SOFT LAD, musician

Sophie Galpin is a UK-based multi-instrumentalist musician and artist, writing and performing as SOFT LAD.

Collaborating and touring with Self Esteem, the Breeders, and Jessie Ware, Sophie began putting out her own work last year, and continues to shape her own artistic voice with a new EP on the way.

We discuss some proper bangers this episode, by the likes of CeCe Peniston, Jessie Ware and Melanie C.

You can follow SOFT LAD on Instagram here, and listen on Spotify here.

Tracks of Our Queers is produced, presented and edited by Andy Gott.

You can listen to our Spotify playlist, Selections from Tracks of Our Queers, and find Aural Fixation in your favourite podcast provider. 

Transcript

SOFT LAD

Andy Gott: [00:00:00] Hello, this is Tracks of Our Queers. My name is Andy Gott, and each episode I'll talk to a guest about one song, one album, and one artist that have soundtracked their life as a queer person. Sophie Galpin is an artist, songwriter, and musician under her stage moniker Soft Lad. Based in the UK, Sophie works with the likes of Self Esteem, The Breeders, and Jessie Ware as a multi instrumentalist.

As a multi instrumentalist, but the self described musical chameleon now has her own catalogue of queer bangers available. But the self described musical chameleon... But, the self described musical chameleon now has her own catalogue of queer bangers available. If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe, leave a rating or review in your app, or even better, tell a [00:01:00] friend.

Tracks of Our Queers is an entirely independent production, so if you would like to help keep the podcast ad free, you can shout me a coffee via the link in the show notes. Every penny goes to episode production. Over to Sophie.

Hello Sophie, welcome to Tracks of our Queers.

Sophie Galpin: Thank you so much. Thank you for allowing me to talk about things that I would normally enforce on my loved ones.

Andy Gott: Perfect, mutually beneficial. Whereabouts did you grow up and what were you listening to at home?

Sophie Galpin: I grew up in Northampton in the Midlands and I very much grew up on a diet of pop music. And also my sister is nine years older than me. She was listening to like Brit pop and stuff in the 90s. that kind of whatever she was listening to plus whatever I was just bang into pop music like into melodies and hooks and Always thought about music very kind of analytically.

So I've always really enjoyed that.

Andy Gott: An amazing time for those melodies and you know that kind of max martin [00:02:00] school of pop where there is a bit of a formula But the formula works and it produces incredible music.

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, like imagine being Max Martin having written all those hits like I would be pretty smug, 

Andy Gott: Absolutely. So when did you? start to look at music as a career.

Sophie Galpin: for me, it's always been what I was going to do, even since I was, before I could really kind of verbalize or, or kind of monetize anything, you know, even before I started music lessons and things like that, I've always. thought of music. It's always come naturally to me and it's always been when I make it happen rather than if.

Like it's always been that's just what I'm doing. I've never even questioned it. So it's definitely like in my DNA somehow, which is weird because I'm not really from a musical family at all. But it really feels like it's part of who I am.

Andy Gott: Did you have a natural inclination to wanting to learn new instruments, and were your family supportive of that?

Sophie Galpin: Yeah. Luckily for me, my sister had piano lessons like most kids do. And when I was four, I was like, when do I start mine? Not like. Can I? Like, [00:03:00] I was like, when? And then, I'm a multi instrumentalist, when I do session work and things like that. So, variety and, like, picking up something new and, that kind of process of improving at something has always really ticked my boxes.

Andy Gott: And what instruments can you play?

Sophie Galpin: Keys, violin, guitar, bass, drums, and sing.

Andy Gott: Ah, just a couple of things then, that's all right.

Sophie Galpin: Some of them lend themselves to the other ones, so it's a bit like cheating, really.

Andy Gott: Do you remember maybe the first thing that you discovered where you discovered it and you'd gone out and sourced it or you'd been exposed to it yourself?

Sophie Galpin: It's interesting because... You know, it's like pre internet. You're very much, dictated by what's on the radio, you know, when you're a kid. I feel like I wish that Spotify had been available when I was younger. Because everything that's in the mainstream is kind of, funneled at you.

