Before The Chorus (Sofia Loporcaro)

Lady Wray is a solo artist based in Atlanta. She has had a long career in the world of RnB & Hip-Hop, and has experienced her fair share of highs and lows. Her latest record Piece of Me offers raw insight into her life, career, faith & the all-encompassing love she has for her daughter. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bhi Bhiman is a solo artist based in Los Angeles, who has collaborated with the likes of Chris Cornell, Keegan-Michael Key, Dave Eggers and Boots Riley. On his latest record, I’ll Sleep When I’m Famous, Bhi balances feelings of hope and grief. It’s a deeply existential album, exploring how we choose to live our lives & face our ultimate fate. But in the end, the record offers a sense of hope and peace: we can live on after tragedy, and hold on to love while we’re still here. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Local Natives are a band from Los Angeles, California. After a difficult few years, the band worked hard to find healing & come back together stronger. On 'Time Will Wait For No One', the band sings of the unforgiving nature of time, trying to control the uncontrollable, & the resilience of hope amidst it all. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spencer Sutherland's sophomore album, The Drama, is a rock opera centred around the highs and lows of the fame game. For the 100th episode of this podcast, Spencer & I spoke about ego deaths, the art of high camp, and the fact that, sometimes, a little bit of delusion is healthy. Be sure to listen to 'The Drama', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Spencer on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6mjz3NMhNE5SK7GsbJIg6C On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/md/artist/spencer-sutherland/769508624 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/spencermusic/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@spencermusic?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Red Rum Club are a band from Liverpool, UK. For their new album Western Approaches, they were inspired by the docks in their hometown where ships once came in from the Atlantic. It became a parallel for their own travels to America, & the home that they missed while they were gone. The record spans many topics, but ultimately finds the band centring on the things & the people that matter most. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Palace are a London-based indie four-piece. Their third full-length album, Shoals, is a meditation on fear - something we all struggle to come to terms with. Backed by an ethereal soundtrack, frontman Leo Wyndham takes us through his journey towards befriending the unknown - from his first interactions with fear to finding solace in human connection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On Taylor Sackson's debut solo EP 'You Are Not A Friend', she finds catharsis in speaking up for herself, calling out toxic behaviour, & healing for her younger self. Be sure to listen to 'You Are Not A Friend', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Taylor on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0J4SgyQe1Mt4U1z855jZEJ?si=G1NPkc4kQTSJw8m9feb2kA On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/taylor-sackson/1473070700 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/taylorsackson/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@taylorsackson Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sofia shares her artist highlights from SXSW! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jamila Woods is an artist from Chicago, Illinois. On Water Made Us, Jamila dives into the phases of love & heartbreak, exploring the habits & cycles that shape them. It's a refreshing, emotionally intelligent take on the endlessly-explored topic, & we unpack it further in this interview. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Fana Hues is a RnB artist based in Los Angeles. Her new album flora + fana is as refreshingly botanical as it is dizzyingly psychedelic. More importantly, it’s a beautiful scrapbook of musings on heartbreak, sex, situationships, & the growth that comes with them. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michi's debut LP 'Dirty Talk' is all about healing from past relationships, giving both yourself & former partners grace, & getting agency back. Most importantly, it reminds that this process is imperfect. Be sure to listen to 'Dirty Talk', out February 28th 2025, wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Michi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3Wpco0QNxrTY1Gnqo06J6P?si=0A9mRdUUTnyYM_HIqgL1Jg On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michi/1461424518 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/michiguerrero/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@michi?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Paris Paloma's debut record, "Cacophony", is a 15-song hero's journey. It puts into question the patriarchal structures that hold women down, & proves that we can rebuild ourselves without them. Paris & I spoke over Zoom, discussing the themes that resonated with so many people on her viral single 'labour', sisterhood, & finding peace after trauma. Be sure to listen to 'Cacophony', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Paris on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2EXpthNgSeTDeX8nGwxppp On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/paris-paloma/1530898376 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/parispaloma/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@parispalomaofficial?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Julien Baker is an artist from Memphis Tennessee. She is known for both her solo work, & as a member of the bands Forrister & boygenius. Her 2015 record Sprained Ankle rose her to fame with its gut-wrenchingly honest songwriting. On Little Oblivions, her third full-length album, Julien explores themes of addiction & relapse, mental health & faith, never mincing her words. