Now Reading
EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sophie Powers Spills The Tea On ‘1 Thing,’ Working With Kellin Quinn, And Being Young In The Industry

EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW: Sophie Powers Spills The Tea On ‘1 Thing,’ Working With Kellin Quinn, And Being Young In The Industry

Sophie Powers is just starting to pave her way in the music industry, but she is making a huge impact! As a teen in the industry, she has the power to inspire other teens (and even adults) with her music.

[apple_music_ad artist=”Sophie Powers” song=”1 Thing”]

Her single ‘1 Thing’ talks about her mental health struggles, specifically anxiety. She penned a tune about the “1 Thing” that gets her through the darkest times of struggle – a topic that affects so many people in the world today, including many of us here at The Honey POP. To say we fell in love with Sophie Powers and her song ‘1 Thing’ upon first listen would be an understatement!

Getting the chance to interview her made our excitement grow 10,000 times more! So, enough of our chitchat, let’s get into the good stuff!

How did you get your start in music? Have you always been passionate about singing or did you get your start as a musician?
I’ve been passionate about singing for as long as I can remember and practically begged my parents to put me in singing lessons at age 5. I learned the guitar at a young age (8) as well, and also learned the violin but I quit that after a year when I was 10 haha. So I guess you could say I started off with singing, then grew as a musician. As for my start in music, I grew up always singing and songwriting, which led to my interest in musical theatre and doing several in school/outside of school plays. I loved the way performing made me feel and after 9 I realized performing was really what I wanted to do with the rest of my life in summer 2019. I started online school after that summer to pursue music full-time and honed in my songwriting skills to get a few demos recorded to send out to agents/managers in Toronto. I eventually met my current manager in February 2020, and did daily sessions/lessons for months, figuring out my sound and style. I think I truly discovered my sound after 4 months of living in LA alone (Sept 2020-Jan 2021) working on music every day. Since April 2021 I’ve been releasing music every 4-6 weeks. 

Your recent single ‘1 Thing’ portrays the feeling of having an anxiety attack and that one person or thing that swoops in and makes you feel better, they support you through it, and you’ve stated your mom is that person for you. What are the biggest ways your mom has been your biggest support system and what is one thing you want to tell her that you haven’t?
School was so hard for me. And I don’t mean learning-wise, but more social-wise. I’ve been to over 6 different schools from JK-Grade 10. Being a sensitive person, while struggling with anxiety and depression my whole life, as a kid a lot of the normal bullying stuff felt like 10x worse for me. Something I’d want to tell my mom that I haven’t is that I wouldn’t be here right now without her. She taught me to continue expressing myself even when it felt like self-expression was the thing that resulted in bullying.

Sophie Powers
Image Source: Jaszifer

Kellin Quinn is an absolute legend, and that must’ve been a huge deal for you to have him feature on your latest track! What was it like working with him on ‘1 Thing’ and do you have a favorite memory of your time working together?
He is a legend! He’s the nicest guy too. I actually think my favorite memory from filming the ‘1 Thing’ music video with him was when my Dad came back on set with Starbucks for everyone, and for himself, he was carrying a white liquid in his cup. He poured it into his frappe but Kellin said “Dude I thought you got a cup of just milk for a second there” and I burst out laughing. I don’t know why but that’s just so funny to me still. Kellin’s a funny guy but he’s super talented and I’m honestly so blessed to have worked with him. 

We think songs like ‘1 Thing’ are so important for everyone to hear, especially the younger generation. What inspired you to write a song about your experience with anxiety and mental health?
I think my generation has had to deal with a lot. The dawn of the internet and a complete digital pivot with massive technological advancements like the creation of the electric car and social media are huge things for an adult to understand, let alone a child. For me, music was the thing I always had to help me deal with understanding those things. It’s like I emotionally connected with songs where the artist was talking about confusion and sudden bursts of aggression and panic or unbearable numbness. I related to those lyrics mentally and physically, dealing with anxiety and depression, and that’s the whole reason I started making music. Because I want to help kids/people get through things with my music in the same way that music helped me get through things. I write songs about mental health and anxiety for that reason. It’s also a form of self-expression, but knowing expressing myself more openly can help someone else possibly express themselves more openly, is very relieving.

So many of us can relate to this song on a personal level, having mental health struggles ourselves, besides music, what are some things you do to help you deal with your anxiety?
I’d say finding a way of emitting that anxiety has been the most refreshing thing for me. By emitting I mean just simply putting my thoughts into words, or art. Instead of sitting and letting my thoughts build on one another, which for me eventually leads to anxiety/panic attacks, I get up and do something with that anxiety. Whether that means talking to someone, or talking out loud to myself, the more open and honest I am, the more I honestly remember, my anxiety stems from thoughts, and thoughts come and go. 

