2017 is a year of new beginnings, and indie-pop artist SØF is ready to make her mark on the music industry with a new sound in hand.
Following a complete rebranding, SØF (who you may know as Sofia Nicole) is back with a fierce new track called ‘Ghosts’. Due for release on January 30, ‘Ghosts’ is edgy, and shows a different, more confident side to the singer.
SØF has already made a splash in the tri-state area, thanks to a series of incredible live performances showcasing her original material. Whilst ‘Ghosts’ is the first new offering, we can also expect to see much more of her this year, with a string of new tracks to follow.
We recently caught up with SØF to talk about her new sound, her first official single ‘Ghosts’, what the year ahead has in store for her and so much more.
Hey SØF! Thanks for speaking to us today. How would you define your sound in five words?
Thanks for having me! I’d have to say: energetic, catchy, sassy, expressive and climactic.
We love your first official single ‘Ghosts’! Can you tell us the inspiration behind it?
Thank you so much! ‘Ghosts’ was written two summers ago when I was going through a bit of a rough patch in my life. I was having a really hard time letting go of something that had happened in the past, and my relationship was suffering for it. I started thinking about how the memories of past relationships can linger and haunt you like ghosts. The song was written as a way to empower myself not to be afraid of those “ghosts” anymore and move on from them.
Any plans for a music video for it?
No, not for this particular single.
You wrote ‘Ghosts’ yourself. What was the songwriting process like, in comparison to other songs you’ve written?
I wrote ‘Ghosts’ a lot quicker than most of my other songs. It was like a massive therapy session- I sat down with my guitar one day and every verse just poured out effortlessly. It only took me a few hours, which was honestly super convenient.
Who would you say are your musical influences?
I have so many! I’m deeply influenced by classic artists and songwriters like The Beatles, Queen, Elton John, Billy Joel…the list goes on. But I also draw a lot of inspiration from rap artists like Kendrick Lamar, Eminem and Kanye, indie-rock artists like Young The Giant, Two Door Cinema Club and Saint Motel, and pop artists like Sia, Rihanna and Ed Sheeran. There’s just so much music out there and so many eclectic genres that I have a hard time pinning down only a few influences.
You recently rebranded yourself, and developed a new sound. What inspired you to make that change?
Honestly, I just grew up a lot. My old sound was developed when I was in high school and I was a very different person back then. I used to be rather reserved and modest, and my sound at the time really echoed that. Life experiences, people I started to surround myself with and hurdles in my musical career really shaped me into the person that I am today. I developed this kind of alter ego onstage- who later became SØF- and she was bold and confident and everything I want to portray all the time, so I decided that my new sound and image would reflect that instead.
What would you say is the biggest difference in your music now?
My new sound is gritty and much more upbeat. While I have a few songs that are slow, like my song ‘Infinity’ for example, my overall sound is super energetic and pretty fast-paced with a lot of indie-rock and pop influences.
Who or what inspired you to start playing music? Or was it something you’ve always been interested in?
I’ve been in love with music and singing for as long as I can remember. When I was a kid, I would sing along to every single song on the radio during long car rides, and I used to put on little “performances” for my teachers in school. I told everyone I wanted to be a famous singer when I grew up, and that never changed.
We hope to see you perform live real soon! What’s your favourite thing about performing?
Definitely the rush! There’s nothing more thrilling to me than performing in front of a huge crowd and just feeding off of their energy. I become a completely different person onstage. It’s the whole alter-ego thing; I feel so animated and confident during live performances.
You’re set to release even more new music this year. What can we expect from your future music?
‘Ghosts,’ in my opinion, is a great first single release because it really gives you a taste of what SØF is all about. It’s fun and upbeat, and it sets the stage for what’s to come. Fans have only heard my songs performed acoustically, so there’s a pretty big difference from what I can show them on just a guitar and the fully produced version that I hear in my head. The producer I worked with, Jerry Ramos of Mercury Recording Studio, really made my vision come to life, and I’m so excited to show everyone what I’ve been working on.
What do you hope that people will take from your music?
The songs that I write are deeply personal and kind of like a look into my diary. I want people to know that self-expression is powerful, and I aim to inspire others to express their own feelings fearlessly. Most importantly, I really hope listeners can relate to the experiences I’ve had and find solidarity in my lyrics.
What else does 2017 have in store for you?
This is going to be an exhilarating year for me, and I’ve got a lot of really exciting projects lined up in the coming months. I can’t give away too much just yet, but aside from the other single releases I have planned, there will be tons of live shows, side-projects, long-distance travelling and hopefully even a few music videos, so stay tuned!
I also debut a brand new SØF Music Monday every single Monday at 7 pm. SMM is a series I created where I upload new content to Facebook on Mondays, ranging from live performances to pre-recorded covers to Q&A’s and more. You can see those on my page. This year is going to be amazing, and I’m so grateful for all of the support I have on this journey. Visit my website, www.sofmusic.com, to keep up with all of my releases!
Thanks to SØF for her time! Be sure to take a listen to ‘Ghosts’ when it’s released on January 30.