New Zealand indie rocker Sofia Machray dives into her breathtakingly lovely debut EP ‘Language of Flowers,’ a young tempest stuffed with dreamy, radiant sound and uncooked vulnerability.

for followers of Angie McMahon, Alaska Reid, Matilda Mann, Abby Holliday

Stream: “Petals within the Rain” – Sofia Machray

It’s the language of flowers, I spend numerous hours chasing days away, appears like I’m going to waste away, we’re all going to waste away, we’re all gone anyway…

We’ve tried so laborious to separate ourselves from nature, however the reality is that we people have extra in widespread with meadows and bees than we do concrete and metal. We’re as sturdy as waterfalls and as fragile as flower petals, and in her debut EP, Sofia Machray makes a concerted effort to reclaim that pure a part of her id; that piece of her soul that’s perpetually certain to Earth. A young tempest stuffed with dreamy, radiant indie rock and uncooked vulnerability, Language of Flowers aches with breathtaking magnificence as Machray unveils moments of intimacy, reflection, and rediscovery.

And whereas this file is, on the floor, a compelling introduction to considered one of New Zealand’s brightest new singer/songwriters, deep down it’s a vessel of connection, facilitating the inextricable, however typically forgotten bond between our hearts, our minds, and our souls.

At all times pondering we flower just like the weekends
Dancing spherical, dancing spherical the times
At all times longing to really feel some belonging
Far-off, distant from this place
What is that this place anyway?

Lately are perpetually altering me
And our tempo is perpetually fluctuating

We’re working spherical flowing out and in
I virtually drowned didn’t just like the sound
Frantic minds suppose alike
Circle again I do know you tried,
I do know you tried, I do know you tried
When all I ever needed,
all I ever needed was change

– “Petals within the Rain,” Sofia Machray

Independently launched July 21, 2023, Language of Flowers is a cathartic, cinematic eruption from the depths of a soul in movement. Turbulence and serenity intertwine on a file that blends diaristic songwriting with stormy sonics as Machray charts the turbulence of her early 20s, in all its splendor and struggling, appeal and churn. Paying homage to artists like Angie McMahon, Matilda Mann, and Alaska Reid, the Pо̄neke, New Zealand-based indie rock singer/songwriter steps unapologetically into the highlight along with her coronary heart on her sleeve. Her six new songs are fastidiously textured, achingly evocative, and irresistibly dynamic – along with her personal soul-stirring vocals serving as a beacon between her internal world, and our personal.

“This file was like writing letters to my future self to assist me get via complicated instances and the modern-day pressures of rising into maturity,” Machray tells Atwood Journal. “During the last 12 months of creating this file, I discovered myself subconsciously writing about transferring on earlier than the transferring on had even begun. I discovered it attention-grabbing that I’d been attempting to let go of one thing while nonetheless attempting to carry on.”

“These moments of self-discovery may be confronting at instances; I typically discover myself turning to nature to assist me come to peace with overwhelming emotions. In a approach these songs really feel like timestamps off what I used to be going via over the past 12 months – I poured a variety of vulnerability into this file as I used to be writing as a coping mechanism to push via difficult instances. I’m tremendous pleased with this piece of labor and everybody who helped me alongside the best way to make my imaginative and prescient come to life and particularly to my band for being so embracing and accepting.”

“I disappeared in 2022 so I may work full-time and get my funds as much as lastly monitor some songs, and that’s precisely what I did! As soon as I had the idea of the file there was way more writing occurring than I anticipated. I began busting out new songs left, proper, and heart which meant I didn’t file a variety of the songs from my stay performances as they didn’t fairly match into the undertaking. I’m uncertain if I ever will as I really feel I’ve parted with these songs now, however who is aware of!”

I poured a variety of vulnerability into this file as I used to be writing as a coping mechanism to push via difficult instances.

Machray describes her file as “ethereal, highly effective, and anthemic.” The EP title Language of Flowers speaks to the sturdy connection she’s lengthy felt with nature.

“I’ve all the time been drawn to flowers, the best way they alter with seasons and day-to-day life whether or not we discover them or not,” she explains. “I believe people are comparable in some ways, and I really like writing about these ideas. Other than nature fueling my creativity, the out of doors world has performed a big function in my life and wellbeing as an outlet, very like music. I typically flip to the outside to assist me take my thoughts off issues.

Atwood Journal beforehand premiered Language of Flowers‘ lead single, the liberating coming-of-age anthem “Petals within the Rain.” “Sinking into the haze of her personal overthinking thoughts and the unavoidable specter of previous experiences, Machray crafts a catchy, cathartic, and emotionally-charged sonic panorama,” we wrote in our premiere. “Pressure slowly dissipates right into a candy launch that washes over us, drenching our ears and our hearts in a shocking, seductive indie rock sound.” The monitor’s refrain is a convincing musical and emotional climax that speaks to the narrator’s ongoing internal reckoning:

We’re working spherical flowing out and in
I virtually drowned didn’t just like the sound
Frantic minds suppose alike
Circle again I do know you tried,
I do know you tried, I do know you tried
When all I ever needed,
all I ever needed was change

“Petals within the Rain” was adopted by the visceral, heated outpouring “Foundations,” wherein Machray questions her personal music profession and dwells in an area of uncertainty and self-doubt. She holds nothing again on this candid confessional, constructing to an emotionally charged climax that sends shivers down the backbone.

