Sophia Warren - “Static”
Photo by Azul Cuellar
Ahead of her sophomore EP, Austin, Texas-based Sophia Warren has just revealed the raw and dreamy sounds of “Static.”
This lo-fi, slow-burning spoonful of bedroom pop gets started with the sounds of a live drum kit, delicately setting the scene for the arrival of some soft bass and shimmering guitar. The vibe is dreamy and melancholic, primarily consisting of real instruments, landing it smack-dab in the center of our niche for modern pop music.
Warren’s vocal performance is just as authentic as the rest of the arrangement, free of any unnecessary pitch correction, which is becoming harder and harder to find these days. Instead, Warren leans quite heavily into natural talent and emotion, with moments that are warmly reminiscent of The Cardigans and Brandi Carlile.
As “Static” progresses, some soft swells of synth fill in the gaps of the soundscape. At the helm of production is Chris Coady (TV On The Radio, Yeah Yeah Yeahs, diiv, Beach House, Slowdive), who has left the sound rich and organic, tinged with the warmth of analogue. Adding and removing elements, the song maintains a remarkable sense of ebb and flow, yet spellbindingly dream-like in its propulsion.
About the track, Warren adds: “‘Static’ is the sound of memories slipping away, warping each time I reach for them. It’s the weight of guilt, the moments I’ve replayed endlessly, slowly losing their shape but never their hold on me. I once read that every time we remember something, it changes—becoming less about what actually happened and more about how we think it happened. That thought haunted me. How much of what I’ve tortured myself over is even real anymore? How many times have I let a memory define me when, in reality, it was already unraveling?”