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Friday 7 August 2015

New website!

Welcome to the new updated Sofiejude.com!

I will be updating more about from the Sofie Jude universe with non music related things.

I'd like to say thanks for all the positive reports back about the Empty Promises video. The Red Lady is certainly very popular and I am definitely thinking about doing more works with her.

I also will be reviewing other independent creatives, art/music/dance etc. So please contact me if interested if your interested in being featured.

Last but not least, I am cooking up some Sofie Jude merchandise. Any suggestions and input is welcome!

Can you imagine a mug with my mug on it?!?!?!?





Saturday 13 June 2015

The latest music video is now live!

The Red lady is back for her second appearance in this dark and twisted world, where getting what you wished for might not be for the best.

Sign away your life write on the dotted line.

Starring Sofie Jude, Michael Shuttleworth and Mandy Teague.

Directed by Lu Lowe
Written by Sofie Jude and Lu Lowe.


Thursday 7 November 2013

Debut Album Event!

It's all busy here in the Sofie Jude Empire! Preparing for my first event with the album material.

Free Entry, bargain!

If you're around, pop on by :)


Wednesday 18 September 2013

Sofie Jude - My Elusive Heart debut album release!

 My Elusive Heart debut album release! 



A couple of days ago my debut album was released worldwide. I was going to write about my feelings on the matter, but in truth it is now out of my hands. I am proud of this album, any negative or positive reviews won't effect this. It has been a long hard slog to reach this point. I know I did my best against a stack of odds no matter the outcome.

I dedicate this post to my album and to unashamedly plug it on blogger!

'You are here. Finally.
Ready to be let free,
To soar into the collective creative consciousness,
The Aritecture of hopes and dreams.

There is now more I can do for you,
It's hard for me to see you go.
Whether you rise or fall,
I'll watch as you spread those wings,
Remembering within you I was reborn.'

Wednesday 24 July 2013

A new name and new era!


A new era in my personal identity slowly edged into the forefront. It had crept up in the background and seeped into the fibre of my being. The first inklings of awareness were like a distant sound that I strained to hear. It was a promise sent to my basic senses; a taster of whom I would become.

When my mum died, my whole world bottomed out and destabilised. In a few short months, I had to gather my wits and re model myself, as well as fighting the raw, overwhelming wound of loss and bleakness. Those months are patchy in my memory, like a faded photograph. I acknowledge my actions and words were wholly me, but at the time, I felt like a shade in a world that had moved on. As I desperately hung onto the memory of my mother, I began to construct a metaphorical protective, healing chrysalis around me.

In those hollow times, I became aware that the years had emotionally battered, disappointed, dejected, and physically weakened me. The contributors ranged from my own incurable health condition, exterior negative influences, and watching those that were close to me fall ill and die. I had suffered too much damage to my own identity and worth. Sadly, in the past I had also let others treat me badly and it had turned into a negative cycle.

I found myself in situations and circumstances that allowed others to wear my self -esteem and inner confidence to a tooth pick. I was told I wasn't good enough and the worst thing is... I believed them. Once. No longer.

I felt the first instances began in my early years, from a school system which didn't understand or attempt to comprehend my world view. In fact, I remember being crushed and ridiculed for my independent, enquiring mind. The quintessential core of my personality always naturally challenges the predisposed norms and questions constantly. That has never changed. Why? Where? When, and how? Teachers seemed engaged in the business of forcing children into neatly-labelled boxes - completely malleable. I certainly wasn't malleable, and I kicked out at those constraints. It continued in various forms of vilification and bullying tactics by adults and children through secondary school. Almost unbelievably, it continued in social groups for a few years after. Its hard to break negative cycles when they are entrenched.



I was accustomed to being viewed as a scapegoat, stupid, an object of pity, a villain, a joke, and at best dismissible. All because I viewed the world 'differently' to my peers.

Recognising the systems of abuse is almost impossible when you are in the thick of it. But that chrysalis gave me the protection and time to re-evaluate every aspect of my life. Over the years, in the hiatus between my old and reformed self, I came to the staggering realisation that through the trials and hurt, I could overcome anything! I was strong, powerful, intelligent and most importantly brave.

