MAIJA SOFIA TO RELEASE DEBUT ALBUM
‘BATH TIME’ ON 22 NOVEMBER
VIA TRAPPED ANIMAL RECORDS
& CARGO RECORDS
Following the success of lo-fi dream-pop single ‘Flowers’, art-folk virtuoso Maija Sofia returns with her debut album ‘Bath Time’ via Trapped Animal Records & Cargo Records. Hailing from the Republic of Ireland, Sofia penned the songs in the run-up to the repeal of the 8th amendment on abortion – an international news story that subconsciously influenced the album’s prevalent theme; the silencing and misrepresentation of women.
Taking women from the history books who were misrepresented or silenced, with ‘Bath Time’ Sofia conjures a word where they take power of their own stories. Utilising fragmented guitars and yearning string instruments, Sofia interweaves the stories of Edie Sedgwick, Bridget Cleary and Mary of Nazareth to sharply observe the pain and complexity of female life.
‘Hail Mary’ interrogates the sexual hypocrisy of the Catholic church, a pillar of Irish society that normalises outdated views of women.
Written between London, Galway and Dublin, ‘Bath Time’ features appearances from alternative folk singer Junior Brother and lap steel player Niall Murphy (Oh Boland). The former, Junior Brother, appears on ‘The Wife of Michael Clearly’, a bristling tribute to Bridget Cleary, who died at the hands of her husband Michael. The latter, Niall Murphy, starring on ‘Edie Sedgwick’, a track named after the muse of Andy Warhol.
Though a heavy subject matter, the instrumentation ensures it doesn’t overburden, the lilting guitars allowing for the messages to seep in. A sharp yet vital observation on the pain and complexity of female life.
Maija Sofia is set to release a new offering from the forthcoming record. A sumptuous and standout single ‘The Glitter’ will drop 4th October. The single is a soaring success, a truly delicate and delectable offering from this courageous artist. Soulful and lustful vocals fit the bittersweet story telling lyrics and a bold orchestration of soothing guitars and wailing violins, together this showcases the harmonious range Sofia captures. You’ll be hooked. The atmospherical single proves that Maija Sofia deserves to be on bills with the likes of Cat Power, Feist, Laura Marling etc. Her vocal range is empowering and enchanting, whatever the storyline to the songs, Sofia will captivate and share the message far and wide.
Speaking on the track, Maija said: ““The Glitter was inspired by my experience of reading the book ‘Good Morning, Midnight’ by Jean Rhys, a heavily depressing but brilliant novel about a lonely, self- destructive and impulsive woman living in 1930s Paris. The song came about with Jean Rhys in mind, and the influence her novels had on my past self.
“It’s about having a tendency to romanticise and the desperate feeling of realising you’ve fallen out of love but are still trying to cling to something. It was recorded in a little studio in Dublin, with Christophe Capewell (who plays with cult Irish folk singer Lisa O’Neill) on violin and Niall Murphy on lap steel. Christophe ended up playing on the track after I was stranded at a festival in Leitrim and Lisa’s band kindly offered me a midnight lift back to Dublin in their tour van.”
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