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Vacations are a band from New South Wales in Australia. Within the last couple of years, frontman Campbell Burns was diagnosed with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, better known as OCD. On the band's latest album No Place Like Home, Campbell sings about learning to cope with OCD, big life changes, love as a touring musician, & more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Half Moon Run are a band based in Montreal, Canada. They released their debut album, Dark Eyes, in 2013, and quickly gained fans both locally & internationally. Throughout the pandemic, they found themselves digging through cassettes from that time period, revisiting these ideas with fresh perspective. The result is is their fourth album Salt: a musical conversation between past and present, exploring all that has changed and all that remains. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Overcoats are a Brooklyn-based pop duo, comprised of Hana Elion and JJ Mitchell. Their second album, The Fight, follows their 2017 debut Young. While it has a few nods to their first release, The Fight is largely a departure for Overcoats. On their new album, their pop anthems unpack what it means to fight, in every sense of the word: fighting for womxn, against misogyny and ignorance, fighting to be understood, and fighting for one’s self-worth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nuha Ruby Ra is a London-based experimental artist, with roots in sound art & avant-punk music. For her debut EP, she took the ups & downs of an unhealthy relationship & fashioned them into a powerful journey. How To Move is a raw, visceral, complete record that shows that while the healing process is never perfect, we can emerge with new resilience. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

X Ambassadors are a band with roots in Ithaca, New York. On 'Townie' they set their sights homeward: reflecting on teenage restlessness, leaving for bigger cities, & how home shapes who we are. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another Sky are a London-based four piece, comprised of Catrin Vincent, Jack Gilbert, Naomi Le Dune, and Max Doohan. Their songs manage to be anthemic and urgent, tender and vulnerable at the same time. Which makes sense; they see the ways in which mental health and the state of the world are interwoven, often leaving our generation in a state of overwhelm. I Slept on the Floor, the band’s debut album, covers the many ills of the modern world, offering a sense of hope through each call to action. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Pond are a psychedelic rock band from Perth. On their 9th album (aptly named ‘9’), they took a mostly insular approach, drawing on personal experiences and niche interests for lyrical themes. Frontman Nick Albrook wanted the album to be lengthly and sprawling, but in a democratic vote amongst band members, they decided to cap it at 9 tracks. This is where the Deluxe Edition comes in: with 4 new songs added to the tracklist, Nick and I go through all 12 songs in depth. So buckle in. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ĠENN are a Maltese-British band based in Brighton, UK. On their debut album 'unum', the band search for oneness, detouring through French existentialism, Greek mythology, & presentations of identity on the way. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Murkage Dave is an artist from London. His raw, cards-on-the-table lyricism dances through an eclectic soundtrack - equally inspired by UK garage as it is by post punk. On 'The City Needs... Part Deux', stories of compassion meet ones about ego, & cheeky humour intermingles with moments of deeper reflection. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

clipping. are an experimental rap trio currently based out of Los Angeles, California. Their last two albums, 'There Existed an Addiction to Blood' & 'Visions of Bodies Being Burned', draw heavy influence from horrorcore, a niche genre of rap from the 90s. However, where horrorcore was often campy, clipping. goes visceral, making fully-fledged horror films for your ears. I am joined now by the three members of the group to discuss the second of the aforementioned records, Visions of Bodies Being Burned. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up third: albums to watch our for in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Metronomy are a wonky pop 5-piece from the UK. They’ve been a major indie staple in their homeland for over a decade, & it’s really no wonder why - their unique approach to pop is more than meets the ear, encompassing an eclectic concoction of other genres. Their latest record, Small World is no exception: you’ll hear indietronica rubbing shoulders with alternative rock, dream pop, & more. And it all soundtracks a hopeful message, which we’ll be discussing in this episode. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's time for another one-on-one catchup! Sofia looks back on July's music news & personal highlights. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Equiknoxx are a collective based in Kingston, Jamaica. They are comprised of Gavborg, Shanique Marie, Time Cow, Kemikal, and Bobby Blackbird. Over the last decade or so, they have woven through genre after genre. They first cut their teeth as dancehall producers, and later folded their wide range of influences into their music. I have Gav, Shanique, and Nick aka Bobby Blackbird here to discuss their 2019 album, Eternal Children, and the history that brought all five members together as a united project. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Georgia Parker's debut record 'Same Time Tomorrow' examines relationships gained & lost with honesty - even when it's uncomfortable. In our conversation, she reflects on learning to speak up for herself, her love of nuance, & not letting a sad song shy away from truth. Be sure to listen to 'Same Time Tomorrow', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Georgia on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4OGodtGAXXUvXC4mmJzZNf On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/georgia-parker/1281309148 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/georgiaparkermusic/?hl=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Spiritune is a mobile application that uses music to help alter you mental state. With a team of music therapists & composers, founder Jamie Pabst built the app to help people improve their mental wellbeing. I spoke to her & composer Diego Rodoni about their work, & the transformative power of music. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