And then it was, more when I was an early teenager and started hanging out with people that listened to more guitar bands. You know, because I'd always played guitar, but even just listening to bands like Green Day and Blink 182 that were, still quite mainstream pop punk music, but, it felt [00:04:00] so left field compared to what is on the radio.

Andy Gott: And do you remember possibly the first time you got into something where maybe liking it made you feel a little bit different from the other girls, let's say? 

Sophie Galpin: It's like when I started playing in bands and I was like in a band when I was like 14 at school you know like my first ever band and I went to an all girls school and we couldn't find a drummer we were like doing our best you know and like listening to kind of Anything that was on like Kerrang, you know, it's like, you know, all of that stuff where people were like, what do you mean?

You don't listen to this. I was like, well, you know, I can rock and roll which is funny because I Now just unashamedly absolutely love pop music But I always tried to be doing stuff that was cooler than I actually am

Andy Gott: yes.

Sophie Galpin: You know what I mean?

I'm like, actually, this is the music that I like, and it's only when I started embracing that, that I started to make good music for myself.

Andy Gott: I think it's a very similar journey to many music heads who are obsessed with music that we go through these [00:05:00] phases where we discover things and we figure out what we like and maybe we're pushing ourselves into things because we think they're cooler than maybe we actually like authentically, maybe we do like them, whatever, it doesn't matter, and then we go through a phase where we realized actually you can like absolutely anything and the more diversity is better right to enjoy multiple genres Why would you limit yourself to one thing?

Sophie Galpin: Yeah. And also, whatever band I was in, whoever I was playing with, I always wanted it to be more pop than it was. If it's like an indie folky band, like, I always wanted it to be the pop end of that. Or if it was a guitar band, I wanted it to be like, instant. I wanted the melody, you know, like, I wanted to go down the route of making it more pop than it was.

Like, I always had those sensibilities.

Andy Gott: Yes, I need to talk to you about your artist name. Tell me how you landed on that.

Sophie Galpin: Basically when I started thinking about writing these songs, I was hanging out with two of my mates, Riv and Eli, quite a lot, and we'd go out and be like, yeah, just pints, like, you know, like, going out, we were all single, we were all out and about in Manchester, but then we would just get together and essentially talk about our feelings, you [00:06:00] know, and be really emotionally vulnerable, so we kind of started referring to ourselves as like a bunch of soft lads, and then, That set the tone for the project, because it's just me writing gay little songs about my gay little life.

And it's kind of Like reclaiming a bit of a, not a slur, but you know, it's kind of, it's like, yeah, and, you know.

Andy Gott: Absolutely, that was actually how I interpreted it more so being I could imagine it's like, you know, A Northern Dad would say to his son to harden up It makes me think of Billy Elliot adjacent things. I love that .

So the premise of this podcast is me unpicking whether there is this connection between the relationship that we have as queer people with music. You are a musician That's your craft.

That's your career and you have not only perform with many musicians, but you make your own music. So I need to pick your brains on, do you think that there is a particular relationship that queer people have with music? And what are your thoughts on how music speaks to your identity?

Sophie Galpin: I think If [00:07:00] you're a queer young person, whether you know it or not, like, I didn't come out until I was like 20. Not because I didn't know any queer people, but I just, it didn't relate to me, like, I wasn't in the closet, I just didn't really know. Once I knew, I wasn't hiding at all, but it took a while for the penny, the penny to drop for me.

Everybody else knew before I did. 

And whether you are aware of it or not, whether it's active, whether you're in the closet, whether you're just living your life and trying to figure out life, like, it's hard enough. When you're a kid and a teenager anyway, but I feel like if you're queer whether you know it or not 

you're searching for some sort of relatability You're searching for something that feels like home and something that relates to you So I think music is a really important element of that where you're trying to find yourself in things that are reflected in Mainstream culture, It's the same as on TV shows and like you're trying to find something that relates to you and you pick the bits that you you know, relate to but I think there's like even more of a sense of that when you're queer.

