Sophia (indie band)

Infobox musical artist
Name = Sophia
Genre = Alternative rock Indie rock Slowcore Singer-songwriter
Formed = 1995
Years_active = 1995-present
Label = The Flower Shop Recordings City Slang Bang!
Current_members = Robin Proper-Sheppard The Sophia collective
Associated_acts = May Queens , The God Machine

Sophia is an indie rock band consisting of Robin Proper-Sheppard, former member of The God Machine, and the Sophia collective, a group of musicians who collaborate with Sophia. "Oh My Love" from 'People are like Seasons' became an indie hit in several countries.
After the release of the final The God Machine album in 1995, Proper-Sheppard set up the Flower Shop label, putting out records from the likes of Elevate, Ligament, and Swervedriver. He also began recording a year later as Sophia. Sophia sounded nothing like The God Machine. Instead of ear-busting and grating, they were low key and introspective. With the help from other Flower Shop artists - Graham Miles (Elevate), Dan Mulligan (Oil Seed Rape) and James Elkington (Elevate) - he recorded 1996's 'Fixed Water'. Featuring the single 'Are You Happy Now', the album received favourable comparisons to Neil Young and Sparklehorse.
Two years later, 'The Infinite Circle' followed, receiving just as much critical praise as the debut. In 2005 this album was performed live in its entirety as part of the All Tomorrow's Parties-curated Don't Look Back series.
In 2001 Sophia released a live album 'De Nachten'. The album was recorded during 2 festival appearances in Belgium and Holland and features 4 new songs and a John Lennon cover.
In January 2004 Sophia released their third studio album 'People Are Like Seasons'. The album was released by City Slang/EMI and marks the first Sophia release for a major label. Thanks to the massive airplay for its first single 'Oh my love' the band reached a whole new audience. This resulted in chart succes for the album in several European countries (highest entry was no. 8 in Belgium). The band - of which the main members are now Robin Proper-Sheppard (vocals, guitar), Jeff Townsin (drums), Will Foster (keyboards) and ex-Swervedriver mainman Adam Franklin (guitar) - did a very successful tour of Europe in the first half of 2004.
In the Fall of 2004 a rarities cd was released called 'Collections:One'.
Most of 2005 and 2006 were spent writing and recording new songs for the fourth studio album 'Technology Won't Save Us', which was released in October 2006.

Discography

;Albums:
*Fixed Water (1996, The Flower Shop Recordings)
*The Infinite Circle (1998, The Flower Shop Recordings)
*De Nachten (2001, Flower Shop Recordings)
*People are like Seasons (2004, The Flower Shop Recordings/City Slang/Bang!)
*Collection:One (2004, Flower Shop Recordings)
*Technology Won’t Save Us (2006, The Flower Shop Recordings/City Slang/Bang!)

;Singles:
* So Slow (4 track version) (Split 7" single with Swervedriver) (1996, Echostatic/Space Baby)
* Are You Happy Now (1997, The Flower Shop Recordings)
* Desert Song No. 2 (Free 10" tour single) (2003, The Flower Shop Recordings)
* Oh My Love (2004, City Slang/Labels/Virgin/The Flower Shop Recordings)
* Holidays Are Nice (new version, promo only) (2004, City Slang/Labels/Virgin/The Flower Shop Recordings)
* Pace (promo only) (2006, City Slang/The Flower Shop Recordings)
* Where Are You now (promo only) (2007, City Slang/The Flower Shop Recordings)

External links

* [http://www.sophiamusic.net/ The official unofficial Sophia site 'Sophiamusic.net']
*MySpace|thesophiacollective|Sophia
* [http://www.sophia-music.com/ An old outdated site by EMI]