to what I can do today: write one good verse, call a friend, eat something that makes me happy, or just breathe through it. That’s how I’ve been keeping a little light on, even when things feel dark.

What is your motto in life?
To be cringe is to be free.

To learn more about Sophia Warren, please check out the links below:
SophiaWarrenMusic On Instagram, Tiktok and, YouTube.
BullySanctuaryTX On Instagram or BullySanctuary.Org
AdaAnimalJusticeNow On Instagram or AnimalDefendersAlliance.Org

Raw, Real, and Unapologetically Herself: Sophia Warren on Music, Rescue, and the Quiet Rebellion of Telling the Truth