Andy Gott: And the fact that you did come out at 20, did you notice a shift in how you viewed? Pieces of art [00:08:00] that you'd loved, did you start to see different things in them when you entered a new understanding with your identity?

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, it's kind of like retrospectively like, well, that makes sense, you know, like, you know, but, but it's interesting. Like when I first came out, I kind of came out. into a relationship with somebody who also had not previously been queer or identified that way. Yeah, so like we met at uni and just like fell in love and it was gorgeous, it was a gorgeous thing.

But it's funny because I was to begin with, really dismissive and snobby of the gay scene in Manchester where I was. I was like, I don't need to, we don't need to go there, we don't need to do that. Like, I didn't understand why it was good that it existed, because you know, I came out and I don't know, I was still like fighting against like the 

alternativeness of being queer like the internalized homophobia that you don't even realize that you have that is societally kind of placed upon you I was really judgmental of like gay bars existing and not understanding why that's so important until I started going then I was like, this is fucking sick.

Andy Gott: Again, you're just speaking to, I think, an experience that so many of us go on. This irrational [00:09:00] fighting against something because of various reasons, and then you just relinquish and accept it, and life is all the much better for it. I have to ask you about Manchester, so we're both from the Midlands, and you went to uni in Manchester?

Sophie Galpin: Yeah went to Uni, Manchester and then lived there for like 12 years after that I've only been in London for a year and a half. 

Andy Gott: I came out before I moved to Manchester, but Manchester for me has this magical, kind of, my life began when I moved there.

I'll, I'll never forget, like, moving into those halls. First night out I dragged my friend to Canal Street and I was like, this is it. Life, this is day zero now. Such a special place.

Sophie Galpin: special. So good for queer people. Seeing it happen with other people who find themselves there and like people findingly feeling like they're at home is amazing. 

Andy Gott: Tell me about your music. So you started making your own music only a couple of years ago?

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, I'm like literally old grandmother time in terms of music and being a session musician and being in loads of bands. And I've been touring my whole adult life. So I've always wanted to make my own music, but I've [00:10:00] been a musical chameleon, you know, like, different instruments, different bands, different genres.

So when The canvas is blank, you have so many options, you know, like quite a lot of people, they make the music they make because that's like what they can do. But when you have more options available to you, it's kind of a bit overwhelming sometimes when you can do anything and there's no kind of limits. .

it was the pandemic that kind of forced me to slow down, obviously, because there were no shows, I couldn't go on tour. And then that gave me the time and mental bandwidth to actually do stuff and have the capacity. I just surrendered to it's like, it's going to be what it is.

Stop trying to make it cool. Write the songs that you are writing, do what you're naturally doing and stop thinking about it so much. And that's what led me to be able to do a whole project.

Andy Gott: And it completely makes sense you're... passion for melodies and that pop sensibility, you know, without blowing smoke up your arse. They're a brilliant set of songs. So [00:11:00] the EP came out in 2022 and you've got some sad bangers in there. I mean, they're all pretty much gay bangers. And it's a distinctive voice as well.

 Hopefully more of that to come in the future.

Sophie Galpin: EP later in the year, so there'll be more music imminently.

Andy Gott: And before we move into your selections, like you've said, you do a lot of touring with some icons. What have you learnt that you've been able to apply to your own music from people like Self Esteem and Jessie Ware?

Sophie Galpin: Being true to your vision is so important. If you're not making music that you like. There is no point. The minute you start bending to what you think people want or getting in your head of What do people think that this is gonna be you know? Like you get you get better about it Like the more that you build a brand the more you can start to get tunnel vision and actually you need to be true To yourself and you have to be authentic otherwise It's never gonna transfer. Watching people that are true to their vision is amazing.

Andy Gott: And you've picked that up from

Sophie Galpin: From self esteem, for sure. being around somebody with such, like, dynamic energy is [00:12:00] amazing. 

Andy Gott: Brilliant, let's get into it. What is the track you picked and why?