With her third album, 'A Complicated Woman', coming out next month, I wanted to revisit my first interview with Self Esteem from 2020. It was pretty clear from the get-go that she was going to bulldoze the rules of pop, & she has - her unfiltered lyrics about female pleasure, queerness, heartbreak & more have garnered her a large & loyal fanbase, both in the UK & internationally. She has also been nominated for a Mercury Prize, appeared as a guest judge on RuPaul's Drag Race UK, & has starred in the West End production of Cabaret. Find Self Esteem on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3K9muOlJVKLgH4SIwwZiDe?si=GenvtJtPSiS82WjV5ZgnZA On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/self-esteem/268679963 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/selfesteemselfesteem/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@selfesteemselfesteem69?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chewing, aka Local Natives' Nik Ewing, wanted to create a sonic scrapbook of sorts for his daughter Linnéa. When she was an infant, he would hold her in one arm, & play the piano with the other. The improvised melodies soon became full songs, & those songs in turn became an album: Songs For Linnéa. Our conversation covers everything from childhood music memories & bonding with one's own children, to finding acceptance in turbulent times. Be sure to listen to 'Songs For Linnéa', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Chewing on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/23uUTeYuVFOEVK9VfN8kTl On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/chewing/1446479994 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nikchewing/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@nikchewing Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Black Honey are an indie rock band from Brighton, UK. On their 2023 LP 'A Fistful of Peaches', as well as on their latest single "Lemonade", the band sits in a space of radical honesty; both the record & standalone single are about accepting exactly where one is at, no mater what that looks like. Together, they form a love letter to the weirdos, the outcasts, & the kids that needed someone to listen. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Staves are a duo from Watford, England. On their latest record All Now, sisters Camilla and Jessica find release in their most anthemic writing yet, learning to let go of indecisiveness, the past, & the fear of speaking up. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Drug Stores Romeos are a trio from Fleet in the UK. For their debut album ‘the world within our bedrooms’, they’ve offered up a slice of escapism, thanks to their cushiony sonic worlds. We get to wander through subconscious thoughts & unpack the world around us from a safe emotional distance, tucked away in the safe space of one’s own bedroom. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I spoke with Nina Nesbitt about her latest record 'Mountain Music', which is all about re-connecting with home. We often look forward to leaving home when we're young, but later come to cherish it. Nina explores this journey on 'Mountain Music', & much more. Be sure to listen to 'Mountain Music', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Nina on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7AzjETXRUKNRSJHMW9GIqd On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nina-nesbitt/484254148 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ninanesbitt/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@ninanesbitt?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sofia looks back on her favourite memories, releases, & gigs from April 2024! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Glass Animals are internationally loved for their genreless, often cheeky songs. They’ve never hesitated to work against the grain: they went weird and murky on their first album Zaba, told anecdotes about homemade characters on How To Be a Human Being. But Dave, the band’s frontman, never told his own stories out of insecurity; until now. Their third album Dreamland weaves through stories of a childhood in rural Texas, later years in Oxford and London, and a range of experiences from questions of masculinity to late-night hookups. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Lucky Kilmartin's debut record 'Borders, Baby' is an ode to letting go & letting in. It's also a love letter to the people that he cares for most: his friends, his partner & his father. Be sure to listen to 'Borders, Baby', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Lucky on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2uWg345joqNfcay4l13YoN On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lucky-kilmartin/1701896108 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lucky.kilmartin/?hl=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bombay Bicycle Club are a band from North London. Beloved in the world of indie rock for their vibrant take on the genre, the band has seen enormous international success. Now, they return with their latest record, My Big Day - it features some of the band's most heartfelt and playful writing, as well as collaborations with Damon Albarn, Chaka Khan, Holly Humberstone, Nilüfer Yanya, and Jay Som. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up second: her favourite albums of 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sofia is joined by Sara Feigin & Jenna Million, hosts of Name 3 Songs for a chance to talk shop! The conversation covers everything from reclaiming the word 'fangirl', to swapping interview notes, our local music scenes & much more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Miya Folick is a solo artist based in Los Angeles. On her latest album Roach, Miya documents the high highs & low lows of early adulthood. Thanks to her unabashed vulnerability, the record gives us all room to be gentle to our younger selves, laugh at our mistakes, & rejoice in our growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Griff is an artist based in the UK. On ver2igo vol. 2, the follow-up to vert1go vol. 1, Griff continues the arc of someone processing an ending. Through the power of her own incredible pop songwriting, she makes these big emotions a little easier to digest... maybe even dance to. