Sophia Urista is an American singer, songwriter, and rock vocalist best known as the frontwoman of the New York-based brass cover band Brass Against.
She first gained national attention in 2016 when she competed on Season 11 of The Voice as a member of Miley Cyrus’ team.
Sophia Urista Quick Facts
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Sophia Urista |
| Born | November 1, 1985, Detroit, Michigan, USA |
| Age | 40 years old (as of 2026) |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | Mexican American / African American |
| Profession | Singer, Songwriter |
| Band | Brass Against |
| Spouse | Jess King (married March 2021) |
| Children | Lucien Urista King (b. 2022), Afiza Maria Urista King (b. 2023) |
| Net Worth | $7 million (est. as of 2026) |
Who is Sophia Urista?
Sophia Urista is an American rock singer and songwriter from Detroit, Michigan.
She serves as the lead vocalist of Brass Against, a nine-piece New York-based collective known for brass-infused protest covers of bands like Rage Against the Machine, Tool, and Audioslave.
Long before joining Brass Against, Urista built her stage presence as an MC and performer at cabaret and burlesque venues across New York City.
That raw performance background shaped the powerful, unfiltered energy she brings to every show.
She became a nationally recognized name in 2016 after joining Team Miley on The Voice.
Later, a viral 2021 festival incident brought her renewed global attention and sparked widespread conversation about performance boundaries in live music.
Urista has cited Betty Davis and Tina Turner as key musical influences, and she draws from a heritage rooted in both Mexican American and African American culture.
Early Life of Sophia Urista
Sophia Urista grew up in Detroit, Michigan, a city long associated with Motown soul, hard rock, and a fierce independent music spirit.
Her parents were not supportive of a career in entertainment, but that opposition never dimmed her drive to perform.
Despite the resistance at home, Urista held onto her dream of becoming a singer throughout her childhood. She reportedly always knew performing was her calling.
At 21, with only $700 in her pocket, she packed up and moved to New York City to pursue music on her own terms. That leap of faith set the course for her entire career.
Sophia Urista Age / Birthday
Sophia Urista is 40 years old as of 2026, born on November 1, 1985. Her zodiac sign is Scorpio, a sign often associated with intensity and magnetic stage presence.
Those qualities have defined her live performances from cabaret stages to major music festivals.
Sophia Urista Ethnicity and Nationality
Sophia Urista holds American nationality, born and raised in Detroit, Michigan.
She is of Mexican American and African American heritage, a background she has cited as a direct influence on her music and artistic identity.
That dual cultural foundation runs through the soulful, hard-edged sound she brings to Brass Against’s protest rock.
Sophia Urista Height and Weight
Sophia Urista stands at approximately 5 feet 5 inches (1.65 m). Her exact weight has not been publicly confirmed.
On stage, her physical presence is amplified by an intense, full-body performance style that commands attention in large venues and festival settings alike.
Sophia Urista Musical Style and Influences
Urista’s voice blends gritty rock power with deep soul roots. She has cited Betty Mabry (Betty Davis) and Tina Turner as her primary influences, two artists known for breaking conventions in performance and sound.
That influence shows in how she approaches covers. Rather than simply replicating originals, she remakes them with rawness and improvisation, making each performance feel live and unpredictable.
Her Mexican American and African American heritage also shapes her musical instincts.
The blend of soul, blues, and protest music tradition runs directly into what Brass Against does as a band.
Sophia Urista Education
Sophia Urista completed her schooling in Detroit, Michigan. She reportedly attended college, with sources indicating she studied at the University of Michigan.
After moving to New York City following her college years, she began building her music career from the ground up rather than pursuing a conventional professional path.
Sophia Urista Career
Early Career and New York Hustle (Pre-2016)
After arriving in New York City at 21, Urista spent her first years immersing herself in the city’s performance underground.
She worked as a host and MC at burlesque and cabaret shows at well-known New York venues.
That circuit sharpened her stage instincts and introduced her to serious performers. Before auditioning for The Voice, she appeared at the Brooklyn Hip-Hop Festival.
She also received mentorship from music legend Quincy Jones during this period, a connection that reflected her growing reputation in New York’s music community.
A turning point came when she won a karaoke contest. In her own words from a VoyageLA interview, winning that contest set her directly on her path as a professional singer.
It was the moment that converted passion into vocation.
The Voice Season 11 (2016)
In September 2016, Sophia Urista auditioned for Season 11 of NBC’s The Voice, performing her blind audition in front of coaches Miley Cyrus, Alicia Keys, Adam Levine, and Blake Shelton.
Both Cyrus and Keys turned their chairs. Urista chose Team Miley, with Cyrus winning her over by playing a surprise video message from Dolly Parton.
