Originally from Livingston, Scotland, solo artist Sophie White moved to Glasgow to pursue a musical career and attend university for music performance. Having played guitar since she was 13 and having gigged locally during her teens, the minimalist acoustic jazz instrumentals mixed with her Amy Winehouse influenced, soulful voice creates a unique and developed aesthetic. Her straightforward lyrics and emotionally charged vocals are key components of her debut EP, Monkey Mind, on which she plays all of the instruments. After hearing her songs just a few times, I've already added them to my playlist and you'll soon see why.
The title track "Monkey Mind (Acoustic)" is a perfect example of the genre of music that White is a member of. Sounding as though it draws from both Motown and more modern R&B, "Monkey Mind (Acoustic)" engages the audience with it's relaxed and historic styling. With a jazz chord progression at the beginning, broken up by rhythmic string slaps, this guitar-and-vocals-only song's tone is already set when White launches into the premiere feature of her EP, her vocals. From the first notes she sings, I can't help but be totally and utterly engulfed in the nuances of her voice; the slightest touch of grit added to a mature, almost-sassy tone. A certain "impurity" builds her vocal character and adds complexity coupled with the sizzling and clean highs charged with raw emotion, yet controlled with calculated emphasis. Overall, accompanied by minimal instrumentation, her voice is magnetic and entrancing; something that can be listened to hours on end without tiring. As she bels out "He's oh so unaware, he doesn't feel my stare...He's got a monkey mind...", her dynamic control is further evident and the power of her voice stands high above the jazzy acoustic guitar accompaniment. Ending on a similar note as she came in on, listeners are left feeling especially satisfied and relaxed afterward.
Another track that stands out on the EP is "Move". Despite an intro similar to "Monkey Mind (Acoustic)", the song takes on a slightly darker tone. With the added instrumentation of percussion and bass, the track takes in a more Motown vibe. With the bass firmly rooting the jazzy/bluesy acoustic guitar chords, the percussion sets the pace and adds a sturdy framework to the piece. White's voice feels more mellow and soulful overall, completed by relative peaks and valleys in pitch. As the song nears its end, all of the instrumentation falls away, save for keyboards that fade out with the song.
After listening to Sophie White's debut EP Monkey Mind, I am left with a satiated feeling and soulful vocals ringing in my head. Her voice presents itself perfectly against the minimalistic backdrop of instrumentals and her ability to unleash emotion through relatable lyrics and vocal inflection is highly effective. Check out her music on BandCamp or SoundCloud and be sure to watch out for future releases as I know I will.
Thank you for visiting my blog and reading this review. Please feel free to comment on this article about whatever you feel like (suggestions, what you think of the band, etc...). If you would like to contact me for any reason, check out the 'Contact' tab above. Have a nice day and rock on!
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