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I spoke with Lutalo about their new record The Academy, which chronicles the artists early life in Vermont. They detail their many experiences, life lessons, & the points of view they adopted from them. The resulting record is an unvarnished look at race, class, oppressive systems in the United States, & more. Be sure to listen to 'The Academy', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Lutalo on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0gSmzBSSMT1yJanwTK16Ln On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/lutalo/1432180470 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lutalojones/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@.lutalo?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Crumb are a band from New York City. On their latest record AMAMA, the band navigate our universal need to feel at home, all while taking us through deliciously strange soundscapes. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

About You's 'The Lighthouse, The Storm' is an album of stories. Some were sent to him by friends, fans & strangers. Others are his own. In all of them, we get a vivid glimpse into deep human emotions, & the universal experience of longing for connection. Be sure to listen to 'The Lighthouse, The Storm' when it comes out this summer! Find About You on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7sOJEMeZc3dgr8JIFtXyYW?si=1GyoAK7GTMK5mjfLCm3abQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/about-you/1440552573 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abandaboutyou/ TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abandaboutyou Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Helena Deland is a solo artist based in Montreal, Canada. Over the past four years, she has released multiple EPs, and even appeared on JPEGMAFIA’s ‘All My Heroes Are Cornballs’. Her debut album Someone New, which was released last month, explores the struggle between idealization and reality, femininity, and asking for what we need from friends and lovers alike. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

ER FIGHTMASTER is an LA-based musician, comedian, actor & writer. On their new EP 'Violence', they re-fashion anti-queer, derogatory terms into stories of queer love, lust, & joy. It's as powerful as it is bop-heavy. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Will Joseph Cook is an artist from Kent, England. With his newer music, namely his last album ‘Every Single Thing’ and his recent single “MF BASSLINE”, Will aims to be more open. These songs are an excercise in acceptance: accepting the way one feels, no matter how scary, difficult or even awkward a feeling is. Whether he’s musing about an unabashed dive into infatuation, or finding peace with emotional lows, his music reminds us that vulnerability is the best way forward. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nilüfer Yanya's 'My Method Actor' gets existential over angular grooves. Each song asks a multitude of questions, often using the concept of method acting as a lens to explore them. We discuss the connections between reality & art, setting new boundaries, & learning to trust your inner voice. Be sure to listen to 'My Method Actor' wherever you stream or buy your music! And get tickets for her US tour HERE: https://www.victoriacanal.com/tour Find Nilüfer on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/09kXLeOXRyfNQMXRaDO4qA?si=__qS6h2KQF-yg_E6NRZKdw On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/nil%C3%BCfer-yanya/1102497241 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niluferyanyaaaaaa/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@niluferyanya Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Chandler Leighton is an artist based in Los Angeles. On 'Proof You Weren't The Only One', she openly examines her own coping mechanisms. The end result is a deeply relatable record, one she hopes will help others heal too. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Bully is the project of now-solo artist Alicia Bognanno. Her third album SUGAREGG is all about letting go and embracing reality, even when the process of doing so isn’t perfect. With its message shouted through wailing guitars and well, literal shouting, the album provides catharsis and release for both the listener and for Alicia herself. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jalen Ngonda is an artist from Maryland, USA. Some of his accolades include graduating from LIPA (the performing arts school founded by Paul McCartney), playing some of world's biggest jazz festivals, and supporting the likes of Lauryn Hill and Laura Mvula. He joins me to discuss his debut album, Come Around And Love Me, and the creative process behind it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Another Sky are a band based in London, England. Four years after their first time on this podcast, they return to discuss their sophomore album 'Beach Day'. On the record, the band learns to embrace anger & find compassion for our younger selves. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, she shares her favourite music memories from the past year. Links to events & artists mentioned: Nu School Jamzz Open Folk LA The Beatle Jam James Spaite (guitar teacher) MICHELLE Red Rum Club Jamila Woods Madison McFerrin Night Talks Robin Pecknold / Fleet Foxes Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jaws of Love is the solo project of Kelcey Ayer, one of the founding members of Local Natives. His new record, Second Life, explores big, existential questions by way of small, everyday moments. It’s about moving through life’s phases, even when change is scary & outcomes are uncertain. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sloppy Jane is an artist based in New York City. Her latest record, Madison, is a concept album through and through - amongst other things, she recorded it 120 feet below ground in a West Virginian cave. The record explores the theme of unrequited love, and basks in all of its blue-washed melodrama. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Local Natives are a five-piece group from Los Angeles. For over a decade, they’ve been a respected indie staple, blending folk-esque harmonies & storytelling with indie guitars & bright choruses. Their albums are meticulously planned & thought out; while this yields great results, it can get pretty tiring. So this time, they decided to try something different: release a short EP, highlighting four songs that never fit into an album, but needed to be heard. