Acclaimed indie singer-songwriter Soccer Mommy returns to Australia this month for her first shows since 2023.
Touring in support of her new album Evergreen, Soccer Mommy – aka Sophie Allison – will bring her signature mix of grunge-pop and introspection to the East Coast, with debut stops in regional Victoria and a special Vivid Sydney performance at City Recital Hall on Thursday, June 12th. Tickets are available here.
Ahead of the tour, the musician spoke with Rolling Stone AU/NZ about the new record, stripped-back live shows, her connection to the ocean, and much more. Read the interview in full below.
Rolling Stone AU/NZ: You were last here in 2023. What does it mean to be back in Australia again this year? What sticks with you about playing to Australian crowds?
Sophie Allison: I’m so excited to be going back to Australia! I always like playing there. The shows are always really fun and the fans are very engaging. I also just think Australia is beautiful.
You’re on some festival lineups this time, including Vivid Sydney. How do festival sets shift your mindset compared to headline shows?
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Allison: Festivals are definitely different from headlining shows. Everything is a bit more throw and go so you just have to lean into it. I like to make sets for a festival a bit more upbeat, whereas headlining shows have time for the more intimate moments.
You’re also hitting a few regional spots this tour, like Torquay and Castlemaine. What’s exciting about that?
Allison: Yeah, I’m definitely excited for those shows. It’s always cool to get to see new places and to play for crowds that maybe haven’t had the opportunity to see you live. My Australian shows are usually really fun so I’m sure it’ll be great!
Have you been connecting with any local artists while putting the tour together?
Allison: I’ve always thought Hatchie was really cool. I’m also excited to hear all of the openers we have for these shows.
Touring can be a lot. How do you stay grounded on the road? Anything you’re hoping to do while you’re here?
Allison: I like to get time to explore a bit in whatever cities we’re in. It’s always nice to find somewhere with some natural beauty when you’re on tour. I’m really hoping I get to spend some time by the ocean while I’m over in Australia!
Congrats on Evergreen. What did the process look like creatively?
Allison: Evergreen was recorded over the span of about four months in Atlanta. I had a lot of ideas that I wanted to explore with this record and it was really a fun experience. Most of the writing was just done at home in Nashville. My writing process is always just to sit down with a guitar and play until something is inspiring me.
The record deals with grief, but it doesn’t feel weighed down by it. How did that shape the writing and recording?
Allison: I think my writing really helps me work through my emotions and come out the other side with more clarity. This album is really special to me because it helped me get through a lot of personal stuff. I think my music is always pretty intimate, but this record definitely felt even more like that. Sharing it with people can kind of feel like letting it go.
You’ve also released Evergreen (Stripped). What led you to revisit the songs in that way?
Allison: These songs felt really full and inspired even when it was just me playing them. That’s why I wanted to do something stripped back versions. For some of the songs that got more production, I thought it would be cool to show them more like what they were in the beginning.
Are there any songs from the record that feel especially close to you right now?
Allison: “Lost” and “M “are both standouts from the record to me. Both of those songs just feel very emotional and personal. They were actually the first and last songs I wrote for the record. With “Lost”, it always felt like there was some kind of closure in it. And with “M”, it felt like I was starting to unravel something.
Now that you’ve been touring Evergreen, what’s it been like playing these songs live?
Allison: Playing the songs from Evergreen live has been really beautiful, but it’s also been more emotional than past records. It’s definitely something that means a lot to me and I still feel very connected to the songs. I think I can feel more of that intimacy with the crowd as well compared to other tours.
