Mid into her debut album, SOFY asks her recurring romantic interest, “By the way, would you ever turn your guilt into pleasure?”. Off-hand for such a loaded question, it adheres to the universal irony of longing for emotional expression while grappling with insecurity. Known for her observational lyricism, the ‘Big Talk’ singer fills the distance between artist and listener, offering a personal take on romantic desire. ‘Another Day In Paradise, ’ the London artist’s alt-pop mixtape and second release with Chess Club Disco, arrives on March 7th, capturing the restless mix of longing and guilt that comes with wanting to be part of someone’s life.
A simple premise, and one difficult to communicate in its very nature, there is nothing necessarily trailblazing about this record but a lingering sense that it is not meant to be. Lead single ‘togethertogether’ epitomises this by somersaulting into the ever-popular bedroom pop genre. About the frustration of not knowing where you stand with someone, the carefree and bouncy pop track calls to Circa Waves’s ‘T-Shirt Weather’ while exerting a fun-to-be-had for screaming at the world.
Follow up single ‘mine’ is one of the album’s standouts with SOFY’s soft, honeyed vocals melting into hazy guitar riffs, and builds into the tumultuous pull of growing desire. Flirting with shoegaze, the dead metaphors and harmonious chanting aspire to the angst of Wolf Alice but retain SOFY’s signature polished playfulness. ‘desktop’ leans into this sheen with nostalgia pop, projecting the fleeting sparks of late summer romance. Catchy and, at moments, stirring in the artist’s plea to “call me when you want me”, its light production risks feeling completely weightless, more aesthetic than affecting.
Opening tracks ‘sticky’ and ‘hush!’ confront the helplessness of being caught in a crush but never quite sell the feeling. ‘sticky’ deviates musically, underscored by a Stone Roses inspired trip hop beat that emits an attitude. ‘hush!’ bottles up emotions, repressed within a rigid chorus that jars against the idea of uncontrollable desire.
Compared to the carefree teenage fantasies that chase the opening tracks, ‘pirates’ and ‘grand designs (interlude)’ strip back the gloss in favour of lyrical vulnerability. A fear to commit to feelings are central, especially in ‘pirates’ which is populated by metaphorical escapades and heartfelt promises, yet equally steals a trove of derivative melodies. The latter acoustic song presses closer to authenticity with soft harmonies, finger picking and grounded lyricism.
The final tracks on the mixtape fall out of insecurity and dare to dream. A full circle response to the bitterness exuded in ‘togethertogether’, ‘floating forever’ directs all the artist’s hope for a love that lasts, a direction which could benefit from straying the mixtape’s familiar sonic palette. Faring better, ‘front seat honey’ reimagines all that is possible for romance, declaring “I want the house, the car, and all the trimmings” with full throttle. Capsuling the specificities of a relationship, it’s an indie anthem for throwing caution to the wind.
Subscribing to the indie genre’s tendency to be packed with teen clichés and wistful refrains, the record is clear in its mission to be a cohesive journey. SOFY herself has said that the album was created to be “listened to as a whole”, retaliating against the pressure of the industry to create “soundbites that conform to algorithms”.
At its heart, ‘Another Day In Paradise’ captures the messy, vulnerable essence of modern longing. SOFY’s diaristic approach offers a refreshing authenticity, and moments of genuine emotional resonance shine through. However, the album’s tendency towards familiar sonic landscapes and a lack of consistently sharp songwriting ultimately limits its lasting impact. While it succeeds in conveying the raw feeling of wearing one’s heart on one’s sleeve, it stops short of transforming that feeling into a truly memorable or groundbreaking musical statement.