SOFY talks about her band's chemistry, full-circle festival moments and bags of wine at Truck Festival 2022

Lilyemma: To start, I think we might have caught a sneak peek of it today, but do you have any pre-show rituals?

SOFY: Not really to be honest, me and the boys always kind of get together and do a little team huddle before we go on but yeah that's about it really. It's quite low-key backstage, nothing crazy going on.

Lilyemma: It's nice to see because you guys all seem really close. We saw you guys doing the huddle before and it really sets a good vibe because it shows you'll all have good chemistry on stage.

SOFY: Yeah, we're all best friends so it definitely is so special playing live together. It's never not fun. Even if there's no one in the crowd, we always just have such a good time together. Yeah, we love it.

Eliz: Do you think that having a cohesive aesthetic helps to create more of a performance, more than just for fans watching you on stage. You know with the matching outfits and everything - do you think that affects things?

SOFY: Yeah, I think so. It's kind of cool because it means the boys are a huge part of the live act. I never wanted to be one of those solo artist - no shade - who just has a session musician band, plays a set and then goes off and doesn't speak to them until the next rehearsal. We're all like best friends and they're such a massive part of the live show that I want everyone to see them as well as me. Also, it's just fun. Having such a unit on stage and everyone knowing we're such a team, and I think it rubs off on the crowd because it feels like we're all just having fun together as a big group. It's a big group part - that's what a SOFY show is.

Eliz: Yeah, I think the fashion can really make a difference, because I saw on Instagram your aesthetic of you guys, before even hearing your music. And it really draws you in.

SOFY: Aw, thank you - that means something's working, so that's good!

Lilyemma: Was there any inspiration behind your fashion choices, or is it just what looks good?

SOFY: I always wear football shirts on stage. I don't really know how it started, I think it was because my first show was during the Euros last year, and it just kind of stuck. So I always wear a football shirt for that reason. The boys... It was actually Sam, my guitarist, who had an idea to put us all in boilers. Then I was like "well it has to be pink" because all the SOFY shit has been pink because of 'Strawberry Milkshake'. So yeah, it just kind of came from there and then spiralled out of control. Now we've got short boilers, long boilers, maybe we'll change colours at some point... Who knows!

Eliz: And it's even eye-catching seeing you before you go on, just walking across in full pink. You just stand out!

SOFY: Yeah, I think that actually really works though. Because we're a small band, it helps at big festivals, especially at Glastonbury, we were walking around in the boilers and everyone was like "Oh my god, why are you wearing that?" And, we were like "Oh well actually we're playing at this stage at 2pm", and people would come because they'd seen us. So it definitely works to just draw people into the band, like you said.

Eliz: It's literally working right now, over there!

[SOFY's band enters the Press Area and we all greet them. We invite them to come and join us for the rest of the interview.]

Lilyemma: We were just talking about the matching outfits!

SOFY: Here they are! The men of the moment!

Eliz: Definitely eye-catching, as you can all see!

[The four-piece band introduce themselves as we all try to squeeze into the camera frame.]

Lilyemma: We read somewhere about you taking music more seriously over lockdown. Do you think you still would have taken that plunge if it wasn't the pandemic?

SOFY: I don't think so, you know? Because I've always loved music but I had never really thought that I could write songs, because I don't really have any music theory or music training, or anything. So I was like "Oh, I probably couldn't do that." But then in lockdown I had so much time on my hands so I was like "okay let me see if I can give it a go." And I used to build beats out of samples from Splice because then you don't have to actually play any instruments, and I sort of fell in love with the lyricism and the vocal top line side of things. And then obviously now I've got these guys to do all the instrument stuff for me. So, to answer your question, I don't think I would have gotten into it without lockdown, so I'm very grateful for lockdown to push me to do something that I wanted to do.

Lilyemma: And I guess then, it's good as well to have such a close relationship with your band, to kind of help pull in places where you feel you might be weaker. It helps to have friends as well as almost co-workers.

Ed: Colleagues!

SOFY: Oh yeah, colleagues! Yeah, no. I would be nothing without these guys. Every time I step out on stage, knowing we're all together takes away all the nerves. And as I was saying earlier, we just have so much fun that it doesn't matter if we're playing to an empty carpark, we'll still have a great time. It's just the best. I'm so grateful, I love them all.

