A little over a month after announcing the release of her first full-length record, Sophia Bel now shows her folkier side with the new love song “I Won’t Bite”. Reminiscent of pop-country hits from the mid-2000s, this track is carried by simple guitar and drums arrangements. The single is featured on Anxious Avoidant, along with previously released ultra-catchy and the nostalgic pop-punk anthem “2AM (And I Did It Again)” and the alternative country-influenced pop ballad “Lonely After Curfew”. Sophia’s debut album is due out April 15th, 2022 viaBonsound, and is now available for pre-order on vinyl, CD and digitally.
On this happy-go-lucky song, instrumentals are put on the backburner with laid-back arrangements to let Sophia’s delicate vocals shine through. After recording guitar and vocals in a single take with the help of Christian Sean, banjo and drums were then added to achieve its country feel. I listened to a good amount of pop-country when I was a teenager and I wanted to let myself fully explore my throwback, explains Bel.
Through more playful and seductive lyrics, Sophia Bel puts her heart on her sleeve as she describes the pure bliss of the early stages in a relationship with a sweetness that feels like a warm summer breeze. But past the rose-colored glasses is a glimpse of an underlying fear of abandonment, like in much of her other compositions. I wrote this song in a state of euphoria, with that feeling in the back of my mind that nothing is to be taken for granted. It’s the honeymoon stage with a hint of the terrifying fear of losing someone, describes the singer. Simply put, I Won’t Bite is a love declaration that packs a punch and makes us feel all gooey inside.
A few days ago, Sophia Bel was announced as one of the artists featured on the Osheaga 2022 lineup; you’ll be able to catch her on the Montreal festival’s stage on Saturday, July 30th. The singer-songwriter and producer will also be presenting Anxious Avoidantlive later this spring. After a performance at the Baby G in Toronto on May 11th, Sophia will make a stop at Bar L’Anti in Québec City on May 13th. Her album release show in Montréal will take place at Foufounes Électriques on May 25th. For more details and to get tickets, head over here.
About Anxious Avoidant
Born during the pandemic, Anxious Avoidant is inspired by the colourful and playful sounds of the early 2000s. The album marks a stylistic progression in the career of the Montreal-based artist and producer, who, for the first time, composed her songs armed solely with her guitar. This new process influenced her writing style, and inevitably, the final outcome, offering a significant evolution from her first two EPs.
Anxious Avoidant is a vulnerable tale that gathers its force from Sophia Bel’s explosive energy, as she explores relationships and feelings while rocking to the music that influenced her teenage years. Produced by Sophia and Tim Buron, the album is filled with sweet ballads, empowering pop-punk anthems and melodic guitar riffs, but most importantly, a refreshing and creative approach to Y2K music. By breaking free from her fears and knocking down the walls that she had built, Sophia Bel is giving us a glimpse into her inner dialogues, ruminations and emotions. Anxious Avoidant is a personal diary, an open book that everyone can relate to.
About Sophia Bel
Under Sophia Bel’s shy demeanor and delicate voice, there’s an inviting, colourful and playful world waiting for people to dive into. Born in Michigan from a Québécois dad and a Dutch-American mom, Sophia has always found her path through music, from singing 90s classics when she was younger to now releasing her debut album. A real 90s kid, she grew up listening to pop divas, while dreaming of one day becoming a shining music star like them. Bullied at school for her looks, Sophia found an escape daydreaming about a future life as a singer. Figuring out music was her true calling when she was still a teenager, Sophia decided to take her career seriously and pursue her studies in music at Vanier College in Montréal, where she started an empowering path towards the artist she is today. Taking time for herself to recenter on the kind of music she wanted to make as an artist, Sophia Bel found herself going back to her roots, one that are heavily influenced by the fresh pop of the early 00s, by emo-rock, and pop-punk of yesteryears.
