VIBING WITH SOFI TUKKER’S ‘HOUSE ARREST’ AND ‘SPA’ WITH ICONA POP
We caught up with American music duo SOFI TUKKER (Sopie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern) about their latest single “SPA” with Icona Pop. We also spoke about quarantine, House Tuesdays, “House Arrest,”their music journey, and more.
Their brand new single with Icona Pop, "Spa," out now via RECORD COMPANY TEN/Ultra Music is about unadulterated self-confidence and self-care, best encapsulated in the song's opening lyrics delivered by Icona Pop with sultry swagger, "Naked bodies everywhere/It's okay, you can stare."
SOFI TUKKER are best known for their songs "Drinkee", "Best Friend", and "Purple Hat." Crafting quarantine vibes, and dance music that could absolutely inspire movement and drag you out of boredom to dance and celebrate life as it is, SOFI TUKKER has been doing daily livestreamed DJ sets on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitch for almost 200 consecutive days on September 28, 2020 with no plans to stop.
SOFI TUKKER has been keeping themselves busy and creative. Their single "House Arrest" with Gorgon City hit #1 on US Dance Radio in 2020. They're also the face of Bershka's new campaign with Smiley that celebrates the brand’s collaboration with the iconic Smiley, a beloved symbol around the world with a special place in the heart of the dance and electronic music. SOFI TUKKER encourage fans to donate to the PLUS1 Black Lives Solidarity Fund. Through this fund, PLUS1 is committed to addressing the legacy of slavery, combating white supremacy, and dismantling systemic oppression by advocating for the change needed to produce equality and freedom for through organizations like Equal Justice Initiative, Impact Justice, and The Bail Project. community.
Photographer: SQUID SPELLMAN
Tell us about the song SPA with Iconapop. What’s the story around it?
We were just all in the studio together, having a great time, giddy and vibing and we were randomly talking about how much we love the spa (and the club... and especially the combo)... so it just naturally made its way into the song. We were brand new friends just having fun!
We love HOUSE TUESDAYS! We love how you made quarantine cooler and bearable for a lot of people. How did you came up with the idea?
We actually started House Tuesdays about a year ago when we were home for a couple months when Soph broke her foot. Because we weren't able to be on the road for a couple of months, we started the tradition of inviting the homies over every Tuesday and just jamming and having fun with different gear. The purpose was just to jam and not write songs, but on one of the first couple House Tuesdays, we by accident wrote "House Arrest". We even made "House Tuesday" shirts back then. When we were thinking about what kind of party to throw every week during quarantine, the idea came naturally.
What are the highs and the challenges that you faced while doing it?
The biggest challenge was probably creating the set. We are really strict with social distancing so we made it all with the help of just one other person. We put our sweat blood and tears into transforming the room into the ultimate club jungle getaway! It also ended up being one of the highs, because it came out so great! Although the true high is the joy and connection we feel with the freak fam and everybody that dances with us!!
How vital was social media in the process?
Social media is a huge part of our process, especially now. We are constantly connecting with freaks worldwide. It's really nice to feel so connected in what could be such an isolating time.
Photographer: SQUID SPELLMAN
Now delving deeper with SOFI TUKKER, how would you describe your music/sound?
We like not to describe it too much to give us the freedom in the studio to create whatever is inspiring us, but it's always dance music and it always brings us joy, even if it's emotional or vibey.
Where do you get your inspirations whenever you create music?
We get a lot of our inspirations these days from DJing, since we do it every day. We are really inspired by what gets us to really dance.
How’s your creative process like? Can you walk us through your process?
It's always different but it's always very collaborative. It usually starts with one element and then we just build on top of that, but if we ever aren't both in love with any added element, then we take it out. We don't compromise - it's got to be 100% excitement from both of us about everything.
How do you both maintain your amazing chemistry and dynamics as creative collaborators?
We communicate a lot about absolutely everything. And we're really different, so we don't get sick of each other.
How did your music journey begin?
Our journeys were really different. Tuck has always loved music but it wasn't until he got sick his junior year of college and couldn't play basketball anymore that he had time to really dive into producing and DJing. He was on track to be a professional basketball player so that was his whole life, even though he always loved music. I (Sophie) started writing songs in middle school when I learned how to play the guitar and I used songwriting to cope with my teenage angst. Then I moved to Brazil that I got really into bossa nova style guitar and singing specifically. And then I met Tuck who introduced me to dance music!
How did music affect and changed your life?
It's what really makes us come alive. It has made us become more of who we are.
What do you think is the best lyric/song that you’ve made so far and why?
I don't know if it's the "best" but I wrote the "House Arrest" lyrics a year before the pandemic even started because I felt like we were on "house arrest" when I broke my foot and we couldn't travel. I couldn't believe it when I heard the song again just as the pandemic was beginning. It's like I predicted the future with those lyrics... I couldn't believe how relevant they were.
Photographer: SQUID SPELLMAN
Aside from music, what else keeps you busy?
We really do live and breathe music all. the. time. But... talking with friends, exercising, sleeping.
How do you keep your music fresh?
We have to be in love with the music we make or else we won't finish it and definitely won't put it out. We make music that feels fresh to us, so we hope that translates to others but that can't ever be the goal. We've got to be our own number one fans.
Are there any advice that you can provide to any aspiring creative individual who wants to break into the industry and establish themselves as a business?
Make music you love. Not music you think other people will like.
If you were a book, what book would you be and why?
Soph: Free your Pelvis Free Your Mind
That's a quote from my dance professor in college, Michelle Bach-Coulibaly. It's become my guiding principle. I really do think that dancing and feeling pleasure and motion in the body is one of the ultimate ways to rid myself of anxieties and fears and things that hold me back.
Tuck: Shooters Shoot.
It's a basketball metaphor that just explains how persistence hardwork and courage pay off. If you're a shooter, you shoot. Because even if you miss the first 5, you know you'll eventually make one.