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billie Marten is a songwriter based in London. On her last record, Flora Fauna, Billie began to examine herself through her writing (We actually spoke about Flora Fauna back on Episode 24 of the podcast). Nearly two years later, she is out with another self-examining record: Drop Cherries. It’s a tender, multifaceted observation of long-term love, vulnerability, and finding joy in the mundane. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Oscar Jerome is a staple member of the London jazz scene. In addition to being part of the collective KOKOROKO & appearing on many friends' projects, he’s a solo artist with his own brilliant work. His debut album, Breathe Deep, builds a rich sonic world, while speaking out about social greed and the treatment of refugees, and celebrating the love of family. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandunes is a composer, producer and pianist from Mumbai, India. She has been making mostly instrumental music for years, but lately she has been drawn to the emotional power of the human voice. This has been especially important for her latest EP ‘ Nowhere to Stand’, which explores the fears & questions surrounding change. On the EP, she explores both her own relationship with change, and that of the four guest vocalists who feature on it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gengahr are a band from East London. Their brilliant musicianship has endured across four albums, and their approach to songwriting has grown and shifted alongside of it. While earlier songs played with abstract concepts and mythical creatures, their later work is increasingly personal. On Red Sun Titans, the band explores life’s big existential themes and grounding in the things that get us through our days. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

MICHELLE's infectious brand of pop yearning is in full force on 'Songs About You Specifically', but comes with a slight change to their process: the bulk of the record was written in Ojai, California instead of their hometown of New York City. We spoke about songwriting as a discipline, holding space for others to tell their stories, & so much more. Be sure to listen to 'Songs About You Specifically', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find MICHELLE on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4yYvor6Rq4fG82J1L47DYp On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/michelle/465052514 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/wearemichelle/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@wearemichelle?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Local Natives have been on this podcast many times, & it is an honour to have them as the final guests of 2024. This is also a pivotal time for them: they have just released their final album with founding member Kelcey Ayer. We discuss the double (nay, triple) record, the unchanging love between the original five members, & supporting each other not just as bandmates, but as brothers. Be sure to listen to 'Time Will Wait For No One But I'll Wait For You', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Local Natives on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/75dQReiBOHN37fQgWQrIAJ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/local-natives/321144825 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/localnatives/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@localnatives Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It's no secret that January 2025 has been rough for Los Angeles (And the US as a whole), but there were a few good moments that kept me going. I'm sharing a few of them here! Events & Artists mentioned: Open Folk LA: https://www.instagram.com/openfolkla/?hl=en Gilbert Louie Ray: https://open.spotify.com/artist/26UBas4xYeXIco2bWX3Xb5 Plus, check out previous episodes featuring artists that I saw perform this past month: Madison Cunningham: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3dY5etz8Mp73ooo4c4I4qO?si=22004214124f4bd3 Winnetka Bowling League: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Dgnoek8QWBgdoGjzhn1gw?si=62ddf08acfbb49e2 Local Natives: https://open.spotify.com/episode/2ujVUEFG8Shms8alRCJ0oK?si=fdefe2321aa446c5 Georgia Parker: https://open.spotify.com/episode/5Yu9r0RkB3MPhbUUqqkhCO?si=154440c94c3e4223 Merrick Winter: https://open.spotify.com/episode/1hQS99isWv0Ksx5oY25cGE?si=fb1ee946d9864639 Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yukimi Nagano, long known as the frontperson of Little Dragon, came on the podcast to discuss her debut solo album 'For You'. The album is a beacon of both hope and acceptance, reminding us to hold onto our inner light, but that needing a good cry is okay too. Be sure to listen to 'For You' wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Yukimi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/5J4McIA9reqqfM5nopbWHC?si=qCdHxQlQTG68KcV6EOd8Sw On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/yukimi/1768967173 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yukimiforyou/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@yukimiforyou Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Empress Of is a Honduran-American artist based in Los Angeles. On 'For Your Consideration', she explores transactional relationships & desire through a raw, unfiltered, & danceable lens. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Max Clarke, better known as Cut Worms, is a solo artist based in Brooklyn, New York. He is both drawn to and heavily critical of the past; while the American songbook provides inspiration to his writing, he worries that people tend to romanticize the past, glossing over its glaring problems. His new double LP ‘Nobody Lives Here Anymore’ explores this dichotomy in depth, using the very images that define traditional Americana to examine it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jordan Feller and Marc Gilfry, the duo that make up NEIL FRANCES, came by to talk all things 'It's All A Bit Fuzzier', the deluxe edition of last year's 'It's All A Bit Fuzzy'. Our conversation spanned everything from dance floor communities & identity, to yacht rock. Be sure to listen to ''It's All A Bit Fuzzy'', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find NEIL FRANCES on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/587PA35pRGL1JwQr6idJbb?si=PjJGSoz1RBmKqrCwLnDAmA On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/neil-frances/1220582680 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/neilfrances/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@neil_frances?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up third: artists to watch in 2024. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