Sophie Galpin: Finally by Cece Peniston because I think it's perfect I think it is a perfect song, and it's so gay without being gay, you know, it's like, from the school of Diana Ross, and Doria Gaynor, and Cher, you know, where it's like, it's, it's perfect.

Andy Gott: It is, I agree. Do you possibly remember the first time you came across it?

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, when I was a kid, and It always stood out to me on the radio, like the piano sample is perfect, like it's so satisfying and like her vocal performance is unreal. She was 21 when she wrote that song

and I'm like, what the fuck, the melody is just perfect, like it sits so well, like I just [00:13:00] can't believe that some, a human person has written that.

Andy Gott: With your musician hat on what is so special about that piano, riff? Because it's incredible, but why?

Sophie Galpin: I think it's the chords because they're jazzy. Chords, you know like minor sevens major sevens, but it's just like the rhythm of it Like it's immediately getting you into the groove, you know, against the percussion because it's kind of offbeat. Immediately, like, you know, that piano intro comes in, everyone's up, like, it does something to people, where it's like, it's infectious.

I don't really know why, even with my musician hat on. Sometimes you could try and write it and it wouldn't be the same.

Andy Gott: I don't know if you saw recently, there was a viral video I think it was shared by Viola Davis and it's about the impact of black women in the early 90s dance scene and I don't know if finally ended up in it But it should have if it didn't because it fits with all of those Incredible, early housey pop music by these powerhouses of women who, remarkable vocals, incredible energy.

Have you, have you seen Priscilla Queen of the Desert?

Sophie Galpin: I have [00:14:00] Not for a long time though, but it, something about, it's like I'm a bad gay for not loving it.

Andy Gott: No, no, you're not. But I, it reminds me of the final scene of the film where they kind of, it all comes to a culmination, but I was listening to the song this morning because of our chat coming up and something twigged it. I've heard this song so many times before, but hearing the lyrics specifically, you know, of course finally it has happened to me.

I mean, finally it has happened to me. I'm gonna call it queer because

Sophie Galpin: is, yeah,

Andy Gott: self actualization, like, yes, this is me now and I'm on the dance floor.

Sophie Galpin: It's like it's giving the same as I will survive, you know, it's like that thing that you can apply to yourself whatever situation you're in and queerness, you know, like it really sits with that.

Andy Gott: I Will Survive is, of course, I will survive, but I think finally is I have survived.

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, it's So joyful and [00:15:00] it's like. Unashamed joy, and I love that.

Andy Gott: love this. What is the album that you picked and why?

Sophie Galpin: The album I picked is Jesse Ware's What's Your Pleasure? And I am embarrassed to say that I slept on Jesse Ware for an insanely long time. Like, I always knew about her peripherally in the scene, because she was kind of making more indie music, you know, but then the reason why I kind of found this album was because I was asked during the pandemic to do like an at home session for her, like for Radio 2 where, you know, like when people were doing stuff at home and it was all being stitched together. And it was a couple of songs from What's Your Pleasure?

 So I learned the songs, I was like, these are amazing, and I listened to the whole record, and then it was absolutely on repeat for the second half of the pandemic, and I, because I think it came out in 2020, and I missed it, and it was kind of [00:16:00] 2021, like, when we were still kind of, you know, at home, when I just, well, I had it on every day, and it's just amazing.

It's an amazing record.

Andy Gott: is it that speaks to you about it?

Sophie Galpin: I love that disco feel, and the production on it in terms of it, some of it feeling really like, 70s, the quality of the vocals and the backing vocals where they're like singing in octaves and it sounds like it could be off of a Marvin Gaye record or something, you know?

 And then I love that it's got a dance ier side, you know, kind of a ravier dance ier side that reminds me of music that I was listening to. in my early 20s, like the 2010s.

So I love that. And I love, you know, what she does as an ally for the queer community.

