SPOTLIGHT: SOPHIA JOELLE

Meet Sophia Joelle and tune into her new single, “The Space You Took Up.”

Your music blends indie-pop with deeply introspective storytelling. Who were some of the artists that shaped your sound growing up?

I grew up listening to Taylor Swift, Neil Young, Sara Bareilles, and a whole lot of musical theater soundtracks. I think a lot of the storytelling aspects of my writing come from my early musical theater background. I also grew up listening to a lot of country music with my dad, which introduced me to the Nashville style of songwriting early on.

You’ve been navigating the Nashville music scene. How has that environment influenced your artistry compared to other music hubs?

I think the collaborative nature of Nashville has helped me grow as a songwriter and an artist so much. Everyone here genuinely loves music so much, and it shows. In co-writes, everyone is committed to getting the best version of a song and telling some sort of truth while doing it.

What initially drew you to songwriting? Was there a particular moment or song that made you realize music was your path?

I’ve always loved writing. I used to write my own short stories, plays, and musicals. When I learned how to play guitar, and learned a little more about Miss Taylor Swift, I realized I could write my own commercial songs as well. It became my favorite pastime, and I fell in love with it. I grew up next to former Colts player Hunter Smith, who also had his own band. He was one of my first music mentors and gave me tons of invaluable advice about the songwriting process.

The Space You Took Up captures a raw and emotionally complex narrative. What was the initial spark or experience that inspired this track?

The initial idea for this song came from my fear of wasting time and energy dating the wrong people, just because I was lonely. It sort of just morphed from there. I think this song could be looked at a few different ways for me. It could be the admission of your own fault In confusing connection for comfort. It could be a look into how someone else justified leading you on. I think that is really the beauty of songwriting. I know what this song means to me, but I hope that listeners can relate to it in whatever way best serves them when they hear it.

You wrote this song alongside Lauryn Marie and Jaan Harrison Kohm, what was that collaborative process like? How did their perspectives shape the final version?

Yes! We wrote this song in Jaan’s studio together. He does an amazing job of crafting tracks to fit a specific mood as we write, which I think really speeds up the creative process and gives us more freedom to focus on melody and lyrics. Lauryn is definitely one of my go-to’s when I have a song idea that I love, but don’t know what to do with. She has an amazing talent for understanding what my ideas could mean, even If I haven’t sorted them out myself yet. I brought the hook line “I mistook love for the space you took up” to Jaan and Lauryn, and the three of us banged it out!

You worked with Jackson Badgley on production, what sonic elements did you want to emphasize to bring the emotions of the song to life?

Jackson has been my producer for years now, and he nails my vision every time. I usually give him a basic idea and mood for the song, but in all honesty, I give him a lot of creative freedom to take the track in whatever direction he thinks is best. I trust him to give the song whatever sonic elements it needs. When I do have specific sections I want emphasized, or instrumental parts that I want incorporated, he always delivers in a way that’s far better than what I heard in my head.

The track’s title, The Space You Took Up, carries a powerful weight. How does that phrase encapsulate the emotional core of the song?

“The Space You Took Up” to me captures the whole meaning of the song. It is about wanting something real with someone, but realizing they were just taking up space in your life that someone else left empty. I think it will resonate with anyone who has gone through a bad breakup and struggled to date again after losing such a significant person. I also know a lot of my friends struggle with dating, because they’ve never had a serious relationship before. It can be hard and confusing to know if you’re really compatible with someone, or if you’re both just forcing connection.

Lyrics are at the heart of your music, do you have a favorite line from The Space You Took Up that resonates with you the most?

I have a few! I love the line in the pre-chorus that says, “This is a truth even I can’t bend.” I think a lot of times, we tell ourselves little lies to make it through the day, but there comes a point when something is so obvious that you can’t even hide it from yourself anymore. I think this line encapsulates that sentiment. I also love the line “I fell for you into a ditch” from the bridge. It sounds a little mean, but I think it gives a strong visual to the feeling of being excited about meeting someone you could see a potential connection with, then realizing it’s definitely not a romantic one. Like going on a great first date, then a terrible second one. I think it’s a playful and powerful line.

The song speaks to spiraling thoughts and a villain complex. Can you break down how you approached writing those themes to make them feel so universal?

I think a lot of people who deal with anxiety, like myself, have some sort of villain complex. I wrote this song about how that could play out when it comes to dating, but the theme itself is pretty universal for those who live with it. It can look like feeling overly guilty for things that aren’t necessarily all your fault, and it can be hard to let go and forgive yourself. I think this underlying concept finds its way into a lot of my music, such as “Leading You On” and “Emotional Deathwish” from my double EP “Versions Of Me.”

Your songwriting often leans into vulnerability. How do you navigate sharing such personal emotions while still making space for listeners to see themselves in your songs?

This is a great question. I think often we assume the songs our favorite artists put out are word-for-word what happened to them. I tend to take inspiration from experiences and emotions in my own life and craft a song around them. The exact details aren’t always real situations I’ve been through, but the lessons learned from them always are. I think this helps keep my music vulnerable, and open-ended for listeners to interpret them however serves them best.

You’ve released music before, but does this single mark any sort of shift in your artistic direction or personal growth?

My most recent release, my double EP “Versions Of Me” was a celebration of finding my identity as an artist. It was a bunch of songs that I loved, that didn’t necessarily have one cohesive sound. I think putting that project out and giving myself the freedom to explore my identity as an artist has helped me craft a more honed-in sound, and “The Space You Took Up” is a result of that. I’m really excited for where things are headed.

Were there any unexpected challenges in the production process that ended up shaping the song in a way you didn’t expect?

This was one of those songs that came together pretty quickly and naturally. Sometimes we go through multiple drafts of initial production trying to find the right sound for the song, but that wasn’t the case this time.

Your fans are incredibly engaged with your music, what do you hope they take away from The Space You Took Up?

I hope listeners hear this song and realize we can all give a little more grace to ourselves. Especially for listeners in their mid-twenties like me. This time of life is hard and confusing. We’re going to make mistakes that hurt people, and sometimes those people will be ourselves. It’s all part of learning and growing, and hopefully finding someone who isn’t just taking up space in your life…but filling that space.

With this release out in the world, what’s next for you? Is The Space You Took Up leading toward a larger project, like an EP or album?

I will definitely have some more music coming soon… but that’s all I know as of now. I would love to eventually put out a full-length album, but that’s all I’ll say for now.

If someone is hearing your music for the first time through this single, what’s the one thing you’d want them to know about who Sophia Joelle is as an artist?

I would want them to know that I’m a safe place for other confused and anxiety ridden people out there who are just doing their best! *laughs* But in seriousness, I make music because I need to, and because others need it to feel connected and seen. It is a joy and a privilege.

“The Space You Took Up” is now out on all streaming platforms!