Sophie Powers
Image Source: Jaszifer

What songs do you like to listen to the most to help you get through episodes of bad anxiety?
To be honest, if I’m having an episode of bad anxiety, instead of listening to slower songs I tend to want to listen to hyper pop or angstier fast songs. One of my go-to songs is ‘Numb’ by Linkin Park because I connect with the angry outburst of emotions in its explosive chorus. It feels like shouting songs fast and getting up and moving my body to them is much more helpful than sitting in a crouched ball listening to slow music. I can distract my body and convince it that it’s not in danger (which is what a panic attack tells your body) by singing and dancing. Sitting still will only allow my thoughts to become more narrow and that would only worsen my anxiety. 

We love the powerful meaning and the raw lyrics that make us feel like we’re not alone in our mental health struggles but what is it about your music that you feel draws people in and keeps them hooked?
Thank you for that! I really try to be as honest as I can with my lyrics which I think draws people in. My writing style is poetic, but it also isn’t because I like to get straight to the point which I guess people also appreciate. I say things as they are, and I’ve always been a direct person that way. Most people like my directness, but there are also some who don’t. I’m not here to write songs you listen to the whole way through, but can’t sit there and think “wow I totally have been there before” or “damn that’s lowkey deep.” There’s a story and simple thought that can be unraveled behind my upfront lyrics and I like to let people unpack that themselves.

Our favorite lyric from ‘1 Thing’ is probably at the start of the chorus when it says ‘Because my mind is not my friend, there’s no getting away,” which lyric from the song is your favorite and why?
I think my favorite lyric would also be that part! It took sooo long to figure out how we were going to connect the verse and the pre there but I and one of my 2 other co-writers Shelby had such a moment when I said because my ____ is not my friend and she filled it in with mind. Right then we knew that was it, and it’s cool listening to the song now and remembering that huge “aha” studio moment. It was literally the last lyric we wrote to the song because we were so stuck. I’m really happy with how it turned out, and I think it’s the most rewarding lyrical statement in the whole song in a way.

Sophie Powers
Image Source: Jaszifer

If you weren’t in music, what career path do you think you would have chosen?
Honestly, anything in the arts. I’ve had an agent for acting and am still passionate about it, but I’d mostly hope to be a fashion designer. I still design most of the outfits I wear and get help sewing them and custom making them. I can never find what I want in a store, half of my closet is thrifted from the UK and Japan at this point aside from my own clothing designs hahahah

See Also
Gretta Ray

What has it been like being a 16 year old in the industry? Has it been more difficult for you to achieve your goals due to being so young? Do you have any advice for other young people looking to break into the industry? Has anyone shared any great advice with you that has stuck with you and helped you?
I just turned 17 actually, but this whole journey started right after I turned 15. It took me almost a year just to find my sound and improve vocally, so you could say it’s been crazy. I started releasing music during a pandemic, and haven’t been able to perform, so achieving my goals has been harder as touring/performing is a massive path towards gaining exposure as a new artist. I have been given lots of support though, which I am so grateful for. Without the support system I’ve built alongside my team, family, friends, I would be nothing. That being said, the best advice I would give to any upcoming artist is to surround yourself with the right people. If you don’t do that, you cannot and will not be able to grow as a person or artist. Nobody told me that actually. I believe it though, and I believe it.

via Tenor

Well, there you have it, honey poppers! Thank you, Sophie, for chatting with us and giving us a little insight into your mind and your powerful anthem, ‘1 Thing.’ We can’t wait to see what you do next!

What do you think about Sophie Powers and her track ‘1 Thing?’ What did you think about our interview? How stoked are you to see what Sophie does next? Let us know in the comments below or by tweeting us @TheHoneyPOP! You can also hit us up on Facebook and Instagram!

Want to read more interviews from your faves? Buzz over here!

TO LEARN MORE ABOUT SOPHIE POWERS:
FACEBOOK INSTAGRAM TIKTOK | TWITTER | YOUTUBE

Featured Image Source: Jaszifer via Sophie Powers Official Instagram

What's Your Reaction?
Excited
0
Happy
0
In Love
0
Not Sure
0
Silly
0
View Comments (4)

Leave a Reply

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

© 2022 The Honey POP. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Scroll To Top

Discover more from The Honey POP

Subscribe now to keep reading and get access to the full archive.

Continue reading