Without noticing at first, my life and my identity had changed for the better! I had self-esteem, confidence and be damned if I was going to let anyone from the past or the present pollute my opinion of myself. Nobody would use me as a crutch for their inferiority complexes again! I began removing and distancing myself from many people, because of their refusal to see me as I was, not who I used to be.
  
In the last year or two, I appeared fully formed out of my chrysalis and I hadn't even realised. It was a silent knowledge that the new phase of my life at started. This was the time 'Sofie Jude' was manifested. It was directly coeval with my final evolution. My stage name is a slight change in spelling to my real name. In that slight change, I finally shed the chrysalis.

I felt a novel whimsy that I had all but abandoned at a far too young age... it was hope.

I couldn't carry on with my old name, when I signed it; it felt like a malfunctioning anachronism from a past that I had long since repaired the damage from. I honour that my mum chose my name, but it was my choice to symbolise a positive evolution of once damaged identity.

Sofie


Saturday 8 June 2013

Coincidences


It's been a busy few months in SJ world. I wanted to just drop by to let people know that the album post production is nearing its end AND the release date is on the horizon! It's been a nail biting process and a huge undertaking. Looking back there were a few amusing and comforting coincidences that occurred when I was recording and editing the album:
I had originally intended to start the recording process at the end of October 2012. But due to a bout of poor health I had to reschedule those first sessions to the 29th November 2012. Unbeknownst to me at the time of booking, this is the anniversary of the death of the late great Freddy Mercury! A much admired influence and inspiration to my own music. So at the time I reverently tipped my metaphorical glass to one lost but never forgotten.

In my own words...




I sit listening to the rough versions of the songs for my debut solo album and marvel at how far I’ve got; how pleased I am, and it’s not even finished! I never thought I’d see this day. My experiences up to this point haven’t been purely academic. It’s been a long journey, some 15 years in the making, and a whole lot of life reshaping the initial naïve, youthful ambitions. I have deliberated for months on how to get the ball moving with my blog, what aspects of myself I want to show, and what I want to keep in my private life. I thought it was best to dedicate the first ever installment to the imminent completion of the album. It’s one of the single most important things I will do, and this is because my road hasn’t been a smooth one. I fought against all the odds to make this happen, through inescapable circumstances, tragedies and illness. Whether the album is commercially successful is redundant to me. It’s already achieved its goal.

A few years back I decided to ride the wave of the burgeoning digital distribution, coupled by a change in ethos in the music industry as a whole. I took the initiative to start becoming an independent recording artist. Others like me saw the changing playing field and the opportunity to create and release music the way they wanted; without having the rights to their works taken off them. It was a liberation of sorts from a strangle hold that left many frustrated and dejected. I count myself one of those. For me the new era of music distribution solved the perpetual ‘snake biting its own tail’ scenario, by giving the power directly to the artists. It hasn’t been an easy road needless-to-say, but it’s more rewarding to be in control of your own destiny; or bang your head against a door that won’t open no matter how hard you yell!
Being an independent recording artist is daunting at times, as the sheer scope of what you must accomplish as a single person will occasionally shake even the most stoic individual. I’ve felt like a 40 trick pony with fireworks stuck up my ass! I’ve had to take on the roles of the performer, composer and lyricist, arranger, producer, executive producer, manager, promoter, advertiser and financier. This is to name a few! I’m sure as time goes by there will be more balls for me to juggle. Unfortunately, money is a big issue with the fall or rise of the independent. It’s usually what stops most in their tracks, but the moment I decided to pursue this path, I started to save every penny I could. Compared to ‘signed’ artists it would seem a small sum to work with, but I feel I’ve resourcefully used my funds to their optimum capacity. I truly believe sometimes limits can be used to your advantage.
I haven’t done this all alone either. My co-collaborator Barry Dallman, teacher and friend has contributed invaluably to this project, kept me musically grounded and helped me make my good songs become great songs in my eyes! I would publicly like to thank him for all his help so far. I couldn’t have done it without you!
The road isn’t quite over yet! There’s still a few more nail biting moments, laughs and insecurity trips to get through, but it’s in sights. Keep laughing, it’s the best defense you’ve got!
SJ