Juggling a final year of university studies while simultaneously forging a path as one of Australia’s most promising indie-pop voices is no small feat. Yet Melbourne’s Sophia J Smith seems to handle the pressure with an effortless charm.
Blending the unfiltered emotional weight of modern heavyweights like Sam Fender and Phoebe Bridgers with the analogue, sepia-toned warmth of Fleetwood Mac and Bruce Springsteen, Smith has quickly carved out a sonic lane that feels both nostalgic and refreshingly urgent. Now, she is ready to share her most expansive project yet.
Now, the rising artist drops her sorrow-tinged new single ‘Forget You’, arriving alongside an atmospheric music video helmed by director Rhys Rogers. The track acts as the emotional anchor for her newly announced debut EP, 'Wasted On The Young', which is scheduled to land on 27 November via Island Records Australia. Penned alongside Andy Mak and Lola Scott, ‘Forget You’ bottles the heavy, often overwhelming reality of leaving your formative years behind.
Discussing the track’s deeply personal origins, Sophia J Smith said, "This song is about change and how hard it can be to move on from places you know so well. I wrote this song after losing two of my grandparents and had just graduated highschool which was really daunting at the time as it felt like all the things that were once familiar were starting to move on."
Following the widespread praise of her previous drops ‘Tell Them’—which earned glowing support from triple j—and ‘Confetti on the Floor’, this current era sees Smith stepping into major recording suites. She has spent time at The Grove alongside acclaimed producers like Scott Horscroft and Andy Mak, honing a sound that elevates her intimate solo lyricism with rich, expansive production. The upcoming 5-track EP serves as a vivid diary of this transition.
“I am beyond excited to be releasing my debut EP, 'Wasted On The Young', on the 27th of November. When writing these tracks I always saw them as pivotal moments within one big story, reflecting the past three years of my life," she shared.
If this new single is anything to go by, her upcoming record will be a deeply compelling coming-of-age journey. Be sure to stream ‘Forget You’ across all digital platforms today, and follow Sophia J Smith on Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok to keep up with everything happening before the EP drops.
