After turning heads with her punchy alt-pop debut ‘idk’ and viral sleeper hit ‘That Ass!’, rising London-based artist Sofia Gobbi returns with her most vulnerable work to date. Her new single ‘With Gold’ marks a bold departure, and gives us a taste of the emotional depth to come on her forthcoming debut album Bigger Man.
Inspired by the Japanese art of Kintsugi, the practice of repairing broken pottery with gold to highlight the damage, ‘With Gold’ is a quiet anthem of healing and defiance. Recorded in a single take, Gobbi’s voice carries raw power, recounting heartbreak and transformation with poetic intensity.
With fans at BBC Radio 1, Earmilk, and DIY Magazine already rallying behind her, and production credits from the likes of Tom Stafford and Andrea Mastroiacovo on her debut record, Gobbi is fast cementing her place as one of alt-pop’s most emotionally resonant new storytellers.
We caught up with Sofia Gobbi to talk about imperfection, resilience, and why sometimes the best way to heal is to sing it out, flaws and all.
–
Can you tell us a bit about your background and how you got started in music?
I’ve always felt like music chose me, rather than the other way around. When I was about 8 years old, I had a sort of realisation that songwriting and singing were what I wanted to do for the rest of my life. I immediately phoned my best friend to tell her, and we formed a duo called Aley & Sofy. We spent every weekend and after-school playdate writing songs, filming music videos, designing stage sets and tour outfits, and crafting makeshift merch we’d sell at our parents’ dinner parties. No one in my family is a musician, but my parents are obsessed with music and always had it playing around the house, so I just soaked it all in. There’s a video of me at three years old tinkering on the piano and making up a song. Honestly, it’s been part of me for as long as I can remember.
Who are your biggest musical influences and how have they shaped your sound?
I’d say the ’70s are really my musical foundation — that era has shaped me more than anything. I grew up on Neil Young, Fleetwood Mac, and Crosby, Stills & Nash. My dad is the biggest Rolling Stones fan, and my mom is the disco queen, so our house was constantly filled with Donna Summer, ABBA, and Earth, Wind & Fire, too. When I was working on my debut album, I was listening to a lot of rock and indie-rock, which I’ve always been such a big fan of — artists like Viagra Boys, Wet Leg, The Cars, DEVO, Twenty One Pilots, and Talking Heads. I’m inspired by so many different sounds and eras, and I think my music has naturally become a mix of all those influences.
Was there a specific moment or experience that made you decide to pursue music seriously?
I’ve always taken music seriously, but growing up in a small Italian town made it difficult to pursue real opportunities early on. I was writing songs in English while living in a place where everyone spoke Italian, so people couldn’t fully connect with what I was singing about. On top of that, I felt pressure to put school first. My parents have always been supportive of my dreams, but they weren’t the kind to drive me to auditions or let me chase professional opportunities as a kid. They wanted me to have a “normal” childhood and were firm about education coming first. Originally, the deal was that I could pursue music “seriously” once I turned 18—then it shifted to “after you get your BA.” I remember wanting to be on the Disney Channel so badly as a kid and being endlessly persistent about it, but my parents stayed grounded and insisted I have something to fall back on. So, I stuck to the plan: I finished university, graduated in 2019, and from that moment on, I’ve finally had the freedom to pour myself into it completely. It’s genuinely all I do and think about 24/7.
Can you walk us through your typical songwriting process?
My process is never linear. Lyrics tend to come to me at random times — on walks, in the middle of the night, or from conversations with friends — and I jot them down in my notes app. Sometimes a song starts from a hook I think of, other times Andrea (my producer and co-writer) plays a riff and I’ll improvise melodies and gibberish over it. Later I’ll go back and ‘decode’ the gibberish to figure out what my subconscious was trying to express. That’s exactly how songs like “idk” and “Whatcha Doing” were written – after a few dates with someone I didn’t even realize had left such an impression on me until I wrote the songs.
How do you find inspiration for your music and lyrics?
