Rewrite and translate this title Sophie Faith Talks “Hold My Drink, Watch This.” to Japanese between 50 and 60 characters. Do not include any introductory or extra text; return only the title in Japanese.

“With this project I would go and visit Fred at his studio, it was exciting… I was going out to achieve these songs I wanted to make.” Singer-Songwriter Sophie Faith is reflecting on the intentional, collaborative nature of her new EP “Hold My Drink, Watch This”. The creative process was a stark contrast to that of her previous project The Right Side of Wrong, created at home with producer and flatmate Linden Jay, during lockdown. Sophie describes her past experience as “intense” – a constant flow of emotional outpouring where “there wasn’t much else to do but create.” This time around, the process felt “a little more staggered… like a work process rather than a healing process.” While still cathartic, the new project has unfolded with a natural rhythm, giving each track its own space to come together as it was “meant to be.”

We’re meeting over Zoom, it’s mid-morning and Sophie joins the call with bundles of energy despite having performed as a special guest at Dan Whitlam’s KOKO show the night before. “It’s been a really fun week, there’s been a lot going on,” she tells me, searching for somewhere to place herself for the duration of our chat. When I congratulate the songstress on the release of her latest single “Call You” with Kwaku Asante, she compliments his “incredible” voice before excitedly adding, “I’ve just written on a project at Defected [Records] that’s dropped today as well, “Girls of the Internet’s When I was Lost, I Found Myself”.”

Collaborations have played a significant role throughout Sophie’s career, often acting as a source of creative inspiration, artistic development, and as she observes, a way to build community amongst artists. “I think collaboration is key. Learning from your friends, exploring parts of your voice or musicality that you haven’t been able to before. I love working with other people, I’m not afraid to tell people when I really like what they’re doing. I think sometimes people are too stush, they don’t wanna praise people too highly, but it normally results in wanting to jump in a session together, going to each other’s events. I think collaboration is the essence of what I do. Collaboration and community, it’s always fun doing it with your friends.”

“How long is a piece of string, you know?” Sophie laughs, when asked how she knows a project is ready for release. She describes the perfectionism that took over while living with GRAMMY-nominated producer Linden Jay and reflects on her 2022 release “Heart Is On My Sleeve”, a smooth, seductive and soulful ballad, co-written with the incomparable Stormzy. “We sat on that for like two years – it’s almost painful knowing some of your best work people haven’t heard yet, but it was worthwhile.” The track, which showcases the pain and beauty in heartache and longing, was well-received and even re-inspired Faith, who at the time was uncertain about pursuing music. Appreciative of her collaboration with one of Britain’s contemporary greats, she explains “Stormzy really threw me a lifeline.”

Crediting her grandparents’ love for soul and motown – a style whose elements can be found woven throughout Sophie’s own music – as inspiring her musicality from a young age, the singer-songwriter explains, “I never trained to be a singer, I fell into it, I always loved music, my grandparents were always playing it.” Then, after leaving home at the tender age of 14, she found solace in writing and making music privately, until a friend overheard her and convinced her to sing for one of his friends at Sony. As a result she found a manager and kick-started her career. Much of Sophie’s journey has been both unconventional and organic, such as a chance meeting with an ITV producer, “I met a guy in Thailand, I had lost my phone and borrowed his and he turned out to be a Love Island producer. I’d just released “Say So” – my first single – and when he added me on Facebook – that’s how long ago it was… Facebook – he asked whether he could use the song. I didn’t really believe him but then it was on prime time ITV, you know when Love Island was in its heyday. Then it got Shazamed a lot, then I got signed. It was all these tiny little moments that have brought me here, that I just never could’ve written.”

