SOFY is a British alternative pop artist who first came to my attention when I caught her playing at Leeds Festival in 2022. Fast forward to now and she’s just released her new mixtape reflecting on the last year and a half. It’s called Chaos & Commotion.

By Graeme Smith

Feature photo by MOJA

It’s been a time for SOFY. At the beginning of the year, she signed to Chess Club Records and followed that up with four BBC Radio 1 premieres, a Dork Hype Cover, and a support slot for Tash Sultana. She even managed to fit within all of that the announcement of a UK wide headline tour.

SOFY loves to pack her music full of a wide range of eclectic influences and cultural references. Yet, through it all is something instantly relatable. She’s not afraid to tell us how she really feels across these absorbing nine tracks in which she tries to process all that’s happening to her.

The journey starts, appropriately enough, with Yoyo. It’s has a rich pop composition, marking an evolution of the SOFY sound. What certainly remains are her charismatic vocals and clever lyricism, particularly during a soaring, memorable chorus that will energise you. It’s a rousing start.

Ashley Cole Type Beat opens with a fuzzy hip hop beat before we get some quick-fire vocal delivery, looping acoustic guitar, and lairy storytelling. Socks softens things with some intimate, romantic dreamy pop before Timothée Chalamet funks things up with some upbeat sultriness. It’s a highlight.

Breathing Exercises sits at the heart of the mixtape with some smouldering introspection. No Drama gives us some twinkling, laidback RnB. WET PAINT is swaggering and groovy. He’s Not You gives us some throwback indie pop heartache before supermarket closes the mixtape with acoustic guitar and longing.

SOFY’s UK tour kicks off on 28 November in Glasgow before bringing the party here to Yorkshire at Headrow House, Leeds on the 29th. Stops in Nottingham, Bristol, London, Leicester and Manchester follow.

You can check out Chaos & Commotion below.