Sophia Space Agency – “Star Cycle” (Lemurian Records, 2024)
Sophia Space Agency’s latest single, “Star Cycle,” combines poetic and musical elements to deliver a villanelle poem about humanity from the perspective of an extraterrestrial observer approaching Earth. The artist, who chairs the Future Sound Experience Council for the Ivors Academy, is known for her commitment to sustainability, wearing only recycled clothing.
A multifaceted creator, composer, poet, producer, and performance artist, Sophia is classically trained in modern composition. Her music interweaves electronic minimalism, sound synthesis, and orchestral arrangements. Her vocal style draws inspiration from avant-garde pioneers like Meredith Monk, whom she studied with, and Cathy Berberian, although she favors an unrefined, raw singing style.
Furthermore, her influences include trailblazers across genres, from Laurie Anderson to Daphne Oram, Scott Walker, Phillip Glass, Brian Eno, and more recently, Tim Hecker, Rival Consoles, and Jon Hopkins. Thematically, her work explores the human experience, femininity, and the vast potential of the universe. It oscillates between the transcendental and starkly emotive.
Her upcoming album addresses climate change, featuring a rich set of sounds, including complex effects chains, sound modeling, orchestral compositions, and vocal manipulations.