Sophie is grateful for the time she has had to “work out the parts of this crazy industry that I actually enjoy and the parts that I don’t and that I need to delegate out.” She’s mindful of what she can handle adding, “I don’t think on a mental health spectrum and who I was eight years ago I would’ve been able to handle the workload.” Giving us a glimpse into the life of an artist she explains, “there’s so much that goes into being an artist and I think about how it’s happened gradually. I’ve been able to earn my stripes over the years rather than being a quick rise to the top. I think it’s been really great because it’s helped me transition to being the artist I really want to be and being able to focus on the parts of musicianship that I enjoy, like the writing, collaborating, putting on shows, introducing other musicians and artists. It’s not just about singing and being centre stage, there’s so much more to it now, which I’ve enjoyed.”

On the topic of songwriting, does Sophie always take inspiration from her own experiences? “There’s no smoke without fire, it’s normally coming from somewhere, I don’t really make it up. I just go in and open up and allow it to come out.” With personal experiences central to her creative process it comes as no surprise that they are prominent throughout this EP. Lead single “KOKO” is inspired by Sophie’s love for nights in and around the iconic venue in Camden, while the project’s title itself is an ode to her sobriety, and tracks like “Missing Me” are a groovy, direct response to past relationships.

With nearly a decade in music, Sophie remains driven to evolve as an artist, especially through her latest EP. “There’s a big sign in Fred’s studio that always runs through my head when I’m writing, it says: ‘make it real, so they feel something,’ and I think that’s really important in any regard.” Her continued work with fresh, younger artists keeps her inspired and motivated. “I’m really lucky to work with people all the time, so my brain is constantly saturated with new sounds and new music.”

As listeners will hear when they press play on her new release Sophie is constantly brimming with new ideas, fuelled by her emotions and experiences. “I think the last project had a rhetoric of going through it, whereas I hope that this project has a feel of being more resolved and that all the toxicity and all the tumultuous behaviour and everything that was going on while writing this one put me on the path to where I am now.”

The release of “Hold My Drink, Watch This” solidifies Sophie Faith as one of the biggest names in contemporary British soul music. The self-assured, soulful project blends jazz influences with smooth R&B, showcasing her captivating vocals and lyrical wit. As listeners digest this latest release, Sophie already has her sights set on what’s next, from live shows across the globe to her highly anticipated debut studio album.

Listen to the new EP…

“With this project I would go and visit Fred at his studio, it was exciting… I was going out to achieve these songs I wanted to make.” Singer-Songwriter Sophie Faith is reflecting on the intentional, collaborative nature of her new EP “Hold My Drink, Watch This”. The creative process was a stark contrast to that of her previous project The Right Side of Wrong, created at home with producer and flatmate Linden Jay, during lockdown. Sophie describes her past experience as “intense” – a constant flow of emotional outpouring where “there wasn’t much else to do but create.” This time around, the process felt “a little more staggered… like a work process rather than a healing process.” While still cathartic, the new project has unfolded with a natural rhythm, giving each track its own space to come together as it was “meant to be.”

We’re meeting over Zoom, it’s mid-morning and Sophie joins the call with bundles of energy despite having performed as a special guest at Dan Whitlam’s KOKO show the night before. “It’s been a really fun week, there’s been a lot going on,” she tells me, searching for somewhere to place herself for the duration of our chat. When I congratulate the songstress on the release of her latest single “Call You” with Kwaku Asante, she compliments his “incredible” voice before excitedly adding, “I’ve just written on a project at Defected [Records] that’s dropped today as well, “Girls of the Internet’s When I was Lost, I Found Myself”.”

Collaborations have played a significant role throughout Sophie’s career, often acting as a source of creative inspiration, artistic development, and as she observes, a way to build community amongst artists. “I think collaboration is key. Learning from your friends, exploring parts of your voice or musicality that you haven’t been able to before. I love working with other people, I’m not afraid to tell people when I really like what they’re doing. I think sometimes people are too stush, they don’t wanna praise people too highly, but it normally results in wanting to jump in a session together, going to each other’s events. I think collaboration is the essence of what I do. Collaboration and community, it’s always fun doing it with your friends.”

