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Every Monday we will be bringing you interviews with unsigned UK or Ireland artists for Independent Music Monday. Recently we caught up with unsigned London singer Sophie Jamieson to find out more…

Where are you from and how did you first get into music?
Hi! I’m from London and I woke up to music, like many, in my teenage years. I wrote embarrassing songs throughout school, and when I got to university I discovered artists of the new-folk scene who opened my eyes to what song-writing could be. From there I wrote better songs, started playing gigs, and ten years later here we are.

Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
The first music I remember listening to was The Beatles 67-70 album my dad copied onto tape from my uncle’s CD. That tape got pretty worn down. Then of course there was the Spice Girls. Oh man. Then I discovered Avril Lavigne and she reigned my musical listening for most of my early teens. I loved Daniel Bedingfield. I’m sorry. I woke up a little and found Damien Rice, Norah Jones, Regina Spektor and for a while I was obsessed with the soundtrack to Amélie.

Nowadays I look up to musicians who know how to hit you square in the stomach with words and delivery. For a long time, Sharon Van Etten has been my no.1. Then there’s Aldous Harding, Julia Jacklin, Andy Shauf, Emilie Nicholas, Frightened Rabbit and Elena Tonra. Nothing too perfect. It’s all about grit.

How would you describe your sound?
Spacious, rough around the edges, emotionally intense.

What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
I’ve just released a song called “Forward” which is the lead single from a new EP called “Release”. These songs all circle around the subject of loneliness, and looking for a space to breathe, for escape, relief, or release. Around the time of writing, some of my favourite songs were Aldous Harding’s “I’m So Sorry”, Julia Jacklin’s “Body” and Ex:Re’s “My Heart”.

What’s your local music scene like?
It’s a while since I’ve been involved with it, but it’s incredible. I used to play gazillions of gigs when I first started out, and the (mostly East) London folk scene was my home. It’s where I made most of my friends, learned my chops and grew up. It was a beautiful inter-connected web of people who supported each other, played together and formed long-lasting communities. Most gigs you’d play were 3-band bills and chances are you would have already played before with at least one other band, or would meet them again in the future. I formed my own band by meeting people on the scene, I got signed by my first label and worked with several producers through meeting people at gigs. I’m sure it’s still as wonderful as it was at that time, but I stopped playing music for 5 years and now it’s Covid-Time so I couldn’t say whether it’s changed a lot since then or not. But it is a beautiful organism and I wouldn’t have managed any of what I have done without those beginnings. It holds an ever-lasting place in my heart.

What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
That’s a tough question during these unknowable times. Firstly I’m putting out this EP over the next couple of months, and begging people to like it. Then I’m hoping to be back in the studio in the new year to record a debut album. I’d obviously love to be gigging as much as possible but we have to play that by ear. I’m planning to focus on what I can definitely do, which is make this goddam album.

Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
Oh wow. I’m pretty nervous about collaborating because my writing process is pretty insular and isolating… so the whole idea generally makes me shudder. It’s a step out of my comfort zone which I would like to be more ready to embrace. I think I’d take a spin with Julia Jacklin though. I’d like to write something a little more fun. Music I can sing and smile to at the same time?? But I’d need a little help. I reckon JJ stands a good chance of teasing out Fun Sophie. I’m not sure what I’d have to offer her though…

Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
Sure! I’ve cried on stage twice. And the result has always been super weird. One time I was on tour with my band in a tiny town in Austria. Everything on stage went wrong and I’d had a fight with my guitarist and mid-set I had to stop and cry. We sold more CDs that night than any other night on tour. Another time I was on tour with Marika Hackman and we were playing in Manchester. I think I was just getting really overtired but I kept making mistakes and I ended up sobbing into the mic during the last song. It was mortifying. But afterwards I got more social media mentions than any other night of that tour. So weird. Sorry, I’m not sure if those are funny stories.

What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
I spend a lot of time thinking about why I write, how I write, and why and how other people write. I take it very seriously. It’s a continuous journey just trying to understand why I’m doing what I’m doing. But there is something vital at the centre of it, I’m always trying to find even though I don’t know what I’m looking for. There’s a quote by Ursula Le Guin on the writer which I love, and try to remind myself of each day.

Her work, I really think her work
Isn’t fighting, isn’t winning,
Isn’t being the earth, isn’t being the moon. Her work, I really think her work
Is finding what her real work is
And doing it,
Her work, her own work,
Her being human,
Her being in the world.

You can find out more about Sophie via Bandcamp, Facebook, Instagram, SoundCloud, Spotify, Twitter or YouTube.