Biting down, feel me now
Inhaling respiration out
Is what we should do
An avalanche run breaks the ice
Has me feeling sick inside

We solely should do what’s required
Unusual folks and stranger needs
Come alive come alive
Really feel the night time really feel the night time

Really feel it via
Nightfall to daybreak, daybreak to blue
Heighten senses shut me down
By way of the bones of this city

If we do what we should we should do what we do
Then how the f*** can I get to you?

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Machray, for her half, has bother highlighting only one standout monitor.

“It’s troublesome to pin a track that’s my favorite from the file as every track holds totally different meanings for me,” she says. “Nonetheless, one track I’m tremendous proud sonically of must be ‘Crumbs.’ I pushed myself a bit extra outdoors of my consolation zone through the writing course of for this one; the track builds via plenty of distinctive sections and morphs into one huge lovely mess! I wouldn’t normally push myself to sing in a excessive register so deciding to showcase my vocal vary within the refrain was a bit difficult in addition to utilizing varied guitar tones and showcasing my guitar taking part in. All these choices made an enormous impediment to beat when it got here to stay!”

“My favourite lyrics from the undertaking are, ‘It’s the language of flowers I spend numerous hours chasing days away, appears like I’m going to waste away, we’re all going to waste away, we’re all gone anyway‘ off ‘Crumbs,’” she provides. “These had been the lyrics that sparked the entire idea of the file and resonated with me on the time of writing the track. It was a type of lightbulb moments!”

A beautiful soundtrack excellent for dreamers and over-thinkers alike, Language of Flowers is a daring, sweetly fascinating enchantment – and the right introduction to all the heat and surprise that Sofia Machray has to supply.

“I hope listeners take from it no matter they want from it,” Machray shares. “Music has all the time been an important good friend and healer for me, and I hope Language of Flowers may be that for whoever it resonates with.”

Expertise the complete file by way of our under stream, and peek inside Sofia Machray’s Language of Flowers with Atwood Journal as she goes track-by-track via the music and lyrics of her debut EP!

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:: stream/buy Language of Flowers right here ::

:: join with Sofia Machray right here ::

Stream: ‘Language of Flowers’ – Sofia Machray

:: Inside Language of Flowers ::

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Between Now & Then

‘Between Now & Then’ is a track devoted to my hometown and upbringing. I grew up in a comfortable cottage that backed off proper onto the riverside, in Arrowtown, New Zealand. I drew a variety of my inspiration from the mountains into my songwriting and the way I co-existed with them. The track is in regards to the deep connection I needed to my childhood residence and having to come back to phrases with it being bought after which having to navigate a brand new which means of residence.

Petals within the Rain

‘Petals In The Rain’ explores themes of self-discovery and progress via overcomings. When scripting this track I used to be processing a few of my first losses, heartbreak, and letting go of outdated friendships that had been not serving me while navigating maturity. I’m solely 23, so I barely really feel like an grownup. However there was lots to be taught via these experiences by way of self-discovery, I felt I’ve discovered extra about myself within the final 12 months than I’ve in my complete life.

Crumbs

For me ‘Crumbs’ encapsulates the emotional battle of wanting to talk up about one thing, however not having the braveness to take action. I wrote this track as a approach to course of my anxieties and experiences round confrontational conditions. I believe a variety of us can relate to emotions of being held again by insecurities and worries, and the sense of remorse that may come from leaving issues unsaid. The monitor unloads a dense emotional outpour on the intersection of indie-pop, heartland rock, and shoegaze. Sonically I needed the track to churn via a variety of distinctive sections to emulate emotions of confusion and being in your head.

Cuppa Tea

Perfumed with hints of angelic soul and complicated instrumentation, ‘Cuppa Tea’ blossoms via varied soundscapes transitioning between sparkly guitars and conflicting distortions. The track concept happened when my mum spilt a cup of tea and we laughed about it, throwing tea towels throughout the room. It sparked concepts about how one can react to conditions and jogged my memory of the saying, ‘Don’t cry over spilt milk.’ For me, it’s emphasizing the significance of how we select to answer conditions we would not have management over.

Foundations

‘Foundations’ delves into the uncertainty of doubt that arises when goals and needs cross otherwise from how we envisioned them. It’s acknowledging that life has an unpredictable nature and that issues don’t typically transfer in a predictable straight line, but in addition highlights the potential for progress and discovery when our paths do lead us down sudden turns. I wrote this track throughout our first COVID-19 lockdown interval in 2020, on the time I used to be questioning my music profession and the way it may look going ahead with stay music not being accessible on the time.

Overlook Me Not

‘Overlook Me Not’ is without doubt one of the extra emotionally turbulent and uncooked tracks from the file which paints a scene of coming to phrases with loss, grief, and fears that life is passing by all too rapidly.

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artwork © Alex Hoare

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