By: Kemberlie Spivey
Photo By Stephanie Saias
Q) “Finish What You Started” is basically the soundtrack to being left on read after undeniable chemistry. What was the exact moment you knew, “Yep, this is a song?”
A) This one, honestly, came out in one sitting (except for the bridge, which the musical force that is Eli Torgersen helped craft). I think the moment I knew it was a song was when the chorus melody came together. It just kept looping in my head and I knew it wouldn’t stop until I’d written the entire song. You know how they say “if you have a song stuck in your head, the best remedy is to listen to the song the whole way through?” I find that sometimes the same thing applies to writing songs. If a new melody gets stuck in my head, it often won’t leave until I turn it into a whole song.
Q) You described the song as having “Casablanca-level chemistry.” What makes someone worthy of that level of chemistry—and what’s the biggest red flag that tells you to run?
A) Case by case basis. You know it when you feel it. It’s usually in the eyes and the banter. As far as red flags go, I fear there are many. Inflated ego and/or entitlement is probably at the top of the list though.
Q) The lyric “turn my head and turn away” is so simple but says SO much. When you’re writing, do you usually start with a clever lyric like that, or does the story come first?
A) Every song is different, but typically the story or sentiment I want to communicate comes before the actual written line.
The creation of this song was kind of weird because it emerged after thinking about the word “mold” a little too long (bear with me). Specifically “mold” as in a container that solidifies a liquid into a given shape. I then thought about a specific person metaphorically carving a mold of themselves in my heart and never filling it in. Then came the line “Find the heart / carve the shape / an impression of your face / will you ever fill it in?”. Then came the rest of the song.
Q) You followed “Finish What You Started” with “Never Write a Love Song Again,” which was born out of the aftermath of a breakup and the surreal experience of simultaneously promoting “Ryan,” a song you wrote about that same relationship while still deeply in love. How does it feel to be so vulnerable in your songs and was it always something you were open to doing?
A) You are not the first person to assume “Never Write A Love Song Again” is a response to “Ryan.” I don’t blame you. I never clarified. I will clarify here and now: it is a direct response to having to promote a song called “You Make Me So Happy I Wanna Die” earlier this year.
I wasn’t always open to being so vulnerable in my songs. It is a scary thing to offer your unfiltered emotional world to people you’ve never met (scarier still, to people you have met). I find that as I get older; however, vulnerability is the quickest path to clarity, healing, and living truthfully.
Q) Your fans turned “Group 7” into an entire community. At what point did you realize, “Wait…this isn’t just a viral moment anymore – these people have formed a whole society?”
A) There was a moment when my entire “For You Page” was populated with Group 7 related videos and commentary and I think that was the moment I realized I had accidentally ignited something way bigger than I’d ever imagined. I still sometimes see Group 7 related videos that have nothing to do with the origin of it all, which is hilarious and awesome. I’m thrilled people have found an unlikely community through it.
Q) Your music has this amazing balance of raw emotion and humor. When you’re writing about something painful, how do you decide whether to cry about it, laugh about it or turn it into a song?
A) It depends on the situation. I often find that pain and humor go hand in hand. I agree with Kurt Vonnegut that laughter is “the soul seeking some relief.”
I’ll often turn something into a song when the emotional circumstances exist somewhere between the lines. I love writing about the grey areas of life. My bread and butter is the liminal space between laughing and crying. There’s so much stuff there.
Q) You went from playing piano for tips at a Los Angeles steakhouse to performing on NBC’s “TODAY” and headlining shows. If you could go back and tell the version of Sophia playing piano at that steakhouse what was coming, what would she say?
A) I’d probably walk in laughing and be like, “Just keep going. It gets so much better. You have no idea. Also, you should probably drink more water in general.”
Q) You’ve gotten co-signs from artists like Olivia Rodrigo, Billie Eilish, FINNEAS, Reneé Rapp and Laufey. Is there a particular artist you’d love to sit down with and write a song with?
A) There are about forty artists on my dream co-writing list, but the number one spot is always reserved for Stevie Wonder.
Q) You’ve toured internationally and opened for some incredible artists. Where are some of your favorite places to perform?
A) I think my favorite place I’ve performed so far was Cologne, Germany. I was the opening act on a tour and I performed solo on my loop station. I’ve never heard a crowd go so wild for someone they’d never heard of. There was a presence and an energy about that particular crowd that I will never forget. It was totally electrifying.
I really love performing anywhere and everywhere, but I especially love traveling to new places and getting to experience and share music with people I otherwise would have never met.
Q) What is one thing you want fans to understand about you – or your music – that they probably wouldn’t know just from listening to your songs or watching you online?
A) I am exactly half introvert, half extrovert. Also, I’m gluten free :-/
Q) Have you been busy working on a full album or is there an EP in the works?
A) I’ve been working on an EP called Sleepwalking at 65 Miles Per Hour, which will be released on November 6th.
Q) What would you like to say to fans and supporters of the wonderful work you continue to do in the music world?
A) Thank you forever for listening to my music. I know your time is precious and I’m grateful that you choose to share some of it with me. Also, thanks for being so cool about my habit of switching genres all the time. You are so chill for that. Hope you’re taking care of yourselves and hope to see you soon. [teary smile]