About Me
I'm Sofia Reyna (Sofia Lichtenwörther), born on March 29, 2006, in Eisenstadt, and I live with my parents and my older brother in Neufeld an der Leitha. My life took an unexpected turn when I lost my sight in my second year of life due to a benign brain tumor. Since then, I’ve had to replace all my hormones with medication. But where one door closed, another opened: After many hospital stays & surgeries, music quickly became a huge part of my life. It’s my escape, my safe space, and in music, my illness doesn’t matter – it’s where I can just be myself.
After finishing primary school in Neufeld, I attended NMS Theresianum and graduated in 2024 from the Theresianum High School in Eisenstadt, specializing in music. In September 2024, a long-awaited dream finally came true: I started my vocal studies at Jam Music Lab University at the Gasometer in Vienna.
My musical journey
After years of music lessons at the local music school, I started writing my first original song in the fall of 2021. I sang, played guitar, and quickly realized: this is what I want to do. My very first song, "Until You Came Along," which I wrote for my boyfriend at the time, led me to participate in the Song Challenge organized by the Burgenland Youth Department. The jury’s positive feedback was a huge motivation to keep going. In 2023, my song "Never Known You Before" won the Newcomer Award – an unforgettable moment!
Shortly after, the Hilfsgemeinschaft der Blinden (Support Community for the Blind) discovered me and has been supporting me ever since with vocal coaching and my first professional song productions. Through them, I met the incredible singer & vocal coach MisSis, who has been guiding me with her energy and expertise to take my voice to the next level.
Breakthrough with Going Under & the Road to London
My first professionally produced song, MI VIDA (Spanish for "My Life"), became a catchy tune and earned me 3rd place at the 2024 Song Challenge. Then, in 2025 the impossible happened! I managed to win the Song Challenge - this time, with my debut single GOING UNDER!! Huge thanks to my producer, Bernhard Krinner from Strasshof, who made it all possible!
But that was just the beginning: At a workshop by the LJR Burgenland, I met JERRY MEEHAN, the bassist for Robbie Williams. What started as an inspiring conversation about one of my songs turned into an incredible opportunity. In February 2025, I went to London with my parents and my vocal coach to record three of my songs at Jerry’s studio, Wendyhouse Productions – in the same studio where Adele has recorded. It was a magical moment!
My first Album!
My debut album "Half a Girl" was released on November, 21st 2025!
Looking back, creating my album felt like a long journey & at times like an emotional rollercoaster. „Half a Girl“ is the most personal and autobiographical of the ten songs. During my school years, I often felt misunderstood and like an outsider because of my blindness, since my classmates didn’t know how to approach me or how to interact with me. That’s why I constantly had the feeling of not being like the others – more like “half a girl.” Music has always been my safe space – a place where my blindness makes no difference and where I feel secure. Through the two years of intense work I put into the songwriting and production of the album, I was able to process the thoughts and emotions from that time. My album makes me proud and gives me the confidence that there is so much more within me than just “half a girl.”
Thanks to the support of the Hilfsgemeinschaft, this dream is finally becoming a reality!
