Drawing inspiration from the likes of Alex G, Beadaboobee and Soccer Mommy, Sophia Mohan – aka SOMOH – is making dreamy, introspective indie about queer love
SOMOH burst onto the scene with “I’ve Been Saying This” and “Anything” – two dreamy bedroom pop tracks that would feel well-placed in an early 00s TV show. Her recently released debut EP Problem Child sees her boldly enter territory, experimenting with melodic guitar riffs and introspective lyrics that detail experiences of LGBTQ+ love and her childhood. This is perhaps what makes SOMOH distinguishable from her peers – her music, especially when it explores her romantic relationships, offers the listener a candid and realistic portrayal of queer love, free from any sensationalism.
This authenticity shines through, from Problem Child’s opening track “Favourite” (a song that has garnered nearly one million streams) to its closer “Hard to Tell”. “A lot of my music takes its influence from 90s and 00s indie rock,” the singer explains. Following its release, SOMOH spoke to Dazed for a quickfire chat about her earliest musical memory, her astrological “big three”, and her internet obsessions.
What’s your earliest musical memory?
SOMOH: My mum put me in classical vocal classes when I was young. She wanted me to sing in Italian so she could share my love for music in a way her parents (my grandparents) would understand. It became a ritual going there every Saturday morning, and it really sparked my love for music.
What conspiracy theory are you quite into actually?
SOMOH: I love a good conspiracy theory, but I don’t like to get too deep into them, for my own sake. What I will say is there’s definitely been more contact with aliens than the government cares to admit. I’ve always thought it naive to believe there aren’t more life forms out there!
What’s your star sign and are you a typical one of that star sign?
SOMOH: I’m a Capricorn sun, Aries rising and Pisces moon. I do relate a lot to my sign. Capricorns are very misunderstood! We just have a hard outer shell that can come across as stand-offish, but I promise we’re lovely.
What’s your favourite corner shop snack?
SOMOH: It’s got to be McCoys Flamed Grilled Steak crisps. They absolutely slap in a sandwich too (but not one from a corner shop, unless you like food poisoning).
If you could only listen to one musician for the rest of your life, who would it be?
SOMOH: It would have to be Indigo De Souza. She has a song for every feeling and occasion. I listen to them pretty much every day anyway so it wouldn’t be too much of a challenge!
What adjective would you least like to be described as?
SOMOH: ‘Boring’ – I think that’s the most brutal way you can describe someone.
What do you put on your rider?
SOMOH: Water, beer and hummus, with carrots, cucumber and celery for dipping. Also salted crisps. The staples.
What’s your weirdest internet obsession?
SOMOH: At the moment it’s weird-looking animals. Scruffy ones, ones with no hair, just generally funny-looking. There was a specific hairless guinea pig page I was following and the poor thing passed away – I actually sobbed when I found out.
What’s the last text you sent?
SOMOH: It was a ‘I’m so sorry I’m running late’ text. My time management skills are terrible and I hate it about myself. I’m working on it, though!
What’s your love language?
SOMOH: It would have to be physical touch or gift-giving. I always have an ongoing list on my phone of gift ideas for the people in my life. It’s just my favourite thing to see people’s reactions to stuff you’ve made or gifted them.
Problem Child is out now