The Big Moon are a 4-piece indie rock group from London England. On their latest album Here Is Everything, frontwoman Juliette Jackson unpacks the highs and lows of first-time motherhood. She details expectations versus realities, the double isolation of infant rearing and Covid lockdowns, all the way to the euphoria of loving your child. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Divorce blend the earnestness of country & folk with off-kilter headiness of indie rock. On their debut record 'Drive to Goldenhammer', they reflect on life on the road, long-distance relationships, queer identity, & the ways we care for others. Be sure to listen to 'Drive to Goldenhammer' wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Divorce on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YMVzWF9HWGbV4DZHfCyKo?si=Uu14n-51Q_GZdZUJs48fhg On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/divorce/1608076649 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/divorcehq/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@divorcehq Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On 'Taboo', Niambi (who you may know as one half of the duo OSHUN) asks the uncomfortable questions out loud. She challenges our society's rigid views of motherhood, womanhood, relationships, friendships, & so much more. The EP forces us to look within ourselves &, just maybe, break free from convention. Be sure to listen to 'Taboo', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Niambi on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/18VjYL567PiS4rphPwzWA6?si=7daKauvLQJSKmlmcnqOMVQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/au/artist/niambi/1729656842 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/niambi/?hl=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favorite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Eliza Shaddad is a Sudanese-Scottish artist. Her sound is equal parts gritty grunge and soft folk, and she pens her lyrics with unabashed transparency. On ‘The Woman You Want’, Eliza writes about the lows of lockdown, new marriage, and pushing against the expectations that others put on her. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Madison Cunningham is an artist based in Los Angeles. On her Grammy award-winning album 'Revealer', Madison faces hard inner truths, questions priorities, & unpacks family dynamics with compassion & curiosity. We spoke about the Deluxe Edition of the record, which includes extra songs that did not make the original cut. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

It’s been a busy spring for Julien Baker: she just released a collaborative album with Torres, ‘Send A Prayer My Way’ & announced her relationship with boygenius bandmate Lucy Dacus. Given all that, it seemed like a great time to re-issue my conversation with her from back in 2021. We talked about her last solo record, ‘Little Oblivions’, OCD, addiction & relapse, spirituality, & tons more. Her honesty throughout this conversation is why it remains one of my favourite interviews I’ve done, & one that has also resonated with a lot of you. Find Julien on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/12zbUHbPHL5DGuJtiUfsip?si=9noprhXZSzCOHZ5TDEtEZw On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/vg/artist/julien-baker/1033453223 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/julienrbaker/?hl=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

I spoke with songwriter & fellow Canadian Donovan Woods about his new record 'Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now'. On the album, he is brutally honest - he brings the same level of honesty to our conversation. We discuss the problems with creating an image of 'perfection', opening up to a partner about one's feelings, & the power of saxophones. Be sure to listen to 'Things Were Never Good If They're Not Good Now', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Donovan on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4SOtk3HtPYKqxnVuxNBMti?si=pfib1FPuQjiKLE8GGpWq7A On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/donovan-woods/275859076 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/donovanwoods/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ== TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@donovanwoods?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Her’s was a duo from Liverpool, comprised of Stephen Fitzpatrick and Audun Laading. Their fans loved them for their silly antics, beautiful friendship, and most importantly, their stylish yet deeply tender songs. As the third anniversary of their debut album “Invitation to Her’s” approaches, I wanted to look back on the beautiful music they made, and the wonderful people that they were. Because I did not know them well, I am joined by someone who did: Saam Jafarzadeh, their dear friend and producer of their debut album. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Flyte are a London-based folk duo. Whether they're narrating the lives of fictional characters, or getting vulnerable with personal tales, the band always takes a heartfelt approach. Each subject is handled with care, each song penned with poetry and nuance. On their third record, the self-titled 'Flyte', the band's relationships take centre stage - both long-term romantic relationships, and their beloved creative friendships. