Last week, unveiled her debut album ‘How To Perform Magic’. Taking cues from  Massive Attack, early The xx, and Radiohead, the Leicester-via-London artist surveys themes of imposter syndrome, personal and collective disillusionment filtered through guitar-led melancholia, dusty breakbeats, reverb-soaked vocals and low-slung basslines. SOFY showcases her range, dipping into trip-hop, garage rock, Britpop and breakbeats. The outcome is a caustic work that critiques the transactional nature of the industry whilst gesturing at a more honest, equitable future for independent artists.

On the album’s release, SOFY explains: 

“The debut album is such a line in the sand and a cornerstone of an artist, and this is a very introspective record, I feel like I learnt loads about myself when I was making it. It touches on a lot of themes: self-destruction, burnout, anger, depression, jealousy, lack of identity, and it can be quite sardonic and vindictive at times but there’s also a lot of hopefulness and humour in there. I genuinely feel as though it captures not only who I currently am as an artist and person but also the times we’re living in – I’m dead proud of it.”

For CLASH, SOFY curates a guide of personal haunts in Leicester, places that showcase her pride in her Midlands roots. Having come through BBC Introducing, placing in the top five of more than 10,000 artists in the BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge Introducing competition, SOFY has experienced firsthand how vital regional platforms can be. She now works with the FAC and the UK artist touring fund to advocate for emerging talent from Leicester and the wider Midlands.

Sadly some of my favourite venues in Leicester are no more. The Cookie was amazing for discovering new music; I remember stumbling upon a band there called Blaenavon in like 2014 who became one of my favourites when I was a teenager. Shoutout to The Soundhouse, where we played for independent venue week a few years back, and Firebug as well. It’s not an independent venue but I do have some core memories at the O2 Academy (and also some I’d like to forget like when 16-year-old me waited outside to meet Van McCan from Catfish for a really awkward photo!)

I recently discovered this bakery/cafe/trinket treasure trove in Frog Island when I played a secret gig there for Sofar Sounds Leicester which is run by my friend Cally. It has the loveliest vibe in the daytime and they host lots of evening events as well. They actually have a night coming up dedicated to eating crisps, so if I haven’t sold it to you already that should do it.

It’s a cute independent cinema with bargain tickets, conveniently located next to a massive Lidl. So you can stock up on snacks (beware the Lidl carpark parking tickets though).

This is the best Japanese food in the East Mids (if you can get a table, you rarely see it without a queue out the door). Now that they’ve reopened in a bigger spot you might have a chance though. Also, shout out Mitsuki on London Road.

Some of my favourite Turkish food ever is Mezze Mangal in Oadby. BYOB as well, just saying just saying. My friends and family are all in Oadby, so it’s where we’ll start our night if we’re going out. Their chicken shish is class.

I think the OG one has closed down but I had to mention the institution that defined our teenage year; the place that truly saw it all. I think I spent new years in here at least once. RIP.