Sofar Sounds — Music’s Best Kept Secret
Judah Mayowa of Tiny Habits performing at a show hosted by Sofar and Bumble, taken by Will Ingman. More photos from the event can be found here.
By Sophie Severs
We’ve all been to open-mic nights where the acts might not have been quite what we were looking for, or to shows where people were insistent on talking over the entire set. It’s frustrating, right? Things are very different at Sofar Sounds, where at each show there is an immense reverence for the music—Sofar shows are sacred spaces for music lovers.
Sofar Sounds (an acronym for “Songs from a Room”) was founded by Rafe Offer in 2009, after he invited eight friends over to his flat in London for an intimate night of music. Offer sensed that he had created something special, and Sofar became a way for him to spread that unique musical atmosphere with the rest of the world.
Amy Siripunyo has served as Sofar’s Eastern Regional Manager since May of 2021, and could not be a more fervent advocate for all that the company stands for.
According to Sofar’s mission, the company “transforms everyday spaces—like a rooftop or art gallery—and turns them into captivating, intimate venues for secret, live music performances, creating an immersive experience that brings guests and artists closer together.” They currently operate out of 325 cities around the world, bringing a unique music experience to audiences all over.
Siripunyo describes how Sofar operates under the guise of mystery and suspense. Each performance highlights three unannounced artists performing in an undisclosed location. The location is revealed the day before the show, and can be anything from an experience aboard a tram moving through a city, to a performance within a hallowed church sanctuary. One only finds out which artists are performing when they first step onstage. Everyone can find their niche at a Sofar show, as the company features everything ranging from soothing acoustic sets to insightful spoken word acts.
Artists such as Billie Eilish, Leon Bridges, Lianne La Havas, Kimbra, and Ed Sheeran have all performed at Sofar shows, creating the pure magic that the company works hard to curate in a matter of hours.
Siripunyo originally got involved with Sofar back in 2018, working as an ambassador for Sofar Chicago. She had spent her college years working for larger music labels like Warner Music, and had become well acquainted with the inner workings of the music industry. Siripunyo was dissatisfied with all that she had seen within the business. Seeking something different, she got wind of Sofar and was immediately invested in the company’s mission.
“I went to a show and fell in love,” she confesses, recalling her first show, “It was an eye opening moment coming from a very corporate music industry to sit in that room and be like, 'Oh, okay, this is something people do’ [...]. It was my first ever experience at an event where I was able to connect to people, and that feeling will forever be with me.”
The environment at Sofar shows is like no other—an energetic hush falls over the crowd mere moments before the show, and once the music begins the audience falls into a world of sound, only to emerge a couple hours later. As mentioned, each performance typically features completely stripped down acoustic sets, which Siripunyo says, “forces people to not talk because you actually have to listen properly.” Everyone sits together on the ground to enjoy the music, which “makes it so much more communal than standing next to each other or sitting in chairs,” Siripunyo believes.
When you’re at a Sofar show, you’re at home. Sofar has worked hard to support their tight-knit community of music lovers, fostering a welcoming and warm environment for all, “Everyone shares the same passion and that really makes the community,” Siripunyo says.
The Sofar team strives to provide safe spaces for the sharing of art. The company caters to many different neighborhoods in their cities, Siripunyo discloses: “We want to have presence in multiple neighborhoods [and] that we're represented in a lot of different neighborhoods,” but “regardless of the venue at the Sofar show, our crew always knows to make it special and make it magical, with fairy lights and tapestries that deck it out so it's a little bit more intimate.”
At Sofar, it’s “artist first,” Siripunyo asserts. “There's so much talent out there, and artists just don't get the chance because the music industry is just so corporate,” Siripunyo shares, “Every artist should be heard. Every artist should have a platform. You shouldn't have to go to a venue and pay to play. It's just sad that that isn't currently what's happening in the events industry. It's the need to be heard that Sofar is supporting.”
Sofar is open to anything and anyone. “We really want to be the kind of company that is discovering new artists and that has an open minded lineup all of the time [...], we're looking for everything.” Sofar is currently doing a 70/30 split with the artists at Sofar shows, with 70% of the net show income going back to the artists.
Sofar Sounds will continue to support artists with their unique performance concept. You can join in on the fun by looking for Sofar shows near you, or even become a Sofar artist yourself by applying to perform at a Sofar show.
Rest assured, Sofar Sounds is a secret that is meant to be shared.