living for the little things

c'mon, let's be kids again

Idk about you, but January DID NOT COUNT.

February, though? Feeling a little sweeter :)

It’s been a month since Kids Again came out—a song I wrote with my friend Michael Shofi. Listen here :) We recorded it live, top to bottom, with only a few subtle overdubs. We wanted it to feel like you were in the room with us.

Shofi and I in the studio recording “Kids Again” :)

I’ve spent most of my life moving forward—goal to goal, role to role—but lately, I’ve been looking back, retracing my steps, and holding my childhood up to the light: Who was I before I learned how to perform? Who am I when I’m not working? What do I do just for fun? What can I strive for now that reflects who I am today, not just who I’ve been? Will anything ever feel as meaningful as my out-of-this-world artistic childhood? (The real kicker.)

Chorus of Kids Again:

don't you wish we were kids again
trick or treat and learn how to kiss again
hide and seek 'til dinner's ready then
in the morning do it all again
don't you wish we were kids again
pitch a tent and pick up sticks again
play a good ol' game of pretend
oh c'mon let's be kids again 

Little Shofi & Sofie on guitar & keys, the instruments we play in "Kids Again." My bro on the couch behind me :)

What I haven’t shared about this song with anyone yet is that the lyrics aren’t tied to personal memories for me… they reflect a version of childhood I never fully lived. Sure, I had my moments—camping in the backyard, playing pick-up sticks and hide & seek—but most of my time was spent in a different world. As a mini-professional-actor-person since I was five, I spent more time learning lines, practicing music, stressing about vocal issues and scheduling conflicts, brainstorming unique ways to tell my artist story (yep, marketing myself in elementary school) than I did just being a kid. And trust me, I wouldn’t trade my childhood for ANYTHING (more on that later), but I do wonder what it would’ve been like to just exist without always reaching for the next thing.

On set filming Eve Sussman’s “Rape of the Sabine Women” in 5th grade. Undoubtedly my most formative experience.

I’m only now, at 30, making up for lost time and playing around with the idea of being a “kid again.” Thanks to my wonderful friends, I’ve started to hang out just to hang out, without that creeping dread of I’m so lazy or this is a waste of time. I’m stopping to smell the flowers more often and pushing back against the hamster—er, guinea pig— wheel I’ve been running on forever (iykyk).

Yearning to be able to hear my own thoughts, feel my feelings, and get back in touch with my body (Yoga w/ Adrienne is my LIFE right now), I’m stepping away from social media for February. I’ve been considering this for a while—sooooo sick of the constant flood of short-form everything, parroted half-baked ideas, and everyone’s best versions of themselves. I just want to be in the real world.

Anyone with me?

With love,

Sofie

P.S. Working on some fun film projects right now. Here’s a snippet of my song “Honeysuckle Love” which will play over the title sequence of Shannon Walsh’s new film Mama Duck.