Introducing… Sofi Paez

Costa Rican pianist Sofi Paez has collaborated with Icelandic musicians Davidsson and Skúli Sverrisson to create a special EP. It was recorded live, in session in Reykjavík for Ólafur Arnalds’ OPIA Community label. If that doesn’t pitch it to the “once more with feeling” crowd, I’m not sure what else will!

The lead single, ‘Amsterdam’, is utterly spellbinding. Sofi Paez uses her piano to create a hypnotic rhythm that moves at pace, flowing out like a magical mystery tour. It’s a track I could listen to on repeat over and over as it grows in stature and bellowing power. Underneath the piano, bassy synths augment the sound and provide a stark backdrop for the piano to rumble through. The concept of the track is to capture the mood of standing alone in a distant place, surrounded by mystery. Speaking about ‘Amsterdam’, Sofi said:

“To play this song live and to be able to sometimes layer it with different dynamics within the sections is a lot of fun. It’s a song that gives a lot of space for further exploration.”

Alongside this track, the full EP will contain a brand new improvised track, ‘Ripples’. The single is out now, with the EP arriving in music and video form on 10th September.

For more information about Sofi Paez, including her debut album Silent Stories from last year, visit Sofi Paez’s website. I’ll be picking up Sofi’s debut for review later in the year, as I’ve been captivated by the single ‘Por qué‘. It showcases Sofi’s moody piano soundscapes, but also her vocal range, too.

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