Hello & welcome to another instalment of Beneath the Surface. This week we’re joined by none other than upcoming indie pop/rock vocalist and songwriter. Sophie Kilburn. Fresh off the release of her debut EP, My Room Made Public, we sit down with Sophie to take a deeper look into the woman behind the music.
What first got you into music/who inspired you to make music?
Getting into music came from my dad, he plays the guitar (way better than me) and I saw him playing it all the time and after trying to play the cello turned out as a disaster the guitar was a good fit for me. It was only after going to drama school that I started to pursue music as a career. It was only when I left my early twenties that I started to believe I could do it. Also, someone very close to me passed away at the same time so music was really the only way to help me manage my grief. Not to sound too depressing it stuck losing someone to realise I didn’t want to lose out on life.
How would you describe the music you are currently creating?
I would describe my music as a mix of old school rocker and modern alt-pop like HAIM and Maggie Rogers, with a splash of Phoebe Bridgers. The songwriting is always the thing that drives my music. I try to be emotionally driven without being angsty. It is definitely a fusion of the music I connect with the most for sure! I tend to lean towards heartache but not just in the romantic sense. I really feel like I am finding my feet in this crazy world.
What does your creative process look like?
It tends to start with a phrase someone says or something I read on a sign on a train, thank you London transport. I normally pick up my guitar and find a melody then record it on my phone singing ‘fake words’ so any words that just come out then listen back and fill in the blanks. There is always something that triggers the song though. I have written many songs when I am at my emotional peak to just get it out but to be honest it is what I write a week after the outpour that turns out better. I just try and write as much as I can and if there is a day where I just can’t write I break my time down so put my timer on and go okay I am just gonna write for 40 minutes and see what happens, that really helps me to get out of my head.
Who would you most like to collaborate with? (let’s send it out to the universe and make it happen!)
Yes, let’s get it out there please! (laughs) There are so many people but I would love to work with Rob Milton who produced Holly Humberstone’s stuff. Collaborating with Phoebe Bridgers would be awesome. Also working with Noel Gallagher would be sick and also James Blake because he is just a genius.
What is the one message you would like to send out to your fans?
Well goes without saying thank you so so much but I would say never settle for anything that hurts you or makes you unhappy. You can do whatever you want and by going for it doesn’t mean you are living in a fairytale it just means you are striving for something that you care about and there is nothing wrong with that!
What’s your top tip to rejuvenate your creativity/get over writer’s block?
I would say go for a walk (laughs). I am a water baby so I kinda go on a quest to find water, like a lake or something (laughs). I really like podcasts. There is one called The Receipt, which helps me a lot with writer’s block. Hanging out with my mates watching Netflix or Nigella whilst commentating on it is always great. If I am stuck with writing I listen to random artists on Spotify because hearing what they are talking about sparks a conversation for me.
What’s next for you, what do we have to look forward to/ what are you currently working on?
Well, my debut EP My Room Made Public is finally out everywhere (Spotify, Apple Music and all the usual places (gotta plug it [laughs]). More music for sure as I am currently recording again. I am also working on my live show as I have always performed solo and now am going to bring a band with me so super excited to get gigging again and meeting people in the flesh.
Watch the visual to ‘I’m In Love With My Therapist’ from the My Room Made Public EP
[embedyt] https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o7rqDvYivSE%5B/embedyt%5D
Listen to the full project:
Keep up with Sophie Kilburn:
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