Singer-songwriter Sophia James has always refused to be boxed into just one genre, seamlessly tackling everything from rock and power-pop to indie sounds, folk and jazz without making sacrifices, and that ethos is fully on display with the release of her new EP, The Wrong Shoe Theory.
The new release features six tracks, including favorites “So Unfair” (perhaps best known as the track that launched the viral Group 7 moment on TikTok), “Sunshine and Apathy” and “Little Bit Better” and more, taking its title from the idea that putting together disparate pieces can sometimes create something greater than the sum of its parts. She worked past her pre-conceived notions about what her music should be, refusing to limit her art and the types of emotions she wanted to channel through it. The result is something that pushes the boundaries, encompassing the most vibrant and bold parts of her human experience for the first time. She also has a full-length debut album slated to arrive later this year. Ahead of the EP release, we got the chance to catch up with Sophia to ask all of our biggest questions about the EP and more. Read the full interview below.
Sweety High: What does your EP title The Wrong Shoe Theory mean to you, and why did it feel like the perfect way to sum of this collection of songs?
Sophia James: The wrong shoe theory is essentially the idea that an outfit is elevated by the addition of unexpected footwear (think basketball shorts with a fancy heel or a nice dress with sneakers). The EP follows a similar practice; many of the elements, whether they exist within an individual song or across the entirety of the project, contain that “out of place” quality that ultimately give the record its signature sound.
(Photo credit: Stephanie Saias)
SH: What would you say are the major themes of this EP? How do they align with your growth, as an artist and as a person?
SJ: The themes are kind of all over the place. I’ve done a lot of living in the time it took to make it, so there’s a lot of ground covered: the absurdity of falling in love, the disillusionment of living in a world you don’t feel you fit into, the euphoria of waking up from limerence, grief, ADHD and more. In making this EP, I grew more comfortable embracing the ugly emotions that fall outside the boundaries of what is deemed “acceptable” and “attractive”. I’m never going back.
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SH: How would you describe the EP’s sound? Production-wise, how did you go about bringing these tracks to life?
SJ: This EP is high-voltage across the board; musically, emotionally, thematically, etc. My producer and I drew a lot of inspiration from power-pop records of the late 20th century. It’s built largely through rock instrumentation (live guitars, drums, bass, piano, etc) and refined through a precise pop lens.
Each song was brought to life differently; sometimes I’d write the whole thing and my collaborator (Alex Bilowitz) would help me produce it out, and sometimes we’d write the whole thing from scratch together. Once a song was written, we got into a routine of making a scratch demo and arrangement of it, then replacing our mediocre guitars (except for “Running Late”; my guitar made the cut woohoo), drums and basses with kick*** players (shoutout Anthony Cappeto, Mason Sacks and Chad Wackerman). Then we’d put it all together and take another overarching pass at production on the whole thing. I think it was Tyler the Creator who said “create like a child and edit like a scientist”; we very much followed this method.
SH: Do you have a favorite track on the EP? Why or why not?
SJ: I’m extremely proud of the whole thing, but if I had to choose, I’d narrow it down to two: “Sunshine and Apathy” and “I Always Do”.
“Sunshine and Apathy” exists in that sweet spot between groove and grit. There’s something in the bass line that’s always possessed my head to bob. I think it captures the feeling of the entire EP so perfectly; the restraint of the verses and explosiveness of the chorus are a perfect reflection of how I’ve felt throughout my early 20s. To me, it sounds like how whiplash feels.
In a lot of these tunes, I use a kind of character voice in order to serve the song and the energy behind it. In “I Always Do”, I’m using my true, earnest voice. It’s felt the best to sing since day one. I love to rock out, but I’ll always have a soft spot for a piano ballad. Both the sentiment in the lyrics and the musical production feel timeless to me, and I have a feeling that I’ll enjoy singing it for the rest of my life.
SH: Do you think the viral Group 7 moment has had a lasting impact on the EP overall?
SJ: Truth be told, the EP was finished long before the Group 7 phenomenon was born. I have changed nothing about it since people started paying attention. I hope to just keep getting better and better at making records regardless of whether people are listening or not; though I’m so psyched that people are listening.
Also read about: Were You in ‘Group 7’? Sophia James Dishes on the Viral TikTok Experiment for Her Song ‘So Unfair’
SH: What has the experience being behind that whole phenomenon been like for you?
SJ: Absurd. Hilarious. I’m still laughing about it. I recently uncovered a video diary from several months before I posted the Group 7 video where I was crying and lamenting about the fact that I might need to become more realistic about my dreams of being a full time solo artist. If that girl knew that by posting an arbitrary video titled “Group 7” she’d be able to see that dream through, she’d never believe it. I’m so touched by the enthusiasm and support that the Group 7 members have shown me and my music. It’s changed my life in the most meaningful and unexpected way.
SH: What’s one thing you’re proudest of right now?
SJ: I’ve tasked myself with writing one song a day for 30 consecutive days; as of right now, I’m one-third of the way through, and I’m proud of myself for fulfilling the task even through days where I feel uninspired.
I’m also really proud of my friends right now (and always). So many of the people I’m closest with are also pursuing artistic careers, and they’re all killing it. It’s so rewarding to see your loved ones come out the other side of challenging situations and keep steadfast in their dreams and ambitions.
SH: Is there anything else we should know about you or the EP right now?
SJ: It’s absurd. Happy listening 🙂
Listen to The Wrong Shoe Theory in full here:
For even more on Sophia James, click HERE to find out all about her thanks to everything she shared with us as our Woman Crush Wednesday.
