“Music really did save me and that is not an exaggeration.”
Sophia Bel is the dreamy Montreal songstress redefining pop. Navigating atmospheric soundscapes with textured vocals, her Princess of The Dead, Vol. I EP is an ethereal triumph with hints of feminine punk on the nose. Turning pain into art, Sophia bravely titled the 4-track effort after herself. “Princess of The Dead” was a name hatefully thrown at her by bullies during her youth, a name that left a lingering impact. Amidst her ode to self-love, Sophia Bel talks healing, beautiful glowing creatures, and creative processes.
Interview by Alli Lindsey
Photography by Dimitri Guedes and Yannick Fornacciari
What was the creative process behind Princess of the Dead?
A lot of introspection and reminiscing of my childhood and teen years.
How would you describe the Sophia Bel aesthetic? Where do you draw that inspiration from?
I draw my inspiration from the music and fashion of the late 90s and early 2000s. Let’s call it soft-pop-trip-hop.
As a pop-punk songstress, how do you feel about punk being “in style” right now?
Honestly I find it funny that so many people have been comparing me to the punk era. I guess my brother’s blink182 CDs have rubbed of on me more than I had realized.
“I always have images and colors in my head during my creation process.”
What are some of your greatest fears, and how are they mirrored in “Princess of the Dead”?
As a former outcast kid, I have some deeply ingrained abandonment issues. In “When I Found Love” and “Time”, I wanted to evoke my insecurities in relationships.
There are some distinguished electronic influences in the EP, what electronic artists did you draw inspiration from?
I worked on “Princess of The Dead, Vol. I” with CRi, a very talented electronic artist from Montreal. We drew inspiration from artists like Moby and Sneaker Pimps.
What do you want your listeners to take away from the EP?
It’s okay to love yourself.
Do you have any rituals or routines that you practice when you’re writing music?
I usually build a song around a few words or a sound that I like. I always have images and colors in my head during my creation process.
What roadblocks and challenges did you have to overcome when creating the EP?
My overthinking and self doubt can be very debilitating. I try to live my life with a “ying and yang” attitude. Every flaw that you find in yourself is mirrored by a positive quality, it’s just a question of perspective and seeing the glass half full.
In often over-saturated industry of music, what cliches did you want to avoid?
Following trends gets old very fast in my opinion. I’ve never been comfortable blending in.
If you had to choose a movie or film to represent Princess of the Dead what would be? Why?
Blue Planet season 2’s episode “the deep”. Exploring the deep end of my subconscious was like diving into the depths of the sea, a world full of mysterious, beautiful glowing creatures.
The EP title, “Princess of the Dead” is an ode to a name given to you by bullies growing up. Can you tell us what that was like?
School was my hell and home was my safe place. I was harassed almost every day by my bullies for about 2 years. It’s only when I stood up and sang in front of everyone at my school’s talent show that they finally stopped. Music really did save me and that is not an exaggeration.
“My overthinking and self doubt can be very debilitating. I try to live my life with a “ying and yang” attitude.”
At what point did you realize* that you could turn “Princess of the Dead” into something as valuable* and creative as your EP?
It wasn’t a conscious decision. I was very depressed and started therapy to relieve myself of some of the self loathing and anxiety that I was dealing with. It’s really when we started revisiting my past that I was able to forgive myself and see my traumas from today’s perspective. In “Princess of The Dead”, I recycled those traumas and created something soothing and soft. Writing has always been my tool to process my emotions, it gives my pain a reason to be I guess.
Other than getting bullied, what else can we learn about your upbringing in the EP?
I was always a hopeless romantic.
What can we learn about your current life through the EP?
The song “In My Mind” expresses my will to speak up and fight for what I believe in. Personally I was thinking about the planet, but it can apply to anyone’s convictions.
What else can listeners expect from you in 2019?
Lots and lots of new music.