You know, like, I love her whole vibe and and she's really nice. So, 

Andy Gott: she's a wonderful, wonderful person. I am obsessed [00:17:00] with her on two fronts. I've always loved her music. I remember her first ever demos coming out. But I am now a massive fan of her podcast with her mum

Sophie Galpin: Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Totally. Totally.

Andy Gott: And I feel like if I was to meet her, I'd be like, I need to talk to you about the music, but I also need to talk to you about the food and your

mum. 

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, 100%. 100%.

Andy Gott: but I love this album and I love that you picked it because 2020 seemed to be full of these incredible albums by women that I love, which all had a strong disco DNA.

So you had Jessie, you had Dua Lipa, you had Kylie, you had Rasheen Murphy, and a lot of that music would have been made before we knew that COVID was going to happen, and then I think a lot of it was made when it was a thing. So it was a bit of good timing, but also I've got this theory that we're in this time where we couldn't go out, we couldn't go on the dance floor, and we were relating, or we were responding, strongly to...

That very familiar, safe [00:18:00] space of disco music, which we all know and we all love and makes us feel good. But all of those albums I've listed, I think, really nailed bringing it making it contemporary and not this kind of cheesy throwback and... There was something in the water in 2020.

Sophie Galpin: And then also the delayed gratification of being like, this is going to be so good and we can go out again. You know, like, it's, it's like. Having like, learn all the words and listen to it every day in your house, being able to go and hear that on a big scale is like, even better than just being able to go to a show like you normally would.

Andy Gott: Do you remember the song that you played on for the Radio 2 performance?

Sophie Galpin: I played on Spotlight, which is fucking great because, you know, it starts with all those really romantic strings, all the string arrangements on that record are amazing, and then it kicks in, it's so good, and... The other one was Remember Where You Are, which is like a gorgeous, gorgeous kind of ballad. [00:19:00] Like amazing.

I was playing bass, so it's like got amazing bass lines on it. The whole record's got amazing bass lines. Just the arrangements are great. Like those, those orchestral strings are beautiful.

And then Spotlight turns into this like jam, but it was so great to play bass on it. Like very, very satisfying as a bass player.

Andy Gott: I think she is killing it now. Prob probably on the two fronts with her music and her podcast stuff. She's the Biggest that she's ever been, but there's no doubt a huge amount of hard work has gone into that. I don't think, well, she's not an overnight success. She's been around for a long time, but she's kind of peaking now.

Sophie Galpin: Yeah. And I would love that as a career trajectory, because I think there's so much to be said, especially now when there's viral TikTok sensations, there's people getting signed off the back of it and then getting dropped and getting chewed up and spat out by the music industry left, right and center.

And also the kind of X Factor pop stars like talent show generation of people that a good at singing and then Fast track their way to high levels of success But then crashing and burning because [00:20:00] there's not been that organic growth of like fan base playing shit venues cutting your teeth in the industry and as a performer that that slow rise is always gonna stand you in good stead for longevity and just It's when somebody succeeds, it's really heartening, you know, when someone's been around for ages and it continues to grow.

Like, not being a new artist isn't death for your career, you know?

Andy Gott: Quite the opposite perhaps. But it's hard to... I can see why that would be intimidating in this like, TikTok climate,

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, especially like, being a woman, like, having the audacity to get older,

you know? 

Andy Gott: how dare you?

Sophie Galpin: How dare you?

Andy Gott: Well, speaking of... The artists that you've picked, I could spend the entire hour talking about.

 I'm gonna ask you To introduce this artist please and tell us why you picked her

Sophie Galpin: Mel C! Oh my god, where do I start? This is literally what I like, have two pints and like

Andy Gott: Yes

Sophie Galpin: Shout at people in the pub. Mel C is so underrated. She is the best one of the Spice Girls. She's the best vocalist. I am Passionate about [00:21:00] this. In the Spice Girls, she always sang the best ad libs on every song.

You know what I'm saying over there? She's like, , she's got all of those. All the best ones. because she's got this really specific vocal that I fucking love. So Scouse. I love it. It's got this like Northern quality to her singing voice, which I fucking love.

