Sophie Powers is the latest guest to stop by Joel Madden’s Artist Friendly podcast. For the unfamiliar, the confessional singer makes music for outsiders and has earned touring slots with Waterparks, YUNGBLUD, and NOAHFINNCE. She’s clearly an artist who takes what she does seriously, and during her hour-and-a-half conversation with Madden, the pair get into a lot of details. From her synesthesia to her love of acting, they certainly get to know each other better.
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Before you listen to the new episode, we rounded up takeaways from their conversation. Check them out below.
She has synesthesia
Early in their conversation, Powers reveals that she has synesthesia. She can’t touch velvet because of the sensation; the smell of coffee disgusts her; she avoids fizzy drinks. “It’s like a chill that actually goes down my spine,” she tells Madden. The feeling extends to her music, as well. “Each song is a different color,” Powers adds. In turn, it affects her perception of why she may or may not like a song that she makes. “I’ll be like, ‘This is a dark purple, fuzzy room with the AC basting, and I can hear the song playing in that room with speakers and a velvet couch,” she explains.
Her music is a balm
Conversation and connection drive much of Powers’ music. Through her relatable anthems, she inspires listeners to find a way through the pain and lets them know that they aren’t alone in what they’re experiencing. “[I’m] starting a conversation through a song,” she explains. “If I can be extremely open and extremely vulnerable with my lyrics, maybe that can cause someone else out there to be a little more open with themselves, in some area of their life.” Besides, there are always people who need to see someone reaching for their dreams to inspire them to set their own goals.
Having no backup plan was her best plan
When Powers dropped out of high school to focus on making music, there was no plan. “Where I’m at today, that’s only because having no backup plan was my best plan,” she says. “If this doesn’t work out, what am I gonna do? I’m screwed. That’s what pushed me.” Besides having a desire to prove that her career choice wasn’t futile, she was also driven. During their conversation, she’s quick to mention that although she calls herself a “workaholic,” it’s not glamorous. The hours are draining, but the work is rewarding.
Powers is devoted to TikTok
During her conversation with Madden, one of Powers’ alarms goes off, which she sets so she can post to TikTok five times a day. Her dedication to promoting herself is clear. She even reveals that she spends four hours editing them so they’re ready to go — it’s how she starts and ends her day. “I’m not addicted. Every social media person says that,” she laughs.
She loves acting
Before she found music, Powers fell in love with theater. She even landed a role in Broadway’s Maltida, spending a year as an understudy for the titular character when she was 10. (There’s also a story about how her Maltida audition was discovered and played at an all-boys school when she was younger, but you’ll need to listen to the episode to get all the details.) “I used to think I was a better actress than singer,” she says. “I miss it a lot. I think I’m gonna get back into it.”