I’m constantly inspired by so many things. A lot of it comes from everyday life—conversations I have or ones I overhear, as well as movies and TV shows I love, other music, art, and photography. One of my biggest sources, though, is books. There’s something so grounding and expansive about reading; it’s such a beautiful exercise in empathy and perspective. You get to step into someone else’s shoes, see the world through their eyes, and experience their innermost thoughts. Storytelling is a huge part of my songwriting, and books continually teach me new ways to shape a sentence, express an emotion, and build a character or narrative arc. They remind me how to craft a story that feels cohesive from beginning to end. For my upcoming album in particular—because humor is central to the storytelling—I read a lot of memoirs by comedians, like Tina Fey’s Bossypants and Amy Poehler’s Yes Please, which really helped sharpen that tone. But inspiration isn’t always something I’m actively seeking out—sometimes it just shows up. I’ll wake up in the middle of the night with a melody or lyric in my head, and that becomes the spark for a song.
What themes or messages do you hope listeners take away from your music?
A lot of my music is about being honest about the messier parts of life — the vulnerability, the doubt, the excitement, the risk. I try to write songs that feel like both a mirror and a hand reaching out, so people can recognize themselves in the stories and hopefully feel less alone, too. Music has been my way of embracing both my boldness and my vulnerability, and I hope my songs make people feel seen and empowered.
What challenges have you faced as an emerging artist in the music industry?
Mostly, people not taking me seriously or giving me a chance to show what I’m capable of. Ironically, that only fuels me more. I took a big leap of faith: I quit my job, knowing I’d burn through my savings, and poured everything into making my debut album. I didn’t want to wait for someone to give me permission — so I did it myself, on my own terms, with people I love who understood my vision. It has been incredibly challenging, but so rewarding. And while I’ve dealt with the occasional toxic guy, I’ve also met many wonderful people in music who far outweigh the bad ones.
What has been the most rewarding aspect of your musical journey so far?
The most rewarding part of my musical journey has been the friendships and community it’s brought into my life. I’ve made some of my closest friends through music—fellow artists and collaborators from all corners of the industry—and I’ve met so many wonderful people at shows or online who connected with my songs and eventually became friends. There’s something magical about the way music brings people together. We all come from different backgrounds and experiences, but songs create this shared emotional space where we can feel understood and connected. For me, that’s the most meaningful part of all of this: building a community that uplifts each other and finds common ground through something we all feel so deeply.
How do you stay true to yourself and your artistry in a constantly evolving industry?
I’ve never been someone who writes to chase a trend. I always start from whatever feels true and honest to me in that moment. I think life in general comes with so many rules and expectations, and sometimes the industry can amplify them—but the whole reason I love making art is because, at its core, it doesn’t have any. Creativity is the one place where you’re allowed to break things, bend things, and follow your instincts instead of expectations. I try to protect that freedom as much as possible: I write without thinking about how something will perform, I experiment especially if it doesn’t “fit,” and I surround myself with people who value the art first and understand how important expression is to me. Staying authentic isn’t about resisting change; it’s about making sure the change comes from me and not from outside pressure. If I’m excited by what I’m making—and it feels honest and uncomfortable in the best way—then I know I’m on the right track.
What can fans expect from you in the near future? Any upcoming projects or tours?
My debut album comes out on January 16th, and I’ve genuinely never been more excited about anything in my life. I can’t wait for people to finally hear these songs and to connect with listeners through the stories behind them. I’m also planning some shows for next year, so keep your eyes peeled. Getting to play this album live is something I’ve been dreaming about for so long, and I’m so excited to share that experience with everyone soon. And before the album drops, I’m throwing a release party on January 15th in London! More details are coming soon, but save the date and come partyyy.
Where do you see yourself and your music career in the next five years?
I’ve always been very ambitious, so honestly, sky’s the limit. In the next few years, I’d love to be opening for my favorite artists and really honing that side of performing—getting on the road, touring, and meeting more people who connect with my music. Especially these next couple years, I want to be playing shows nonstop. I also see myself releasing at least another album or two. I’m overflowing with ideas already, and I want to keep growing, experimenting, and pushing my sound. I’d love to collaborate with some of my songwriting and production heroes on those future projects. And I absolutely want to perform on SNL and win a GRAMMY—or a few 😉 But at the core of everything, I just hope my music continues to reach more people, build community, and open the kinds of doors that let me keep doing this every day.
–
Listen to Sofia Gobbi’s new single ‘With Gold’ below.
