Q&A: SOFY Embraces the Mundane in Upcoming EP ‘Bored in Colour (Pt. 1)’
AN ALBUM OF AUTHENTICITY — fusing life’s unremarkable elements with upbeat melodies, SOFY’s music is universally relatable.
Using musical creation to break free from the confines of lockdowns, SOFY embraced this newfound solitude and opts to focus on that which people were deprived of most: the ups and downs of human connections. The outcome is a vibrant and people-focused EP that is fittingly named Bored In Colour (Pt. 1).
SOFY’s style is still in the experimental stage as she dabbles in incorporating a womanly vibe into the musical genres that soundtracked her childhood. London-based and Leicester-born, she began writing songs during the first of many UK lockdowns, allowing her substantially more time than most to work on defining who she is as an artist. Over the year and a half that followed, SOFY’s popularity grew exponentially; her name plastered across national radio stations and tickets for her first headline show that sold out. She is well and truly making a name for herself.
With an aura that encapsulates the feeling of the ever ephemeral British summer, it’s only fitting that this season will see SOFY fulfill any musician's dream: festivals. Performing alongside big names in the UK music scene like Sam Fender, Easy Life, and Sundara Karma, SOFY’s lockdown project is taking off in an almost post-pandemic era.
SOFY spoke to Luna about plunging into the music scene during a global pandemic and the influences behind each of her sickeningly sweet songs.
LUNA: Can you tell us about the EP that you’re releasing soon? What was the process of creating this like?
SOFY: I’d love to! Bored In Colour (Pt. 1) is basically all about finding the magic in the mundane — the songs celebrate both the vibrancy and boredom of life as a 20-something in Britain. I started working on this collection of tracks in Feb. 2021, [when] England was in full lockdown and life was pretty miserable, so I wanted to make something that felt like a bit of escapism; daydreaming about socializing and the various scenarios and emotions that come with that. I wanted to reflect on it as authentically as possible, celebrating all the messy and chaotic and unromantic aspects of life. Hopefully people can see a piece of themselves, their mates, or their dickhead ex in there (laughs).
LUNA: Having started your musical journey so recently, is music a career you ever envisioned for yourself?
SOFY: I’ve always loved music — I was that annoying kid who was always putting on shows in the living room for my parents, just constantly making noise and playing air guitar with a tennis racquet (laughs). But I guess it was only when I started writing songs when I got furloughed during the pandemic that I sort of had that lightbulb moment of wanting to pursue it as a career, because I realized that nothing else in the world has ever made me feel the way writing songs does.
LUNA: What was it like diving into creating music during a pandemic? Do you feel that it hindered or benefited you in any way?
SOFY: Well my story as an artist begins with the pandemic, because I wrote my first song when I was furloughed from my 9–5 in the first lockdown. I think, in a way, the pandemic really helped me, because I had so much time on my hands to work out who I am as an artist and what my sound is. I didn’t think I’d even show it to anyone, let alone end up pursuing it as a full time thing. But I totally fell in love with songwriting and haven’t looked back since. I feel like a bit of a dickhead saying that because the pandemic was such an awful time for so many other artists, and I know it’s a massive privilege to be able to say I had a good experience of it, but I really did, and I’m grateful for that!
LUNA: What influences your music most?
SOFY: People — I’m super fascinated by people and the way we interact, especially in relationships because of all the different nuances that come with that. It basically just makes for an infinite pool of concepts. My life is pretty drama-free so I usually take inspiration from conversations I’ve had with friends or even things I’ve seen or overheard on public transport or just out and about. I’m that creep listening to your argument on the tube and writing in my phone notes about it (laughs).
LUNA: How would you say your music has evolved since you first began creating?
SOFY: I’ve only been writing songs for about 18 months so I still have a lot to learn, but I feel like I’ve really found my lyrical voice now, which is wicked. Recently I’ve been leaning into more of a nostalgic Britpop vibe, but still keeping it within my lane and making sure it has a fresh edge with big hip hop drums and stuff. I’m making it my mission to bring back Britpop because that’s what I grew up on, but I wanna bring it back with an injection of female energy. It feels like a really exciting sound so I can’t wait for you all to hear it.
LUNA: Tell us a bit about your creative process! What goes into making a SOFY song?
SOFY: My main rule when I’m writing is just to enjoy it. I’m super lucky to be good mates with everyone I write with, so it kind of takes the pressure off, because it’s just mates hanging out and doing what we love doing. I usually make sure I go into the session with a concept, and then we kind of build from there, but it totally depends on the vibe of the day. Lyrically, I won’t ever put anything in a song that I wouldn’t say to my mates at the pub or something, so the songs always feel like my authentic voice.
LUNA: You’re playing a few festivals this summer — is this a goal you saw yourself achieving so early on in your creative career?
SOFY: Still can’t believe it! The boys and I are soooo excited to get on the road and play, you honestly have no idea. We’re gonna be like kids in a sweet shop. I honestly didn’t expect to be able to play such big stages so soon, but I have so much confidence in our live set and in the band; we just have the best time playing together, so we can’t wait to bring the chaos to the festival circuit.
LUNA: Your newest song, “Chameleon,” is about romantic partners arguing and splitting during a party. How did the idea to write a song about this come to you?
SOFY: I’m not really sure — we were just playing around with the concept of how people can change their personalities in different social situations. We’ve all been there, right, when the person you’re seeing transforms into someone different when their mates are around. The idea kind of just spiraled from there. The characters in the song are all fictional though (laughs) — so no shade to all the Johnnys in my life.
LUNA: Lastly, the genre of your music is refreshingly unique! How would you personally define the overall vibe of your music?
SOFY: Neo-Britpop with some sweet female energy.
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