‘New EP’ is where a band or artist answers some questions about their latest release. Up next is Sofia Machray, who has just released her debut E.P Language Of Flowers.
When/where was the new EP recorded?
I started demoing out the EP at the beginning of 2022, tracking began in June 2022 at the Ahumairangi studios at Massey University where we firstly recorded drums and bass for the whole project. From there myself and co-producer/engineer Robbie Pattinson tracked guitars at his home studio, and then vocals at the New Zealand School Music—Te Kōkī in the Lilburn Studios where I work fulltime.
Who produced/engineered the EP? How did the tracks come together in the studio, or at
home?
The EP was co-produced by myself and my bandmate Robbie Pattinson who also engineered the project. It took a year to track the full record, whenever we found a spare moment we’d be in a studio somewhere chipping away at the project! I wrote all the songs before bringing them to the studio, so I already had a vision of what I wanted sonically before entering the studio. There was a lot of experimenting that happened, in terms of guitar tones and textual sounds, which glued the songs together nicely.
Did the shorter format of an EP give you the option to experiment in any way with your
sound or with different forms of song-writing?
Being a 6-track project the EP was definitely on the longer side of things, with a few more tracks I would’ve had a album. When writing the songs for the project I wasn’t really thinking about whether it was going to be a EP or album, but more so writing until the project felt like a complete body of work with relevant concepts. I think my sound is always evolving and with that comes some experimenting, which can often lead me to unexpected places or completely down the wrong track. In terms of song-writing it’s never the same process for me, sometimes I’ll be walking or surfing and ideas will come to mind, and other times it’s like a puzzle I’m piecing together for weeks.
Was there any specific gear you used to capture that?
Something that made a few appearances was one of Robbie’s pieces of equipment called a Microcosm which is a granular effects pedal. This made up lot of the textural layers and pads featuring in song such as Petals In The Rain and Forget Me Not.
Is there a particular track or theme that the EP was formed around?
The lyrics ‘It’s the Language Of Flowers, I spend countless hours, chasing days away’ from my focus track Crumbs sparked the overall concept for the record. I’ve always been drawn to flowers, the way they change with seasons and day-to-day life, whether we notice them or not. So when I wrote those lyrics everything just fell into place. In ways I think humans are similar to flowers, and I love writing about these concepts. Aside from nature fuelling my creativity the outdoor world has played a significant role in my life and wellbeing.
Where do you see the EPs place in growing an audience online? Do you see it as a
progression towards an album or a separate entity?
I see this EP as a separate entity and I hope my audience can take from it whatever they need from it. Music has always been a great friend and healer for me, and I hope Language Of Flowers can be that for whoever it resonates with.
Which digital platforms is it available on?
All streaming platforms found here.
Are you doing any gigs or promotion for its release?
In celebration of my debut EP, I will be heading out on a nationwide ‘Language of Flowers’ release tour, with my 5-piece band, including members Anna Wild (Jack Panther, Zö), Alex Hoare (Gallery Orchestra), Robbie Pattinson (Sam Wave) and Alfie Parvin (Sam Wave).
Language of Flowers National Release Tour Dates:
3rd August 2023: Ōhinehou / Lyttelton – Wunderbar
4th August 2023: Ōtepoti / Dunedin – Dive – 4 August
5th August 2023: Tāhuna / Queenstown – Yonder (free show)
11th August 2023: Te Whanganui A-tara / Wellington – Meow
19th August 2023: Tāmaki Makaurau / Auckland – Whammy Bar
Tour tickets available now from Peach Promotions.
