Sophia Allison, known professionally as Soccer Mommy, released her cover EP, Karaoke Night, on Friday, Sept. 22. Alongside Karaoke Night, Soccer Mommy released karaoke versions of her most popular songs on YouTube and a karaoke mic as merch to match the EP’s nostalgic theme.
Karaoke Night consists of 5 covers that Soccer Mommy has played live, but never recorded: “Here” by Pavement, ‘“Soak Up The Sun” by Sheryl Crow, “Dagger” by Slowdive, “I’m Only Me When I’m With You” by Taylor Swift and “Losing My Religion” by R.E.M.
To create a combination of shoegaze and indie rock, Allison puts a personal twist on the songs. Her amplified instrumentals and soft vocals show her inspiration from shoegaze bands such as Slowdive, which she opened for in 2017 and covered on the EP.
Allison’s version of “Here’” strengthens the instrumentals and vocals, adding complexity to the guitar features throughout the song. In comparison to Pavement’s Stephen Malkmus, Allison’s voice sounds smoother but powerful, giving the song greater dynamic shifts.
“Soak Up The Sun” changes from the original’s pop style to Soccer Mommy’s more indie rock influences. The melody and its feel-good vibe remain the same throughout the tune, but Allison’s version features a guitar opener, while Crow’s classic opens with a funk beat. Allison’s cover provides a new sound to the 2000s hit.
“Dagger” sounds similar to the original by Slowdive, but while the original uses a double vocal effect that gives the song its melancholic feel, Allison increases the volume of the chorus, along with the use of ambient noises in the background. Allison’s creative twist gives the song its dreamy, dreadful sound, different from Slowdive’s original.
“I’m Only Me When I’m With You” makes for a unique take on Taylor Swift’s original. While Allison keeps the same melody as Swift’s, the verses and chorus sound more somber, transforming the sweet country pop song into a yearning ballad.
“Losing My Religion” presents a softer and slower interpretation of R.E.M.’s classic. In comparison, Allison’s version sounds raw and acoustic, with the slower tempo emphasizing the heartbroken lyrics and complex meaning.
With various stylistic choices — tempo, rhythm and tone — Karaoke Night presents Soccer Mommy’s unique touch to the dynamics of various classics, providing new meaning to the songs.
4 Soccer Balls out of 5
