London-based singer-songwriter Sody has been impressing with her sublimely rich vocals and ability to craft raw, honest pop songs since she dropped her debut release Wasted Youth back in 2016. Still a teenager, Sody (otherwise known as Sophie Dyson) is already clocking up almost two and a half million monthly listens on Spotify and has collaborated with the likes of Cavetown on her work to date.

Now the talented young artist is back with a new release, the six-track EP Real Growth Takes Time. Opening track Butterfly is the lead single, and it’s a tender, yet soaring affair that acts as the perfect vehicle for Sody’s incredible voice. It’s a song that she has described on Facebook as being “about mental health and the video symbolises our own internal battle with ourselves.”

It’s a theme that is carried throughout the record. On Scary Part Of Me she sings “I guess I’m just in a bad place / I’m doing anything I can to hurt you / But it’s not what it seems / It’s not what I mean to do / I’m laid out but I’m broken within / Afraid that I’m not who you think I am”. There’s a heartbreaking honesty and intensity to the lyrics, which is only increased by the power of the vocals. Elsewhere, Time Again is a lovely lo-fi acoustic affair, while closing track I’ve Got You is a lament to love lost that features some wonderful piano.

On her official Facebook page about the release, Sody said: “A lot of love, sweat and tears were put into these songs. Thank you so much to all my friends and collaborators who brought this EP to life – Lauren Aquilina, The Nocturns, James Smith, Martin Luke Brown, Rob Milton, Adam Argyle and James Earp. I couldn’t do this without you.

“This process has been so freeing. I wanted to put out this body of work that was a collection of songs that shaped my 2020 for me, songs that I LOVED and that enabled me to feel inspired again.

“Thank you to my team for all their hard work and for believing in me! I LOVE U AND GO REST, and to all you wonderful people, I hope you love it as much as we do and take something away from it, even if it’s just one lyric. Real growth really does take time.”

Real Growth Takes Time tracklist:

1. Butterfly

2. Hold It All Together

3. I’ll Be There

4. Scary Part Of Me

5. Time Again

6. I’ve Got You

Watch the official video for Butterfly .be&fbclid=IwAR0YYiy70jWOFPu3c4u7sXvmfbI7dz5ct8UiQcuMqYJPUne6GVJpt1i0z1k">here.

Author: Joe Sharratt

Joe Sharratt is a writer and journalist based in the UK covering music, literature, sport, and travel.