On the Road with Sophia Chang, “the Baddest Bitch in the Room"
Audible book Memoir is Primo Streaming Material
photo courtesy of Sophia Chang
Sophia Chang described time spent in LA traffic as “total fuckery.” She hates cars, but has a lot to say about them. Chang’s candid approach to all things business, art, and culture is why her memoir The Baddest Bitch in the Room is a must stream over 7 and half hours of commuting time, released by Audible in partnership with Reese Witherspoon’s Hello Sunshine.
Chang has all the street cred that makes for captivating and inspirational material. She is a self-described “music business matriarch” and managed ODB, RZA, GZA, Q Tip, A Tribe Called Quest, Raphael Saadiq, and D'Angelo. She held roles at major labels at Atlantic, A&R at Jive, running A&R Admin and Operations at Universal. She was acting GM of Cinematic Music Group, the label and management company for Joey Bada$$. Early in her career, she worked with Paul Simon. She produced runway shows for Vivienne Tam and “Project Runway All Stars." She sold her screenplay to HBO and has developed other film and TV properties. Now she’s launched Unlock Her Potential, a mentorship organization for women of color that has an all-star lineup of dream mentors on board. Chang hates driving, but has strong opinions about what cars are actually cool.
Where are you from and how were cars a part of your growing up experience?
I grew up in Vancouver, Canada, which is very much a car town. You could get your driver's license at 16 and we all did. My father (RIP) had a 66 Chevy Impala. Man, I wish I had that car now. Vancouver is also very temperate, so you could have really nice sports cars that wouldn't get trashed by the snow, terrible streets, and salted roads in the winter. I have a brother who's three years older than me and he was totally into cars, so I was too. I could name every car on the road. I used to draw Porsche 928s when they came out. I grew up in the 70s, so Camaros, Firebirds, and British cars like Triumps and MGs were also really popular. So were all those garbage AMC cars like Pacers and Gremlins.
What is your preferred method of getting around town and why?
Citibike because it's fast and cheap.
Do you own a car and what do you think of it? If you don’t, why not?
I don't and I hate driving now. Even when I go to LA, I spend the money on Ubers and Lyfts because I can't stand driving. It's so stressful.
“”I used to draw Porsche 928s when they came out.””
Tell us about something memorable or crazy that happened to you in a car.
When I was young I fell out of a moving car. There were about 8 of us packed into my father's car, no seatbelts (again, it's the 70s), and we were driving down an unpaved road. Slowly, luckily. I was sitting on an older girl's lap and I remember looking at the car door open. And that shit happens in slow motion for some reason. I remember thinking "Oh, the door is opening, I'm going to fall out." And fall out I did. Wasn't hurt, but I'm sure it scared the shit out of everyone.
Do you think we should give up our cars? Why/why not?
I've never thought about it. I think we should greatly reduce car traffic in Manhattan and improve our public transit system so that people from the boroughs who work in the city can get in quickly, cheaply, and efficiently. I'm not sure how to do it equitably, but I know that because of gentrification, many folx have been pushed farther and farther out, so we have to make sure that their needs are met.
What do you do while you commute or travel?
I'm usually talking on the phone or listening to music or looking at Instagram or Twitter.
What is your dream car?
I think the '56 and '66 hardtop convertible Ford T-Birds are gorgeous, but I don't have "dream" car, per se, because I don't give a fuck about cars like that. Or any luxury item, for that matter.
What is your dream destination?
I would love to go to Bali.
What is your favorite road?
Cornwall Avenue in Vancouver because it skirts English Bay and you get the most breathtaking view of both the water and the mountains.
What is the best color for a car?
Depends, but it it's a sports car, either British racing green or candy apple red.
When you are driving or riding or flying what do you listen to?
Classic R&B and pop. I'm 55.
Do you see yourself in an electric vehicle some day? Why or why not?
You mean owning one? I doubt it. Because I live in NYC and who wants the fucking headache of a car here? If I lived somewhere that required a car like Cali, for sure. My daughter wants to do Environmental Studies and would surely disown me if I drove around in an old 70s gas guzzler.
Finally, when we can all move freely again, where do you want to go?
LA. My folx and my business are out there.