Sophie Koella, now also known as sofii, released her debut EP today. The New Orleans-born, Paris-based artist has a varied background—to name three disciplines: classical music, jazz, and ballet—and has used that training to focus in on a vocal-driven, ambient-leaning body of music that stretches towards certain feelings of nostalgia, for both the past and the future, that always seem to be on the tip of your brain, right outside of any tangible grasp. We sent a few questions over to the artist. Give it a read, watch the video for EP track "iwtftlf," and listen to I want this feeling to last forever below.

Are there any overarching themes that you think tie together all of the songs on your new EP?

sofii: Nostalgia and aneomia, which is nostalgia of things that have yet to happen.

Could you talk about some of the vocal techniques you used on this EP? What was the recording process like?

I actually recorded almost all the singing vocals and whispers in my bed, with just a microphone and my computer. So I’d say the recording process was very raw and intimate.

 

What is “iwtftlf” about? How did that song come together?

“iwtftlf” is a song about falling in love and wanting that specific feeling to last forever. It was actually the first song that I started writing on the project, and the main anchor of that track (and what it developed from) were the strings, which I found on a VST from Native Instruments, called Playbox.

You sample a voicemail from your grandmother on “Pocket Dial.” What prompted that gesture?

I was looking for an interesting sample to work with, as it’s the only track with no vocals. I decided to deep dive into my voicemails and found this voicemail from her, where we just hear the TV playing. Then I added an excerpt of another voicemail where she says, “hi Sophie.” This was from a time where she still knew how to navigate a phone and call me (which is no longer the case). I wanted to incorporate this familial aspect into the EP, it just made sense.

Do you consider this EP to be ambient music? What role does ambient music play in your life?

I think this EP is definitely ambient-adjacent, but only because I’m really bad at making beats lol. So that’s what I organically made. Since making this EP, I’ve explored more the ambient world and it’s really resonated with me. But I would say it was a totally accidental pairing and discovery.

How does your background in dance inform the music you make?

The ten years I spent in classical ballet definitely inform the music I make today. The way I approach classical and orchestral elements, strings, piano, and percussion, and also composition and arrangements, are all born out of the way my body reacts to classical compositions. 

Who are some of your favorite artists in Paris right now?

Gyeongsu, Crystallmess, bdstf, and Le Diouck.

What is the best restaurant in Paris right now?

Le Baratin, always and forever.