“How long is a piece of string, you know?” Sophie laughs, when asked how she knows a project is ready for release. She describes the perfectionism that took over while living with GRAMMY-nominated producer Linden Jay and reflects on her 2022 release “Heart Is On My Sleeve”, a smooth, seductive and soulful ballad, co-written with the incomparable Stormzy. “We sat on that for like two years – it’s almost painful knowing some of your best work people haven’t heard yet, but it was worthwhile.” The track, which showcases the pain and beauty in heartache and longing, was well-received and even re-inspired Faith, who at the time was uncertain about pursuing music. Appreciative of her collaboration with one of Britain’s contemporary greats, she explains “Stormzy really threw me a lifeline.”

Crediting her grandparents’ love for soul and motown – a style whose elements can be found woven throughout Sophie’s own music – as inspiring her musicality from a young age, the singer-songwriter explains, “I never trained to be a singer, I fell into it, I always loved music, my grandparents were always playing it.” Then, after leaving home at the tender age of 14, she found solace in writing and making music privately, until a friend overheard her and convinced her to sing for one of his friends at Sony. As a result she found a manager and kick-started her career. Much of Sophie’s journey has been both unconventional and organic, such as a chance meeting with an ITV producer, “I met a guy in Thailand, I had lost my phone and borrowed his and he turned out to be a Love Island producer. I’d just released “Say So” – my first single – and when he added me on Facebook – that’s how long ago it was… Facebook – he asked whether he could use the song. I didn’t really believe him but then it was on prime time ITV, you know when Love Island was in its heyday. Then it got Shazamed a lot, then I got signed. It was all these tiny little moments that have brought me here, that I just never could’ve written.”

Sophie is grateful for the time she has had to “work out the parts of this crazy industry that I actually enjoy and the parts that I don’t and that I need to delegate out.” She’s mindful of what she can handle adding, “I don’t think on a mental health spectrum and who I was eight years ago I would’ve been able to handle the workload.” Giving us a glimpse into the life of an artist she explains, “there’s so much that goes into being an artist and I think about how it’s happened gradually. I’ve been able to earn my stripes over the years rather than being a quick rise to the top. I think it’s been really great because it’s helped me transition to being the artist I really want to be and being able to focus on the parts of musicianship that I enjoy, like the writing, collaborating, putting on shows, introducing other musicians and artists. It’s not just about singing and being centre stage, there’s so much more to it now, which I’ve enjoyed.”

On the topic of songwriting, does Sophie always take inspiration from her own experiences? “There’s no smoke without fire, it’s normally coming from somewhere, I don’t really make it up. I just go in and open up and allow it to come out.” With personal experiences central to her creative process it comes as no surprise that they are prominent throughout this EP. Lead single “KOKO” is inspired by Sophie’s love for nights in and around the iconic venue in Camden, while the project’s title itself is an ode to her sobriety, and tracks like “Missing Me” are a groovy, direct response to past relationships.

With nearly a decade in music, Sophie remains driven to evolve as an artist, especially through her latest EP. “There’s a big sign in Fred’s studio that always runs through my head when I’m writing, it says: ‘make it real, so they feel something,’ and I think that’s really important in any regard.” Her continued work with fresh, younger artists keeps her inspired and motivated. “I’m really lucky to work with people all the time, so my brain is constantly saturated with new sounds and new music.”

As listeners will hear when they press play on her new release Sophie is constantly brimming with new ideas, fuelled by her emotions and experiences. “I think the last project had a rhetoric of going through it, whereas I hope that this project has a feel of being more resolved and that all the toxicity and all the tumultuous behaviour and everything that was going on while writing this one put me on the path to where I am now.”

The release of “Hold My Drink, Watch This” solidifies Sophie Faith as one of the biggest names in contemporary British soul music. The self-assured, soulful project blends jazz influences with smooth R&B, showcasing her captivating vocals and lyrical wit. As listeners digest this latest release, Sophie already has her sights set on what’s next, from live shows across the globe to her highly anticipated debut studio album.

Listen to the new EP…