Each Measure Feature: Sophia Stephens

FEATURE

With her debut album, “Love & Grief,” Sophia Stephens is giving listeners an emotional feast for October. Her experience writing over five hundred songs shows in her lyricism, specifically to convey the many complex feelings explored across the album. Aside from the titular emotions of love and loss, Stephens reflects on her various experiences to take on themes of relationships and personal growth. 

As a testament to her perseverance and dedication to the craft, Sophia recorded the album at multiple home studios while juggling the stress of school. Finding inspiration in many eras of music, there are hints of Lorde and Hozier along with ‘70’s artists. “Love & Grief” is a mixture of genres, with some songs feeling like indie rock and others being soul, pop, or even folk-esque. 

The common trend of all the tracks is the storytelling, because there’s a narrative being told throughout the album that many listeners will be able to follow, feel, and relate to, myself included. There were several moments on the album that stood out to me, starting with the fade-out toward the end of “Muscle Memory” that let the vocals and words breathe on their own. Since the track is nostalgic, it felt like a perfect choice. 

“Get Go” is a more upbeat take on heartbreak and healing, while “Little Things” was a somber reflection on those themes. I loved the way Stephens’ lyrics fall in and out of love, especially with the soft piano of “Things Will Never Be the Same” and “I’m Still Here.” I’m a sucker for piano and violin, so those two really stood out.

Many people can relate to the courage it takes to walk away from a toxic relationship on “Enough is Enough.” The last song on “Love & Grief” is soulful and story-driven, and Sophia’s vocal tone on “Beautiful Life” resonated with me. The album is an emotional blend of gentleness and fire that, combined with beautiful instrumentals and powerful lyrics, will appeal to a wide range of listeners.

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