Sophie Grace is an emerging artist on the North West music scene with her upcoming single i still need you. set to be released today (30 January). Based in Liverpool and currently studying at the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts’ School of Music, Sophie Grace is at the centre of a city defined by its musical success, which is helping her find her own as a rising Indie Folk artist and producer.
Originally from the edge of the Peak District, Sophie Grace’s upbringing is evident in her music. Placing isolation at the forefront of her work, she’s has been honing her skills from a young age, with the release of her debut EP a manifestation of teen angst in 2022. Her work highlights the importance of sincerity and vulnerability, as they go hand in hand to produce tracks that are reflective of her and everything that is unique to her.
Having found success playing Latitude Festival in 2024 and performing across venues in Birmingham, where Sophie Grace first studied music, there has been an increased interest in her work as an artist. With airplay on BBC Introducing and big musical projects in the works, i still need you. is an exciting taste of what’s to come.
Inspired by the Indie Folk scene in the US, Sophie Grace’s latest single holds a candle to the likes of Phoebe Bridgers and Adrianne Lenker. i still need you. explores loss and complicated relationships, as seen in the track’s poignant lyricism. Self-produced by Sophie Grace, the single keeps its authenticity as the track highlights themes of intimacy and sensitivity throughout. i still need you. is a personal account of Sophie Grace’s growth and maturity after losing somebody important to her, in a sense, grieving somebody who is still alive.
The song’s opening is gentle and cathartic, as the layered guitars and viola set the tone of the piece from the beginning. The harmonies that run through the song are seamless and work in tandem with the backing vocals to add a hauntingly beautiful element to i still need you. This marks Sophie Grace’s artistic growth, as her work and production feel increasingly second nature. The viola takes on a life of its own as the track builds, with the subtle percussion acting as the foundation of the track, cementing Sophie Grace’s status as an inventive producer. As Sophie Grace speaks to her audience, the truth and emotional honesty in this track are commendable.
Sophie notes that relocating to Liverpool “marked her emotional and artistic turning point”, which speaks to the wider vibrancy and musical history of the city. Attending the Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts, she is studying songwriting and music production through its School of Music. Founded by Paul McCartney and Mark Featherstone-Witty in 1996, the performing arts institution is constantly producing rising artists who are taking on the North West music scene.
i still need you. is the culmination of Sophie Grace’s hard work and self-production, alongside the collaboration that features on the track. The other musicians credited in the single’s composition reaffirm the benefits of meeting people working in similar spheres. The encouragement and diversity within Liverpool’s emerging music scene enable artists like Sophie to be driven by their passion and gain crucial industry experience.
Determined and authentic, i still need you. is a distinctive reflection of Sophie Grace’s rural roots, personal experience and musical surroundings. Having received positive reception throughout her music career, including praise from Dean Jackson of BBC Introducing – “I fell in love with this immediately” – Sophie Grace’s artistry and creative production ensure she is one to watch out for.
Stream i still need you now. Follow @sophiegrace.mu on Instagram for updates.