Eliz: We were talking a little bit before about how you're a fellow Leicesterian. I feel like Lilyemma is an honorary Leicesterian now because I'm always dragging her there. It's obviously great to see emerging talent from the area - you, Mahalia, easy life. Do you feel like growing up there and midlands in general has influenced the type of music you make?

SOFY: Kind of, I actually would say the more of my influences come from my parents and their music they were listening to. So they listened to a lot of Brit-Pop like Blur, Oasis and that lot. But then obviously, easy life - massive inspiration for me. They're over there somewhere so I've been trying to catch them all day, but I don't want to look like an idiot. But yeah, I feel like, knowing those guys were coming up through the Leciester scene, it's really inspiring. And I saw them on the Pyramid Stage at Glastonury and it was so cool. So yeah, lots of gigs at The Cookie back in the day, when I was younger. And sneaking into De Montford Hall; I watched McFly at De Montford Hall, when I was younger too.

Eliz: I watched McFly at De Montford Hall, as well, so we might have been at the same one.

SOFY: Awesome, yeah it probably was the same one!

Eliz: Oh yeah, I feel that about The Cookie though, because I used to work there and I was like 14. And I'd take sneak peeks at who was playing that night.

SOFY: Yeah, love it, RIP.

Lilyemma: Are there any other smaller artists that you'd like to spotlight. Now that you're getting more of this platform. Are there any that spring to mind that you'd like to bring with you?

SOFY: Shout out to Distance Learning over here, Ed and James' own band. They're sick, they're kind of hip-hop-y, indie-esque vibes as well. My boyfriend is also in a band in Leicester called Mouth Culture, and they're also sick. So, yeah, Distance Learning and Mouth Culture - big up, big up!

Eliz: You said you went to Glastonbury: are you a big festival-goer? Do you have any festival memories, big highlights or anything?

SOFY: You know what, the first time I ever went to a festival was Latitude in 2013 and I remember watching Foals and that was amazing. And then I played Latitude yesterday and Foals were headlining, which was a full-circle moment. Really cool. And, yeah, Glastonbury this year was the first time I've ever gone - and we played, which was insane. Love festivals, most of the time I don't remember much about them though because I get to drunk and then forget.

Eliz: But that means you've had a good time!

Lilyemma: Yeah, I feel like for better or for worse, drinking is such a big part of the British festival scene. What are your go-to cocktails, is there one that you go towards? Or is it pints-only at a festival?

SOFY: At Glastonbury, we were doing the old rum and Coke in the big bottle. That was good, wasn't it? James actually went blind after..

James: Temporarily!

SOFY: I don't know... What were we drinking at Glastonbury?

[The band answer in unison, with a mixture of 'tinnies!' with 'bags of wine!']

SOFY: Bags of wine! Bags of wine is a great shout because you can get it out of the cardboard then it's just a bag. You can carry it with you, sip sip. Put it in your tote bag. Seltzers, as well. I do like an espresso martini, though, if I am going to have a cocktail.

Lilyemma: Because it perks you up as well, because it has coffee in it!

SOFY: Yes, exactly. Definitely needed on a Sunday at a festival.

Eliz: Another one, just on the spot. If you were given the aux for one song, what would you play? And, everyone's gonna judge you on it, so it's got to be a good one.

SOFY: It'll be 'One Love' by Blue.

[We all laugh with the occasional groan from SOFY's bandmates.]

Eliz: That is so rogue!

SOFY: They all thought I was going to say 'Life is a Highway' by Rascall Flatts, but it's one of the two. 'Life is a Highway' if we're in the car, 'One Love' if we're doing anything else.

Lilyemma: I overheard that at the silent disco last night as I walked past!

SOFY: Love it, love it.

Lilyemma: We saw your set earlier, it was amazing! But for anyone considering seeing you guys live, how would you convince them to come check you out and show their support?

SOFY: Oh wow, I would say it's great vibes, it's boisterous, it's loud, it's fun. And Sam sometimes takes his top off, so that's all the incentive you need.

[The bandmates agree and James wolf-whistles in Sam's direction.]

Lilyemma: Amazing, well I definitely would recommend going to see you guys because it was great!

Eliz: Yeah, thanks so much for coming!

SOFY: Thank you guys, catch you back in London for a pint!