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop is is a reflection on Jonah's most recent experiences. But even with its stream of consciousness-style writing, when we look closer, themes like desire, assimilation, & a need to belong emerge. Be sure to listen to 'Jonah Yano & the Heavy Loop', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Jonah on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/4Js9qeA7KMFyjBYHEjFaeJ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/jonah-yano/1237016701 Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Curtis Waters is a Nepalese-Canadian artist. After a sudden viral hit shot him to fame in 2020, Curtis wanted to showcase a deeper side of his music, & tell his story on his own terms. Enter his sophomore album, BAD SON. On the album, Curtis covers the themes that intertwine in his life: fame & ego, bipolar disorder, the pressures of being the child of immigrants, & more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Feist is an artist from Alberta, Canada. For more than two decades, Feist has cemented herself as a pillar of Canada's folk music legacy. On her latest album Multitudes, she covers topics from motherhood and intergenerational womanhood, to mortality and variations of grief. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Rebecca Lucy Taylor, better known as Self Esteem, is an outspoken newcomer to the pop world. She shamelessly tackles mental health struggles, bad relationships, bisexuality, and more in her music. Her 2019 debut album, Compliments Please, is a reminder that pop music can be complex, contradictory and raw, even during its most danceable moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Michelle Zauner, better known as Japanese Breakfast, is a Brooklyn-based solo artist. After writing two albums made to help process grief - ‘Psychopomp’ & ‘Soft Sounds from Another Planet’ - she felt that she deserved to finally write about joy. On ‘Jubilee’, she explores joy from all angles, from chasing it to the experience of it. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Abby Sage is a Canadian-British artist. On her debut album The Rot, she muses on the cyclical nature of learning & unlearning. The record covers moments from her childhood all the way up to the present day, & embraces both the ugly & the beautiful parts of life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

'Eternal Reverie''s is the fruit of TOKiMONSTA changing her creative process & healing from burnout. Its 14 tracks are both a journal of joy & of grief; they serve as a tribute to her best friend, who passed away from cancer last year, & who, in many ways, is woven into them. Be sure to listen to 'Eternal Reverie' wherever you stream or buy your music! Find TOKiMONSTA on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3VwKSHAfgzV1DOHV0aANCI On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/tokimonsta/363141093 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tokimonsta/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@tiktokimonsta?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia About the podcast: Welcome to Before the Chorus, where we go beyond the sounds of our favourite songs to hear the stories of the artists who wrote them. Before a song is released, a record is produced, or a chorus is written, the musicians that write them think. A lot. They live. A lot. And they feel. A LOT. Hosted by award-winning interviewer Sofia Loporcaro, Before the Chorus explores the genuine human experiences behind the music. Sofia’s deep knowledge of music and personal journey with mental health help her connect with artists on a meaningful level. This is a space where fans connect with artists, and listeners from all walks of life feel seen through the stories that shape the music we love. About the host: Sofia Loporcaro is an award-winning interviewer and radio host who’s spent over 8 years helping musicians share their stories. She’s hosted shows for Amazing Radio, and Transmission Roundhouse. Now on Before the Chorus, she’s had the chance to host guests like Glass Animals, Feist, Madison Cunningham, Mick Jenkins, & Ru Paul's Drag Race winner Shea Couleé. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Shea Couleé is a drag performer & musician from Chicago. Having rose to fame across three seasons of Ru Paul's Drag Race, she became beloved for her multifaceted performance skills. Now, she's released her debut album, '8' - a conceptual look at the fictional Lipstick City, & a tale of black, queer euphoria. Be sure to listen to '8', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Shea on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0FrOnmhn1KtQ2n5mHF2SD6?si=RU0xe5WwT-KvgGn4SFGSKQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/us/artist/shea-coule%C3%A9/1250786046 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sheacoulee/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@sheacoulee?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Poppy Ajudha is a London-based solo artist. She has been making a name for herself in the London music scene for years, and in 2022, she has finally released her debut album The Power In Us. On this record, Poppy fiercely takes on a breadth of social issues, like abortion bans, feminism, immigration bans, mental health and more. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Superfan & I hopped on a Zoom call to discuss his debut record 'Tow Truck Jesus' (which has received praise from the likes of Julian Casablancas of The Strokes). The record touches on everything from transitioning & hormone replacement therapy, to navigating new love. And even though this record comes from his unique perspective, he reminds us that its themes are very much universal. Be sure to listen to 'Tow Truck Jesus', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Superfan on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3BO07jDo7Qs7qNLdwRoISM?si=S-KhLxu8QvOtSOLTHM32UQ On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/dk/artist/superfan/1536446529 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaliflanagan/?hl=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Quinn Christopherson is an artist from Anchorage, Alaska. Much like his Ahtna Athabascan and Iñupiaq ancestors, he is a storyteller at heart. He writes with earnestness & compassion, handling both heavy & joyful moments with equal care. On his debut record ‘Write Your Name in Pink’, he tells us stories from his life up until now. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Munya is a solo artist, originally from Saguenay, Quebec. Like many people during the pandemic, she found herself needing an escape - so she began writing. The result was an album filled with space-themed songs, made to take the listener on an intergalactic journey. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Genesis Owusu is a Ghanian-Australian artist, currently based in Canberra. He has an affinity for genre-stretching sounds & storytelling; because of this, his music is full of colour & complexity. On his debut album ‘Smiling With No Teeth’, he explores the interconnectedness of depression & racism - two things that have greatly impacted his life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

