A Quick Chat with sleepy soph
sleepy soph awakens with lucky, a dreamy debut EP out now that drifts between indie folk softness and alt pop glow. The Boorloo artist writes with the candor of a diary entry shared at golden hour, tracing the tender shifts of early adulthood through airy vocals, delicate guitar work, and warm, lived-in production. Moving from the bittersweet letting go of leave it to the nostalgic spark of last chips in the packet, the EP captures love, friendship and the growing pains that shape your twenties. It is gentle, sleepy and hopeful, a small world built for reflection. We caught up with sleepy soph to talk about the EP, the moments behind it and more.
Can you tell us what this EP means to you and what you want people to take away from it?
This EP means so, so, so much to me. It’s an authentic reflection of how I’ve been navigating my twenties. I wrote all of the songs while I was at uni, after moving from a small country town to the big city and feeling like I had to rediscover myself in a totally different environment, surrounded by strangers. I really hope people can connect with it in the same way I wrote it, and that it helps ease the pressure of feeling like you need to have your whole life perfectly planned out at such a young age.
Who were some of your influences on this EP and why?
Since the songs were written over several years while I was at uni, they each carry different influences. Faye Webster was a huge inspiration for ‘jazz boy’, you can really hear it in the chord choices. Beabadoobee’s influence is prominent in ‘last chips in the packet’, with that nostalgic Y2K sound shining through. Other artists who consistently inspire me, and whose influence you can hear throughout the EP, are Lizzy McAlpine, Clairo and local Aussie artist Kat Edwards.
What's the creative process for you, from writing through to recording?
My writing process usually starts in my bedroom. I’m constantly jotting down ideas or specific lines in my notes app, then I explore them more when I’m alone. Sometimes I’ll finish an entire song by myself, but if I have a strong chorus or verse, I’ll bring it to my producer, Seth Arlan, and we’ll finish it together. I’ve been loving writing with Seth lately, it’s so fun bouncing ideas off someone else. From there, we record and produce everything in his bedroom studio, bringing in different friends to play on the tracks helping bring the songs to life.
What do you think makes a great song?
Seth and I have recently been saying that we LOVE a second verse. It really hooks us in when the arrangement is different in the second verse or the lyrics of the song change perspective. Besides that, I think when you can tell the artist means every word they’re singing. There’s something about putting your heart out on the line when you write songs and if it’s reflected in the performance, I get super hooked.
If you could collaborate with any artist, who would it be and why?
Lizzy McAlpine, for sure. I’ve been listening to her for years now. After I rinsed her whole discography on Spotify, I even hunted down all her demos on SoundCloud because I was itching for more. She’s one of those artists I fell headfirst into and never climbed out of. The way she writes and tells stories through her music has always inspired me and definitely shows up in my own writing.
When not working on music, what other creative outlet/s do you have?
I love journalling. I have a junk journal where I stick anything and everything. I try not to get too pedantic about a style or theme for each page, just whatever is in front of me I’ll put on the page. Can I also say walking? I love walking, I get a lot of inspiration going for a simple stroll around my neighbourhood with my dog.
Who are some local bands we should check out?
My favourite Boorloo artists at the moment are; Anna Schneider, Coco Elise, Paperback Fort, Elianie and of course Seth Arlan. Gosh there is so much talent coming out of WA right now!
Winter or summer and why?
Growing up in the deep south of WA in Albany, I am very fond of the cold. So I’d say winter, it’s great cozy song-writing weather.
Now we are coming to the end of 2025, what do you have planned for 2026?
I’m already thinking about the next EP. There are a few songs I wrote over the last few years that didn’t make it to this EP, so I’m already planning out the genre and aesthetic of the next one. So stay tuned!