And also like when I was a young queer, I didn't even know it in the, in the nineties, like showing me a way of being. A femininity that is like, sporty and tomboyish and , active and that really resonated with me. Like, she was the only person that I saw on TV that like, reflected me, day to day. Like, that you don't have to wear a dress, you don't have to wear pink, you don't have to wear pigtails.

Like, you can play sport, you can wear adidas trousers, and you can still be a woman. [00:22:00] It was amazing. Like, that was really important for me growing up.

Andy Gott: You know, Spice Girls, queer juggernauts for people of our generation especially. It's interesting that if you were a gay boy, you probably saw yourself reflected in Geri or, you know, Mel B and maybe fake gay girls. Mel C, or just for girls, Mel C did represent that, you don't actually have to be stomping around in platform shoes and the pink dresses.

And just like you said, that's, that's really interesting, but I can safely say hand on heart that while she wasn't my favorite then, she's absolutely my favorite now. All the reasons you listed and more I just think her Incredible commitment to her artistry, you know, she's had this really really long solo career with highs and lows but she's currently on a high in my opinion and Has really fought for and is finally earning that respect from I guess the general public, you know We've we've probably [00:23:00] both heard so many times.

Yeah, she's the best singer blah blah, but like I think people are looking at her and going, God, she's a hard worker and she's talented and she deserves to have her success.

Sophie Galpin: And she's the only person to have a number one. As a solo artist, a duo, a quartet, and a quintet,

Andy Gott: Come on.

Sophie Galpin: like, unreal. I'm like, what trio can I do with Mel C so that she gets the number one as a trio as well? So just like, get the top five? 

Andy Gott: A really good point. 

Sophie Galpin: But yeah, really, and then also, again, like, the stuff that she's done with Sync the Pink and, being an ally and, like, you know, when someone acknowledges their, kind of impact on the queer community when they're not queer, you know, and leans into that, like, I'm always a big fan, because there's, like, absolutely nothing to be gained for her by doing that.

It's purely, kind of embracing what is, people are giving her,? you know? Um.

Andy Gott: Well, maybe this is the point that I actually wanted to talk to you about the most, is that I remember very clearly when, [00:24:00] you know, they kind of went their separate ways, and they did their own solo careers, and she developed a more mask presenting look, and And it would be interesting to ask her why she did that.

I imagine she was really creating a new visual identity for herself, casting aside the shackles of Sporty Spice, chucking away the tracksuits and just creating a new image, which we now know to be as part of the parcel of a reinventing pop star. But I remember she would get a lot of shit in the press which I now Understand even more where people would call her a lesbian or they'd call her insulting words.

And I think she's spoken about it before, where she was like, it was such a confusing time for me because people would insist that I was gay because I looked a bit boyish, 

but it wasn't that I was ashamed of being called gay. It's just that I wasn't gay.

And it put her in this awkward position.

Sophie Galpin: yeah, I think it took me so long to come out because lesbian was such a slur, and it's like, I [00:25:00] don't want to be that, you know, because people call it, like, say it at you, rather than like, Accepting that it's who you are and so I can imagine it's like if someone's like well I'm not you know like being called lesbian is not a not derogatory to me But I'm just not like there must be it feels like you're justifying yourself when you're not Because you're just like which is the truth though like and women should you know get to look however they want everyone should get to Look how they want, you know, it's interesting how people are very quick to obviously stereotypes can exist for a reason but also people are so quick to Judge other people and especially now like i'm so excited for gen z with their kind of Emotional intelligence, and how they can articulate themselves, and how gender identity is so much more talked about, you know, people can identify as being non binary, people are trans, and although there's like some terrifying lawmaking going on, the kind of language to express yourself is there for the younger generation, and I'm so excited for them, where actually looking a certain way is [00:26:00] so much less connected to your gender identity and your sexuality and who you are, you know?

Andy Gott: Absolutely. And I guess. Realizing that gave me a new appreciation for her strength, because she was in her early 20s, which is a challenging time for any of us. She had just come off the world stage. Well, she was still on the world stage, but coming out of the biggest girl band ever. And so she was dealing with, like, this shit about her possible sexuality.

