Artist Spotlight: Sophie Faith
Following her exceptional sold-out headline show at London’s Village Underground, bubbling jazz/soul talent Sophie Faith shared her beautiful 5-track EP The Right Side Of Wrong.
Laced with her signature rawness and honesty, The Right Side Of Wrong EP focuses on the challenges she had to deal with during the pandemic, a time when she had left her label and was living on her own, all while battling with her mental health issues. A vulnerable exploration of the intricacies and moments within relationships, the project also highlights the issues she faced within her family, romance, the testing times that she has overcome and her ability to come out the other end somewhat better for it.
I sat down with Sophie and had a heart to heart about all things music and all things Soph.
What age did you start singing, and how have you developed your voice as you got older
My mum always used to tell me that I sang a lot growing up. I used to spend a lot of time by myself, making up songs, and became part of the evangelical church following my dads passing at a young age. My voice developed through rejoicing but through my teenage years I lost a lot of confidence, cos of teenage shit, and never thought I’d pursue it. I was hairdressing and selling clothes - a proper little Delboy! I used to sit in my room though, and write songs with my guitar not for anyone else. When I was 21 my friend heard me sing and convinced me to sing for Felix Joseph and everything went from there really. Following that I got my first feature with Coops. My humble beginnings started doing hooks for rappers and Coops helped me massively - he believed in me before I believed in myself.
Your latest EP Right Side Of Wrong came out 25th November, what’s the reaction been to the project?
Bro, it’s been crazy! I’ve been sat on these songs for nearly two years and when I left my label, Jermaine (Stormzy’s cousin) took a liking to me and gave me a half written Heart On My Sleeve. I felt so blessed, like they gave a dog a bone. I was ready to pack it all in, music had taken a toll on my mental health all the friendships that become business is a scary territory. I called up Linden after they gave me the song and said “Stormzy’s given me a song you wanna lay it down?” I got some of my friends to help vocally to create a choir feel and the vibe has pretty much unchanged. A few tweaks here and there but all the songs are quite true to their original form.
The emotions touched on are very raw and honest - what’s your process behind recording music? Is it a cathartic place to tell your story or a place to reflect on your observations of things you’ve seen?
A lot of crying! This project is solely about me - unashamedly. I suffer with mental health illnesses. I was diagnosed with ADHD at 11 and Bipolar when I was 17. I didn’t want to expose myself because I thought I’d be perceived as crazy but actually it’s a super power. If you take your skillset and flip it into away from the stigma that society might have attached to it it allows you come out stronger. I usually record when i’m in the peak of the storm (emotionally), if I’m going through a break up i’m there and that is how you get the magic even if it’s difficult at the time. Peaky Blues for example I think I sound really weak on there - I’d just had the fattest row with my boyfriend and I thought it was finished. I can hear the argument on my voice and that is the essence. Got to make it feel real.
How did the EP’s name come about ? And how do you see the line between right and wrong - is it black and white or is it blurred?
I’ve been a naughty girl - I won’t lie. These last three years I’ve felt like I had imposter syndrome I’ve lived in hostels and been around kids that got out of juvenile centres. I know now I can leave that behind, not forgetting where I’ve come from, I’m not a squeaky little soul singer. The right side of wrong - I spent a lot of time sad in bed which led to the art work. Im not prettying it up I’m always on the edge of making a better life for myself but I don’t know what side of the bed I’m going to wake up on. It’s been a real journey.
Your music is very touching - soup for the soul almost! Who did you listen to growing up?
My influences growing up in the countryside were Motown because of my grandparents catalogue, Lauryn Hill, Big Mama Thornton because of my stepdad. In my teenage years, my friends dad Paul Fisher had the craziest vinyl collection of Erykah Badu, Donnie Hathaway, Stevie Wonder and we used to bunk school vibing to it. I’m also lucky to have picked partners and friends who have great music taste - it’s a very attractive trait if a man has good music taste. Old school jazz like Etta James and Billie Holliday who sing their pain so bluntly. Female empowerment music, I’m all for it but I’m also a romantic when I love a man I’m vulnerable which leads in to my music.
How would you describe your music to someone whose never heard of you before?
If you're calling it soul because I’m showing my soul then yeah, I’m a soul singer. I love 90s RnB type of music and alternative music as well. I’m scared I’m going to get pigeon holed and only given Amy Winehouse type songs. When I was working in Mexico with Nobu we were doing Brent Faiyaz kind of tracks. This is just a slither of me that I wanted to express - I don’t want people to think I’m a one trick pony. I just love to sing.
Something I Said is a song about communication styles, about getting it wrong, a song about intentions. Are you the friend to be blunt and if so how has that worked out for you?
I’m outspoken and it does get me in trouble sometimes. I think my friends like having me around because we all need someone to not beat around the bush - in lockdown I got in a habit of telling people about themselves. I do have communication issues though and that might be because I’m neurodivergent or maybe I’m just a bit nuts. I have intense emotions that can pop up about things that maybe I shouldn’t get so wound up about and my friends might be like ahhh. I’m aware of myself, I’m aware that I’m a joy to be around when I’m up but a dark cloud when I’m down. I’m not an easy friend to be around but a valuable one nonetheless.
The production of your music is top tier. How do you enjoy working with producers, do you let them do their thing or do you have a big say in the construction of the music?
I’m meticulous, which is why I’ve only dropped singles up until now. Kudos to Linden, his work ethic is crazy and he matches my energy. We live together and he always helps me get back on track and ensuring I’m releasing music which helps me feel so much better. He’s been nominated for 5 Grammy’s - one of the best producers in the country. I can’t always express it using the right music lingo but he gets me and lets me have a say.
How did the run of shows go from October to November?
Unreal. Coming from Brighton I’d never played Brighton. To see all my friends and my parents was wild. Manchester was great too - first time doing it on my own with some great supporting acts: Rosie Charles, Zoe Capri, Nector Wood, Humble the Great, Bailey and Pav and Hutch in Brighton. It felt like it was really happening - the fans that came out and expressed how the music touches them. I just write songs, with my mates, in my room so you never really grasp how far it all goes. Flowers just got put on playlists in America; which is mad!
If you could perform in any country in the world where would you perform and why?
I’d love to perform in America, they really love me out there. Japan as well, the culture and the people, they really love their music. Central and South America. I’m manifesting it man.
Heart On My Sleeve - you touch on having to reluctantly let a relationship go, being at the crossroads, - any advice to anyone going through a situation like that ?
I’ve never told anyone what that song means for me so here’s an exclusive. He wrote it after his split and I was also going through shit at the time. I’ve had a difficult relationship with my mum and my dad died early on in my life which has led to residual feelings of abandonment. I’ve always felt like it takes two. It’s that inner child feeling of if you're hurting me, I gotta take care of myself but also knowing you have to forgive because I can’t live with that grudge for the rest of my life it’d eat away at me. When everyone was with their families during lockdown batting down the hatches I was alone and that was really hard. I was with Lydia, Zoe and Keto after just writing it. I never write but I felt like for this one I had to. I sent a video of me singing it to Jermaine and he told me Stormz loved it. So grateful for him.
Future collaborations, anyone you’d like to work with?
I wanna go to the USA and work with people. Jasmine Sullivan - I’m in the top 1% of her listeners! Yebba as well, that’d be great. I want to song write, I love singing and touring but there’s a shelf life for that so I’m not sure I wanna do that for the next 15 years. I can see myself in a little cottage helping younger singers find their way through music.
What’s next?
The project is coming out on vinyl, putting that on presale and got a tour early next year. Hopefully you’ll be seeing a lot more of me.