Neal Sotelo Talks Sonics Was Taken Upcoming Art Showcase on The Day With Trae
Photos by Jordan Somers
Innovative designer and artist Neal Sotelo joined Trae Holiday for a conversation about Sonics Was Taken, a cultural movement dedicated to reigniting the passion surrounding Seattle Sonics. The movement embodies the community's collective longing to reclaim its beloved team. Scheduled for April 20th, Sonics Was Taken will orchestrate an event celebrating the illustrious history of basketball in Seattle, offering various food, music, and communal spirit featuring a pop-up store. At the heart of this gathering will be a showcase of reimagined Sonics apparel and artwork, prominently featuring Sotelo's distinctive pixelated art style—an homage to his passion for video games.
"We've been promised this team that's been taken away from us for, like, how long? I feel like the future of that team has been left in sort of this ominous shroud of we don't know what's going to happen [or] if we're ever going to get a team," Sotelo said. "That was part of the decision to make that sort of pixelated effect, and throughout the experience, you'll see elements of [the] Sonic's logos, or things from there that have been taken out, and so it leaves a little bit more room for reflection. It's going to be hard to explain. It's easy if you see it."
Sotelo, a versatile creative with a wide array of talents spanning illustration, music, videography, painting, and beyond, crossed paths with his Sonics Was Taken partner, Creative Director Luis Vélez, during their time in design school. United by their shared passion for sneakers, the duo initially collaborated sporadically on various projects before solidifying their partnership.
"This is the first time we've actually worked this closely, and it's kind of been a little bit of a chaotic whirlwind because we're both the same sort of creative animal," Sotelo said. "We're just like mad scientists, so yeah, it's fun."
For their anticipated event on April 20th, Sotelo and Vélez are preparing to celebrate the intersection of basketball, art, and community. With a fusion of creativity and passion at its core, Sotelo hopes to leave attendees feeling inspired and deeply connected.
"In a digital age, it's easy to feel isolated and alone, especially in the creative field, where it's such a vulnerable thing to put yourself out there," Sotelo said. It's nice to be in person with all those people who can help you create your vision, and so I hope that people will come to this event and be like, 'Well, how did you guys do this?' Because we had all these people. It's been a blast."
Explore Sonics Was Taken and secure your tickets for their upcoming event on April 20th by clicking here.
For more stories about artist and creatives putting Seattle on the map, tune into Trae every weekday at 11 a.m. on all Converge Media platforms and The Day With Trae YouTube Channel.