She also had an eating disorder she was trying to work through. And she came through it all, and she's so strong, and I didn't, I didn't see the 2019 reunion tour, 

Sophie Galpin: I 

did. it, was amazing. 

Andy Gott: well, the impression that I got was, she was kind of the best one on stage by a mile. She was like, ultra sporty spice. Right, if I'm gonna do this, if I'm gonna do this reunion, which you begged me to do, I'm gonna give you the best sporty spice you've seen.

Sophie Galpin: And also, like, just, she's into sports and is athletic and is, like, into working out and stuff, like, being Sporty Spice [00:27:00] is, like, a name that was given to her because of who she was, you know what I mean? It was, like, capitalizing on who she already was and , even, like, as a mum, you know, and somebody in their 40s is still living that, you know?

Andy Gott: Absolutely. This, this whole chat is giving me, I can just picture us on Canal Street 

literally shouting this at each other like you said This is how I shout at people in the pub I'm like, this is the entire crux of this podcast me and you in the pub with two pints shouting about sporty spice 

So, thank you 

Sophie Galpin: Oh my god, thank you. It's a literal pleasure. It makes me want to go to the pub at 9. 39 in the morning.

Andy Gott: What's your favorite Sporty Spies solo song? Great,

Sophie Galpin: never be the same again.

 It's so gay! 

Andy Gott: I do appreciate the feat with 

Sophie Galpin: Lisa Left Eye, man. Like, and it's such a gay song. I'm like, you did bring this on yourself, Mel C.[00:28:00]

Andy Gott: When she's on like the treadmill, is it? And

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, on the treadmill, like, the video is really like early noughties. I thought that we would just be friends, things would never be the same again, that's gay.

Andy Gott: You have just blown my mind. I did not realize the queer coding of that lyric, the main lyric in the chorus.

Sophie Galpin: of the lyrics, go, go back and do your homework, because it is queer coded AF.

Andy Gott: Okay, Mal, like you were giving the press a lot to work with

Sophie Galpin: Exactly, exactly.

Andy Gott: Interesting.

Sophie Galpin: Not to victim blame, but, you know.

Andy Gott: Okay, did you have anything else you wanted to say about Malsee before we wrap up there?

Sophie Galpin: Oh, I just love Mel C so much, like, and she's kind of been, like, once removed in my orbit and I've still not got to meet her or anything and I'm disappointed.

Andy Gott: Okay, what is next for Soft Lad?

Sophie Galpin: I'm going to be releasing music throughout the second half of the year, [00:29:00] another EP, which I'm super excited about. It's mostly mixed, there's like one more song to mix, it's going to have I think five tracks on it and I'm so excited because I've been sitting on it for a bit and then I was suddenly like, why, why am I sitting on it, let's get it out there and I'm so excited to put more music out into the world.

Andy Gott: Can't wait to hear. Finally, is there a queer charity or initiative that you'd like to give a shoutout to?

Sophie Galpin: Yeah, I want to give a shout out to Queer Brewing, which is a queer run brewery in London, I think. There's, it was started by one person and now there's three of them. But they do a lot of work with LGBTQIA charities, as well as like being a queer run business, making really nice beer, which we could drink, talking about this.

And yeah, and just really like what they're doing. and the work that they're doing with the queer community. And it's always nice to support queer run businesses. Ah,

Andy Gott: I love that. Well, Sophie, this was wonderful, and you are queer, and thank you very much for your tracks.

Sophie Galpin: thank you so much for having me, it's been a pleasure.

Andy Gott: You can find out more about Sophie and [00:30:00] Soft Lad in this episode's show notes, or follow her on Instagram at at softladbangers. This episode was produced, recorded and edited on unceded Gadigal land by me, Andy Gott. You can email me at tracksofourqueers at gmail. com, follow the podcast at tracksofourqueers on social media, and if you're not already, of course, please subscribe.

See you next time.[00:31:00]