Sophie’s retirement FAQs
Just explaining, not complaining.
I’ve been getting a lot of messages about my noticeable inactivity. It’s about time I stop being a hermit and answer your questions like a proper, polite human being...
Q: You haven’t posted since 2014! Are you okay?
A: So, last year I decided to take a break from music. This break has now turned into full retirement. Why? One big reason is that I’m dealing with all kinds of ridiculous health problems. I don’t really want to go into detail and get all dramatic, so all I’ll say is that the main symptoms are fatigue and pain in most of my joints. Playing and touring are very physically demanding tasks – so I just don’t have the strength anymore.
But please don’t worry, my illnesses are not life threatening, just very frustrating. It’s really not that bad in the grand scheme of things and I appreciate that there are many people in this world who are much worse off. So I refuse to let you feel sorry for me. (If you’re leaning that way, that is.)
Q: Can I still buy your music?
A: Of course! You can still buy and stream my music in all the usual places online. And there's an exclusive EP of old demos available from my bandcamp site.
Q: What are those "new" Sophie Madeleine tracks on Spotify/YouTube with the terrible album artwork?
A:They are badly produced music library demos I did many years ago to help pay the rent. They were released under my name without my knowledge or permission. Such a shame. I was hoping that my final release before my retirement would be something I was actually proud of.
Q: When are you going to do another YouTube video?
A: I’m not going to be able to do those anymore either. In fact, I haven’t picked up a musical instrument in a long time. I think I might be all music’d out for now.
Q: Will you sing at my wedding/birthday/pet gerbil’s funeral?
A: Even if you paid me wild amounts of money and said I could perform while sat on a golden throne with a velvet cushion, I would still have to say no. (P.s. my condolences about your gerbil.)
Q: I miss you!
A: I miss you too!
Q: Which ukulele should I buy?
A: Just buy the most expensive one in the shop. Do it. ...failing that, a brilliant resource for ukulele buyers is ukulelehunt.com.
Q: But, but, but you’re giving up on your dream?! :(
A: Don’t you worry poppet! My dream was to earn a living doing something I enjoyed. I always (wrongly) thought that music was the only thing I was good at. So I did it, put my all into it and was very lucky to do that for as long as I did. Thankfully, I have now found something else that is enjoyable and interesting.
Having said that, whether music was my ‘dream’ or not, the kindness and support you have all given me during my music career was an unexpected and very lovely bonus – and a dream in itself. I was so lucky to have people like you to help keep me going, and I will always be grateful for that.
I still can’t quite believe that people on the other side of the world have listened to (and even enjoyed) those songs that I wrote while sat on the sofa in my pyjamas covered in cake crumbs.
Much love to you all,
Sophie M.
