Tell us about your new album, BOOK OF SONGS?
BOOK OF SONGS is an album of contemporary pop tunes, influenced by Chinese Art and Poetry, played on western classical instruments (grand piano, cello & viola). It’s quite a diversion from my previous 3 albums. I’m quite excited that it’s not quite classifiable in genre. It was produced by myself and J.Walker (Paul Kelly, Machine Translations) and sees me revisit my classical piano background with sprinkling of my ethnicity for the first time. I hope the audience can broaden their idea of what contemporary ‘pop’ is, via this album.
What’s your favourite work at this point in time?
I still in love with TIGER NOT THE HARE from my new album. The rhythms this song still tickles parts of my brain that other pop songs don’t, especially the dynamic outro by the strings.
I’ve always wanted to write a song using the quirky rhythms of the Hungarian composer, Bela Bartok. When I was a little girl, my piano teachers would always give me pieces by composers from Eastern Europe like Bartok, Lizst, Dohnanyi. I’m so happy that I managed to use these elements but still essentially stay true to a modern pop song feel.
How would you describe your sound in food form and why?
Fried Rice. It’s got Chinese influences but has evolved in different countries and has everything in the fridge thrown into it.
Tell us a quick, on the road or studio, anecdote.
My career highlight : doing body rolls and boogie-ing at the fruit and vege section of a supermarket with my amateur dance class.
What, or who, inspires you?
Other women, mothers and single parents. Since being a mother myself (my baby is one year old), I now look at other women in a different light. Whether we like it or not, women subconsciously look at other women and we jump to conclusions. I try and stop myself from doing that now. Less judgement, more empathy. I also take my hat off single parents, each one of them deserve a Noble Peace Prize!
Which song do you wish you wrote?
Many!
– Robyn – Dancing on my own
– Jeff Buckley – Everybody here wants you
– Richard Marx – Hazard
– Juan Alban – Death in the Family
What’s next for you?
Vacuuming, dishes, make dinner, mail CDs and Vinyls to some fans, attend an ABC radio interview to chat about the new album, pick up baby from daycare…
What’s your scene?
A scene where everyone feels worth it, included and embraced.
Whatever their age, race, gender, sexuality.
Every record is personal. Some records are more personal than others.
Sophie Koh has delved deep into her past, embracing her heritage, for her stunning new album, Book of Songs. Book of Songs is a splendour of pop songs where East meets West, influenced by Chinese poetry and Western classical music. Produced by the revered J Walker (Machine Translations, Paul Kelly), hear Sophie speak about her journey from her childhood days in Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand to her Triple J Unearthed days in Darwin. This exquisite new body of work is a revealing look into home and identity, sparked by her recent tour to China. [pullquote]“It’s a bit of a homecoming for me,” Sophie says. “Going back to my classical piano training, marrying it with my love of pop, with a sprinkling of my ethnicity for the first time.”[/pullquote] “People find it confusing, working out where I’m from,” Sophie adds. “They try to pick my accent, but they can’t. I feel like I’m Australian and I call Australia home, but my roots are in New Zealand. And my parents are Chinese, from Malaysia.”
The album even features Sophie singing two songs in Mandarin. She co-wrote ‘Ta De Mei’ (‘Her Beauty’). And ‘Gan Lan Shu’ (‘Olive Tree’) is a song Sophie remembers her parents singing at karaoke. “Don’t ask me where I’m from,” Sophie sings. “I’m from far away.” “When people ask me where I’m from, I can’t answer. I say, ‘What do you mean: Where I was born? My ethnicity? Where I live now? Or where my heart is?’” Exploring the concept of home and identity, Book of Songs is a truly Australian story. What to call it? Contemporary indie classical? Classical folk? Chamber pop? Sophie sings of being in “a magic dream”. Whatever it is, the album marks Sophie’s transition from pubs to concert halls. Sophie Koh burst onto the scene with her acclaimed debut album, 2005’s All The Pretty Boys, which featured the triple j hits ‘Anywhere’ and ‘Fall Into Space’. Melbourne’s Herald Sun hailed a voice “that drips melodies like honey from a spoon”, while The West Australian wrote about “one of the sweetest voices you are likely to hear”. Book of Songs is the album Sophie has always wanted to make, a thrilling and unpredictable fusion of styles. “It’s the first time I’ve put pencil and eraser to manuscript paper,” she smiles. “I’ll go to my grave happy.”
The album was produced by J. Walker, who also helmed Sophie’s second album, 2008’s All Shook Up. It was recorded at Sophie’s Melbourne home, J. Walker’s Jumbunna studio and an old school hall in Korumburra. It’s a work of delicate beauty, with hypnotic and haunting melodies and words that are playful and poignant. “They say love hurts,” Sophie sings in ‘Play With Gold’, “when you’re looking at your empty purse in the laundromat.” Sophie played all the piano and guitar and some cello, and did the piano arrangements. Cellist Caerwen Martin arranged the strings, J. Walker contributed clarinet, some viola, effects and percussion, while Louise Woodward played viola. Sophie started playing classical piano at the age of five. “I think I played piano better than I could speak English.” This is an album imbued with memories. “I was once a little girl,” Sophie reflects. “You’ll always be in my heart,” Sophie repeats like a mantra in the final track, ‘Song For The Birds’.
As will this beautiful album.
Pre-Order Book of Songs here.
Sophie Koh launches Book of Songs @ 7pm this Saturday 25th March 2017
@ Melbourne Recital Centre, Salon
Tickets available through Melbourne Recital Centre
For more information: Website