On the final EP of a four-part set, 'Act Four: Atonement', Mon Rovîa is atoning, letting go & finding footing. He describes the four EPs as a hero's journey of sorts. This last chapter reminds us that love truly is our greatest healer, a salve for guilt, apathy & trauma. Be sure to listen to 'Act 4: Atonement', wherever you stream or buy your music! Find Mon Rovîa on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6pvai2QB2c0defVI0UTFos?si=qX3d1QdNQQiudglD8Q3iXg On Apple Music: https://music.apple.com/lk/artist/mon-rov%C3%AEa/1313944611 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/monroviaboy/?hl=en TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@mon_rovia_boy?lang=en Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jelani Blackman is an artist from London, UK. On The Heart of It, he toes the fine line between hope & cynicism intertwining stories of infatuation & heartbreak, with ones of institutionalized discrimination & politicians who don't represent their people. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

In this 4-episode series, Sofia looks back at the music that moved her this year, & looks forward to 2024. Up first: her favourite concerts & music memories of 2023. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Over a four-part episode series, Sofia will be looking back on the music & memories of 2024, & looking forward to what 2025 has in store. On this episode, we turn our eyes to the new year with Sofia's Artists To Watch In 2025. Links to artists mentioned: Tin Angel Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/tin-angel/1765244022 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/7L3LoOLdiZ6RM4NEsH84nJ?si=BnRYMmJPQFCP9fEytA2-SA Divorce Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/divorce/1608076649 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0YMVzWF9HWGbV4DZHfCyKo?si=-1Be9tpBTte-HcvCiYTpCA Tiffany Stringer Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/tiffany-stringer/559628818 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Dv6bV7bzZSCAX0E0qLw7u?si=OiXPxzUQTEug0q0uGBrkiA Carly Bannister Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/carly-bannister/523756644 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/5GoLHATtGcyqwnLMmDRnch?si=KJ8gr0eXQDuP4EwCmXOBkw Mon Rovîa Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/mon-rov%C3%AEa/1313944611 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6pvai2QB2c0defVI0UTFos?si=5BVj5QC6RKaCsMwNulLwxg Faux Real Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/faux-real/620513308 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0853SMh8o0PpHpSTDHttsO?si=hi1W76PmTtGPxF-2yMkNSQ PrettyUgly Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/prettyugly/1711117807 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/0E8A04ZukBqS3V5J8sKvPU?si=z-MEvc9xStWyN6A9HFzRsg Adult DVD Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/adult-dvd/1550456447 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/1lT3vDbjqz299SxePec6ZG?si=PMOfOoJRTGqqGbdFRyN-AA Lawrence Matthews Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/lawrence-matthews/1688058288 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6Ow6yFUJ7YmITlMbdMUNTE?si=EpNTXR7aRUSnbYDZ_jkiSg Jackson Singleton Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/jackson-singleton/882868774 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/2vwALZue2IavoUzzLKo7Rc?si=wQNvBpYkQKecIL8fqHo3Vg Juliana Zachariou Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/julianna-zachariou/528528813 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/3MKLoCXEXufW2ldiQtUokO?si=eOJGSgFRSAGYadRA_sHn8w Dafna Apple: https://music.apple.com/gb/artist/dafna/1450666890 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/artist/6FR2ARlfDqNU7BMBaWjGZP?si=5CPZWyGkQX2V-hT8v75K1w Subscribe: https://beforethechorus.bio.to/listen Sign up for our newsletter: https://www.beforethechorus.com/ Follow on Instagram: @beforethechoruspodcast & @soundslikesofia Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Billie Marten is a solo artist currently based in London. Throughout her teen years, she became a rising star of UK indie folk. But until recently, she never explicitly wrote about herself, obscuring meaning behind poeticized lyrics. On “Flora Fauna” however, she has chosen to face herself directly, both celebrating the growth she has experienced, & readying herself for the growth that comes next. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Gengahr are a four-piece band from Hackney in East London. Their third studio album, Sanctuary, is an intimate dive into lead singer Felix’s experience with loss. It is also, however, a celebration of friendship and collaboration; Felix’s bandmates, Hugh, Danny, and John, stuck by him, and they brought on Jack Steadman of Bombay Bicycle Club as producer. The resulting songs are glimmering, heartbreaking, hopeful, and liberating, all at the same time. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

BEYRIES is a bilingual solo artist from Montreal Canada. She is passionate about the things that connect us, and this is what she centres her writing around. When her songs are released, she happily lets them evolve, allowing listeners find their own meanings in her music. This was a very different conversation than most of the ones I’ve had on this podcast. That being said, it’s a great reminder that meaning isn’t static, and that an artist’s role in shaping meaning can vary. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Nation of Language are a trio from Brooklyn, New York. Despite close comparisons to OMD, New Order & Kraftwerk, the band have managed to carve out an original sound. Their use of synthesizers is emotive & visceral, easily morphing from song to song. Their new record A Way Forward, spans the cold sounds of a concrete jungle to the euphoria of new love. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices