Exclusive Interview: Sofi Vonn Shares the Inspiration Behind Her New Single “Songs”

Electronic pop singer-songwriter Sofi Vonn is an artist on the rise. Drawing from personal experiences, Sofi marries deep lyrics with gleaming melodies, crafting a relatable narrative of youth. This July, she is set to release her new single, “Songs.” Pop Culturalist was lucky enough to speak with Sofi about the release, her thriving career, and more!

PC: How did you discover your passion for music and songwriting?
Sofi: I was in the school choir and chorus in middle school. Most people hated it, but I secretly enjoyed it. I loved to sing. Music moved me from a young age. I would often daydream, just playing songs in my head at school. I also noticed that I was really good at poetry in terms of rhymes and structure (I definitely wasn’t writing deep stuff back then) and got a sense of satisfaction from it. I had never learned songwriting or song structures before, so for a while, I didn’t realize that these short rhymes describing my feelings would become verses in the future, writing while at work, not at school.

PC: Who or what has had the biggest influence on your career?
Sofi: Right now, I’d say Charlie Walk has influenced me the most and has helped me achieve so much in only a year of working together. He pushes me to be the best and to never stop grinding, and the fact that he believes in me makes me want to work even harder. Also, shoutout to Lisa Einhorn-Gilder who’s the best person to have by my side!

PC: In addition to being a singer-songwriter, you’re also a DJ. What have you learned from deejaying that you’ve been able to apply to your songwriting and vice versa?
Sofi: This is an interesting question because I started out deejaying and producing house and techno and am obviously now making electronic pop. I think that since the type of music I was playing had no more than one verse per track that was a good segue for me in terms of combining the short poem-style things I was writing with an electronic production. I actually released a few songs under another name and wrote/sang for other electronic producers I met at a gig in New York. These tracks along with a few piano ballads I had written got me into Goldsmiths, and when I started studying there I used these as a base to combine electronic and pop together. Vice versa, I’ve been mixing new genres now that I have been releasing pop!

PC: Tell us about the inspiration behind “Songs.”
Sofi: I wrote it when I was feeling down one day. The first part of the chorus just came to me with the melody and all while I was walking somewhere. I was just thinking about how I didn’t know how to make myself feel better and got a bit existential and thought, “What do I even write songs for?” If I’m really sad, writing a good song about it really helps me. I realized that in most cases whoever has made me sad doesn’t have that kind of release, so it’s also kind of an aha moment where I’m like, you helped me write a good song.

PC: You’ve said that this song marks a new beginning for you. How will this next body of work differentiate itself from your last EP?
Sofi: I think that I have learned so much in the last year even about what I want my sound to be and how I approach songwriting. With this next body of work, I’m really proud of trying out different styles, whether it be alternative, funk, a ballad, etc. My last project also had a few songs I had written a really long time ago. It was great to get them out there, but I’m really excited to be releasing fully fresh music.

PC: As we look ahead to the rest of 2022, what can fans expect from you?
Sofi: There’s lots to come! I’ve got two music videos ready and will film a few more and have much more music to release. Perhaps there will be an EP release by the end of the year. I’ve also got my favorite song yet coming out in August and cannot wait to see where it takes me and how people react and relate to it! This year feels really big to me personally, and I hope people love what I put out in the coming months as much as I do.

Pop Culturalist Speed Round

PC: A band or artist that fans would be surprised to learn is on your playlist?
Sofi: Carl Carlton’s “Everlasting Love” was my favorite song for a while.

PC: First album you bought?
Sofi: I had to look through my iTunes purchased albums for this! Although I can’t exactly remember, I think it may have been Vampire Weekend’s self-titled debut album or Circus by Britney Spears which never misses. I also really liked ACDC. I honestly listened to everything though. [laughs]

PC: First concert you attended?
Sofi: Lady Gaga at MSG was my first big concert.

PC: An album that changed your life and why?
Sofi: The E.N.D. by Black Eyed Peas, just because I listened to it all the time and remember the feeling it gave me and not knowing what to do with the energy as a kid. We were already in the era of singles, but that album stood out to me. I also loved Fergie’s solo music which I found through the group. “Glamorous” bangs.

PC: A venue on your bucket list to perform at?
Sofi: MSG would be a dream, and it’s also in my hometown! For festivals, Glastonbury would be an honor as well (based in London now!).

PC: A must-have on the road?
Sofi: I’m going be a nerd and say my nebulizer.

To keep up with Sofi, follow her on Twitter, Instagram, and Spotify. Pre-save “Songs” today.