PREMIERE | Sophie Colette, "In Love a Little"

The pop portraits of Sophie Colette; photographed by Ogata Saito.

The sentiment and power of love is one of the most mystical and visceral phenomenons covered in the music game since the dawning of existence. The love song / lovers rock / ballads / etc all exhibit a feeling that overtakes the being and spirit by way of a sentiment that soars to magnificent heights. On the debut of “In Love a Little” from Brooklyn-based artist Sophie Colette; the candid and cryptic exchanges of sung whispers and evening phone call coos are illustrated in understated and intimate intonations. Colette collects gently the onset of inward reckonings and questions of deep cares with components of consciousness that ponders the extents of those depths and grapples with the dimension and scale of connections that are beyond the constraints of conventional comprehension (and their corresponding adjectives).

“In Love a Little” allows the listening audience to be privy to newfound fascinations of mesmerizing mystery. Featuring production from Julie Kathryn (of I Am Snow Angel fame), Colette presents a lullaby dressed as a late night dream prayer that blends amorous visions that traverse both the physical and fantastical spheres of experience. The sparse production is arranged together like an endearing constellation populated by planetary sized scores of feelings set as the atmospheric and evocative moods that fill the song’s galaxy. The song’s delivery is reminiscent of sleep-talk spent with specters and the intriguing characters that populate our imagination that act as avatar doubles inspired by the objects of our affection from wakened life. “In Love a Little” embodies the radiant energy and sparks of light that combine together with the realization of a deep empathy that transcends the self, consciousness and senses of universes colliding in cataclysms that defy the schools of physics and other correlating sciences.

Reflections by Sophie Colette; press photo courtesy of Ogata Saito.

Sophie Colette took the time to share the following series of thought reflections:

Insights on the evolution from the previous single "Would You Like It?" to the supernatural sentimentality of "In Love a Little".

It’s interesting, both songs were actually written around the same time and inspired by similar situations. Both revolve around being honest about one’s feelings for another person, embracing vulnerability and having a conversation in one’s own head, or to that person. Whereas the uptempo “Would You Like It?” is about getting the feelings out of your head, “In Love a Little” preserves that moment of self-realization that maybe you’ve fallen in love and don’t want to admit it, for whatever reason. It’s an introspective moment and I wanted to sonically reflect that.

It was also the first time I worked with a female producer, Julie Kathryn ( I Am Snow Angel) who embraced the supernatural sounds, alien-esque spirits and thundering soundscapes that give the song visual resonance. I wanted to experiment in a sonic direction that I hadn’t done before, to create an ethereal moment that would support the emotions of confusion and acceptance in this beginning phase of love.

Love songs are a universal staple in the grand narrative of music as a whole. Describe how inspirations of love, adoration and affection inspire you musically.

I have to admit that I’m an expert daydreamer and hopeful romantic at heart, which helps me tap into the arc of feelings and tension that come with Love. I can easily obsess and want to preserve a feeling or moment with someone. The classic nuances and expressions of love, like seeing your grandparents hold hands, observing how one person looks at another in adoration, or exchanging a secret smile, never get old with me. All of these sentiments flow pretty naturally into my lyrics and music, down to the chord progressions and timbres. It’s amazing how a few notes, or a certain sound, can conjure a whole feeling and hit home.

As someone with a mind for fashion design tell us about the similarities, divergences and intersections where stylistic semiotics and the medium of music meet for you.

Aside from the actual mediums being different, both music and fashion design are personal expressions of feelings and attitudes. Both are stylistically nuanced, and both have their own respective palettes. When it comes to songwriting or production, my personal process, sensibilities, sensitivities and aesthetics with each medium start to converge and inform the other. My synesthesia really kicks in; I see the sound from a visual and aural perspective.

I visualize a lot when I write, and it’s usually abstract like a palette of colors, a feeling, a reference to photography/art, and/or a visceral experience that’s full on. Sometimes it gets pretty specific and I can hear or feel the song in parallel to a scene in my head (for example, I want this song to feel like I’m floating down a beam of light after a romantic apocalypse. I’m wearing white chiffon, I’m weightless and it’s midnight.) Thinking visually is often how I explore the aesthetic production and composition of the song – how will the reverb color the mood? Do these timbres make sense with the visual and feeling? Are we creating a sonic outfit of solid colors or a crazy print? What textures are we making?

So it’s more about exploring how I can render the visual through a sonic palette and how they play off each other. It can get a bit conceptual but sometimes it’s the only way to make sense of what I hear. I’m sure I’ve driven producers crazy when I explain a sonic vision through non-musical references and terms.

Perspectives and world glances by Sophie Colette; photographed by Ogata Saito.

Top five obsessive items of media, lit/music/film/tv/art/et al. that have been a wealth of inspiration for you.

1) Claude Monet

Whenever I see his paintings I think of the composer Claude Debussy. They were both pioneers of Impressionism in art and music and I’ve written many bridges inspired by their dreamy aesthetic.

2) “Steps” by Frank O’Hara

Discovered this poem on a recent visit to the MoMA (The Museum of Modern Art) in NYC and I wish I knew about his work sooner. The last stanza has such simple words that carry so much romantic weight. It reminds me that songwriting (and most other things) doesn’t have to be complicated to be effective.

3) BRÍET

I discovered her while attending Iceland Airwaves 2019 and have been obsessed with her vocals and lyrics in her song “Carousel” ever since. She’s able to convey a bittersweet tension with her voice that is so relatable and vulnerable.

4) Gabriel Olafs

Another artist I discovered at Iceland Airwaves 2019, at 10am in the morning while still jet-lagged. I’m enamored with the way he manipulates piano sounds and delivers emotion through the keys. During his intimate set he used a paper towel to dampen the piano’s hammers — it was really memorable and engaging to watch.

5) Dries van Noten

One my favorite fashion designers. His runway shows are always gorgeous, emotional and inspire a poetic romance with a bit of unexpected edge. He creates desirable clothes that can be conceptual but wearable and relatable at the same time.

Sophie Colette’s meditations on inspirations; photographed by Ogata Saito.

Next big singles/releases in the docket.

I’m currently working on a new batch of material for a forthcoming EP, so stay tuned!

Spring/summer 2020 hopes and wishes.

I really hope the corona virus will have left us by then; it’s hit everyone hard on practically every level. That aside, I’m mostly looking forward to spending time writing and recording new material and seeking inspiration in different cities and sceneries.

Words of wisdom to impart.

Stay grateful, keep nurturing yourself and your relationships and keep chasing your dreams – it’s worth it. Being an artist is challenging in so many ways and quite an emotional ride, so embracing the beautiful moments and surrounding yourself with supportive people is really important to keep you sane and keep you going.

Sophie Colette’s“Falling in Love a Little” will be available March 27 on Spotify and everywhere.

The single release showwill be March 31 at Rockwood Music Hall (Stage 1) in NYC.