Today we had an exclusive chance to interview Soche:
Can you give our readers a recap on your musical journey thus far?
This journey is very much a work in progress. I’ve always been interested in the concept of storytelling, which drew me to the mediums of music and film in completely different ways – music lets me tap into my creative subconscious and take the reins on expression through songwriting and music production while film lets me tap into my managerial instincts as I’m responsible for getting a film out on time and on budget (film producing has been my “day job” for the past decade). It’s an interesting balance.
What kicked the musical journey into action was the onset of the pandemic last year. I was forced to take a pause and reflect on my life and my ever growing desire to give music a go full time. That passion drove me to complete my first EP titled “Loose Fiction”, released last October. I just released my first song of 2021 Lately this past Friday, which allowed me to tap into a new style of music and showcase myself in that light.
Music is how I best address my emotions and things left unsaid. It’s how I work towards closure since I’m giving you my side of the story. A ton of in moment setbacks have been addressed and closed out that way. It’s my own personal therapy I guess.
How do you come up with an idea for a song, and how would you describe the process of taking it from conception to release?
Oftentimes a hook or melody comes to mind and I build a song off that, but there really isn’t a specific formula. Eventually I’ll find a way to tie that basic hook or melody into a greater story. It’s tough to predict when a song idea will come to me. I’ve had song ideas come to me in the most random circumstances (at work, in social situations, parties etc.). The faster I can get that idea out in its original form, the better the final song turns out. I challenged myself to sit down and get Lately out in a timely manner, and I’m proud of how it turned out.
I take the lead in all areas of production, which sometimes adds days, even months to the process. It takes time to get that most authentic representation of the idea out right, and I’m working on becoming more efficient with timing since there’s so many more stories I want to tell.
Talk to me about your latest release Lately.
I came up with the hook on a whim in January this year. So much of our lives have been upended in this pandemic. We’re confined to our screens and imagination for now. Many past connections are paused during isolation; this song is definitely reflective of where things were left off, perhaps what could be, but most importantly the self-improvement and realizations in that break from regular socialization. I’m hopeful that concept is relatable to a lot of listeners.
In my case, this time off afforded me focus to work on bettering myself, and naturally that includes reflection on my actions in the past. More than anything, I wanted to make a feel good song that shines light and positivity on isolation. Getting it out for Spring was really important. I’m glad it’s the first song I decided to release this year.
How has the pandemic affected your creative process?
Creating music for me is often done in solitude anyway, so the pandemic has been extremely productive for me. I like to have creative control over all facets of a song; I have written, and produced/co-produced all of my released songs to date. I had a bad habit of coming up with hooks and melodies, writing them down then walking away and never finishing that idea (I probably have about 85-100 unreleased song ideas right now). The pandemic forced me to slow down and hold myself accountable. There was no excuse to not finish a project.
I also entered a new decade last November, and I had that milestone birthday on my mind for the entirety of last year. I snapped into a “now or never” mentality. The pandemic was precise timing for my own development for sure.
I’ve also been taking this time to educate myself on other artists I was previously unaware of. There’s such great talent out there. I can’t wait to get back outside, go to shows, nurture collaborations and relationships. (Special shoutout to Soulection – They’ve been steady taking my music education to the next level.)
In March 2021, you launched the exclusive Bandcamp subscription “Soche Sundays” in an effort to play with your distribution strategies. What was the thinking behind that?
I want to explore different avenues that best compliment the content I’m putting out. Lately was released on “Soche Sundays” almost a month earlier than it became available on wide release. Almost all of my upcoming songs that can be categorized as singles will be released about a month early through this subscription.
As we continue to build, there will be a ton of other exclusives available only on this platform. I won’t give anything away, but there’s going to be entirely new types of exclusives for my next single coming soon, (which won’t be available publicly). Definitely not something you’ll want to miss as a Soche follower.
Being in total control of this narrative, how I present the vision and in what order is definitely exciting. It takes patience to get to greatness, but this early access exclusive alleviates some of that waiting.
What’s a challenge of being an independent artist?
Simple answer: All the shoes you need to fill simultaneously.
As an independent artist, I am my own manager, promoter and fan, on top of creator. There’s definitely times where I’ve had to encourage myself to keep going when engagement is low. At the end of the day, my instinct tells me my music needs to be heard. The upside is I can really celebrate the wins since I am almost entirely responsible for my success. The fact that I’m in total creative control has allowed me to develop a distinct “Soche sound”. Listen to my songs back to back and I bet you can hear the consistency.
That being said, I know doing this alone isn’t realistic for the long game. My continuous challenge is navigating the “next level” alongside the right individuals, while protecting the vision. I do want to open up my world to collaborations with performers and producers alike. I’m looking forward to assembling those pieces.
What other creative endeavors excite you?
I’ve always had an affinity for brands and logos, I’ve dreamed of creating my own for a while. Building my collective “Young Philosophy” from the ground up has been very fulfilling. I’m excited to continue its evolution and bring on more like minded individuals who compliment the mantra.
Another brand I established kind of accidentally is “PlaySoche”. That one came about as a creative way to confirm the pronunciation of Soche, (PLAY rhymes with CHE). That logo has stuck and will definitely be a part of upcoming merch, along with “Young Philosophy”.
What’s the best compliment you’ve ever received about your music?
“I can hear this on the radio” is probably the best. Although streaming success seems to be most crucial these days, getting on any kind of radio would be the pinnacle of my career. Hopefully if we can see it, we can achieve it!
Who would you most like to collaborate with?
I can see a whole range of collabs popping off…people have told me my music sounds like Travis Scott, Cardi B. I could see a collab with Billie Eilish, or even a collab with a producer like Flume being successful. The dream would definitely be with a legend from Toronto (where I’m from)…Drake, The Weeknd, Nav etc.
What does your ideal 2021 look like?
I have a few songs in the works right now. I’m hoping to get another EP out later this year as well. I’m excited to continue discovering my follower base, spread awareness of the music, and eventually take this outside in live performance venues once the world completely opens up.
LINKS
Music – www.playsoche.com/music
Apple Music – https://music.apple.com/us/artist/soche/1455882990
Spotify – https://open.spotify.com/artist/52pmqw2WMLQkr7MRlA2hyA
Soundcloud – https://soundcloud.com/playsoche
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIt41FXEkGRWh8dCvsBH18A?
SOCIALS
Website – www.playsoche.com
Instagram – www.instagram.com/thatsoche
Twitter – www.twitter.com/playsoche
Facebook – www.facebook.com/playsoche
Natalia is a Rap and Hip Hop enthusiast. After graduating from The New School of New York’s Public Relations Program and taking a course in Journalism at Michigan State University, she decided to dedicate her life to the music publishing business and to the discovery of new talent. She helps new artists gain exposure to the masses via online marketing and publications.
