“Sophie Stern hit us like a brick with her catchy, infectious pop jam “Pray.” – Refinery 29
“Just when you thought things couldn’t get any catchier than Sara Bareilles, Katy Perry, or even Britney Spears (yeah, we went there…), Sophie Stern comes along.” – NYLON Magazine
“… indeed the songwriter knows a thing about creating tunes that resonate with girls.” – Yahoo!
“Sophie and The Bom Boms will make their mark on the pop scene in the next coming months…soon become a name associated with Jessie J, Betty Who, Tove Lo, and Katy Perry.” – Earmilk
Back in July, I posted about Sophie and the Bom Boms and included two of their songs, “Woman,” and “Pray”. Now, they’ve released their debut EP, The Schmixtape.
Her identity prior to this evocative new pop incarnation was as sought-after songwriter, earning her bread writing hits for A-listers like Britney Spears, British pop star Conor Maynard, and The Ready Set, among others. But make no mistake – this ain’t no wistful follow-your-dream template that Sophie is cooking up now.
What makes the 4 song offering so upbeat and engaging—besides the toppling beats bracing Stern’s sultry swagger—are the songs, themselves; soulfully primed missives like “Woman” —percolating drums and piano skating over Sophie’s empowering vocals.
“The Bom Boms are my backing band led by producer/multi-instrumentalist David Elevator,” Sophie explains. “He is my writing partner and produces all my songs. It’s always a surprise to me which Bom Boms are going to be at shows or rehearsals. Sometimes it’s a big band, sometimes it’s just him.”
“…full-blooded heat, evoking what would happen if Sade met a caffeinated Air, a sublime voice floating easily on a ballast of clever instrumental touches.” – PITCHFORK
“gentle strings and dancing harp lines,…so uncomplicatedly sweet” – THE FADER
” direct, striking love songs that sound like classics the instant you hear them.” – DUMMY
Los Angeles-based Rhye, made their mark on the radar last year with their debut ‘Open’ EP and critically lauded single, “The Fall”, called “one of the most beautiful heartbreak songs” of 2012 by the Fader and receiving Pitchfork’s Best New Musicaccolade. In anticipation of the release of their debut album, Woman coming March 5th on Innovative Leisure / Loma Vista / Republic, Rhye are excited to announce their first US tour dates, cover art and track listing for Woman, along with a new video for their song “Open”.
In working withDanish director Daniel Kragh-Jacobsen on the nostalgia-inducing video for “The Fall”, Rhye decided to revisit the themes and questions proposed with the same director in a new video for their chill-inducing song “Open”. With Kragh-Jacobsen at the helm to create an extension, or rather second chapter of the narrative in context of the album, Manuel Alberto Claro (Melancholia), was recruited as DP, giving the video the same colors, landscape and stylistic look of “The Fall”. Rhye set out avoid the cookie cutter artist-as-narrator music video and again create a short film to which “Open” could serve as the soundtrack. This time around, we see a young woman teetering between her carefree youth and the challenges of adult life and love. As the bike from “The Fall” became symbolic for the lead character’s inner-quest for happiness, here a reoccurring kite leads the main character to a surprise appearance from some familiar faces.
Rhye Tour Dates
4/01/13 Mon LOS ANGELES, CA Masonic Lodge at Hollywood Forever Cemetary
4/03/13 Wed SAN FRANCISCO, CA Bimbo’s 365 Club
4/11/13 Thu CHICAGO, IL Schubas
4/13/13 Sat TORONTO, ON Great Hall
4/14/13 Sun MONTREAL, QC Cabaret du Mile End
4/16/13 Tue BOSTON, MA Sinclair
4/17/13 Wed NEW YORK, NY Le Poisson Rouge
4/18/13 Thu WASHINGTON, DC Sixth & I Historic Synagogue (downstairs)
4/20/13 Sat PHILADELPHIA, PA World Cafe Live Upstairs
Musically Amusing 