She advanced through the Battle Rounds, defeating Josette Diaz on Team Miley with a performance of Ann Peebles’ “I Can’t Stand the Rain.”
The Hollywood Reporter noted that Keys described her as having a “special, unique energy” during an earlier round.
Urista was ultimately eliminated before the live shows finals, but her run put her in front of a national television audience for the first time.
Brass Against and Breakthrough (2017-Present)
Following The Voice, Urista joined Brass Against, a collective founded by guitarist Brad Hammonds.
The band formed in 2017 as a response to the political climate, building a sound around brass-driven covers of politically charged rock songs. Urista became the group’s main lead vocalist and frontwoman.
Brass Against toured Europe twice in 2018 and 2019, including 12 sold-out shows on their first European tour.
The band released the Brass Against EP on April 10, 2020, featuring original material alongside their signature cover work.
Their growing catalog spans Rage Against the Machine, Tool, Audioslave, and Black Sabbath cover recordings.
In September 2020 in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, Urista used the live debut of her solo single “Everything About You” to propose to her then-partner Jess King in front of the audience.
That moment also marked her as an artist with solo ambitions beyond the band.
In November 2021, during a Brass Against performance at the Welcome to Rockville festival in Daytona Beach, Florida, Urista urinated on a consenting fan onstage during the band’s cover of Rage Against the Machine’s “Wake Up.”
The incident went viral worldwide. Brass Against issued an apology, stating that Urista had gotten “carried away,” and the band briefly paused performances afterward.
Urista also issued a personal statement acknowledging that she had pushed too far that night.
She returned to performing in Brooklyn shortly after and continued with Brass Against’s touring schedule.
Sophia Urista Wife
Sophia Urista is married to Jess King, a Peloton fitness instructor, dancer, and social media personality.
The two met at a cabaret nightclub in New York City in 2015, when King had just started working at Peloton.
Urista proposed to King in September 2020 during a live performance of her single “Everything About You” in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.
The couple celebrated seven years together in January 2022. They married in March 2021 in a small, private ceremony surrounded by close friends, which King called their “incredible chosen family.”
King publicly announced the marriage in early 2023. Their wedding anniversary falls on March 13.
Sophia Urista Children
Sophia Urista and Jess King became parents for the first time in late 2022. Their son, Lucien “Luz” Urista King, was born on November 16, 2022.
King first announced her pregnancy during a live Peloton ride in May 2022.
Their daughter, Afiza Maria Urista King, was born on July 15, 2023, just eight months after Lucien.
Sophia announced the pregnancy in February 2023 via Instagram, sharing that the couple was expecting a baby girl that summer.
Together, Urista and King are raising two young children while both maintaining active careers.
Sophia Urista Net Worth
Sophia Urista’s estimated net worth is $7 million as of 2026. Her income comes primarily from her work as lead vocalist of Brass Against, which has toured extensively across the United States and Europe.
Additional income streams include royalties from the band’s catalog of recorded covers, performance fees from major festivals like Welcome to Rockville, and her solo music work, including the single “Everything About You.”
Before her rise with Brass Against, she also earned income as an MC and performer at cabaret and burlesque venues in New York City.
Sophia Urista Social Media
Urista is active on Instagram at @sophiaurista. She has also maintained a presence on Twitter and Facebook, both linked from her official website at SophiaUrista.com.
Her YouTube channel, which she created in January 2011, has featured performance videos throughout her career.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old is Sophia Urista?
Sophia Urista is 40 years old as of 2026, born on November 1, 1985, in Detroit, Michigan.
What is Sophia Urista’s net worth?
Her estimated net worth is $7 million as of 2026, built primarily through her career with Brass Against and live performance work.
Who is Sophia Urista married to?
She is married to Jess King, a Peloton fitness instructor. The two met in 2015 and wed in March 2021 in a private ceremony.
Does Sophia Urista have children?
Yes. She and wife Jess King have two children: son Lucien “Luz” Urista King, born November 2022, and daughter Afiza Maria Urista King, born July 2023.
What band is Sophia Urista in?
She is the lead vocalist of Brass Against, a New York-based collective that performs brass-infused covers of protest rock songs by bands like Rage Against the Machine and Tool.
Was Sophia Urista on The Voice?
Yes. She competed on Season 11 of The Voice in 2016 as a member of Team Miley, advancing through the Blind Auditions and Battle Rounds before being eliminated ahead of the live shows.
Conclusion
Sophia Urista built her career the hard way, arriving in New York City at 21 with almost nothing and working her way through the city’s underground performance scene before landing a national television audience on The Voice and a global one with Brass Against.
Her voice, her story, and her unfiltered approach to performing have kept her name in the conversation long after any single moment of controversy.