EP REVIEW: Red In Revenge – Sophie Powers
When you’re 17 years old, the world is your oyster. However, it can also be terrifying: you’re on the cusp of becoming an adult, exam pressure and social pressure is at an all-time high, and you can sometimes be unsure of who you are. Thankfully for SOPHIE POWERS, she’s taking it all in her stride. The 17-year-old is pioneering her own genre called ‘hyperpunk’. This is a play on her sound, which is hyperpop and punk music. After releasing her debut single Lonely Army back in April 2021, Powers has amassed an impressive online following, and has surpassed 2.5 million streams on Spotify.
Her debut EP, Red in Revenge, contains seven songs, with some fantastic featured artists. Opening song Clearview features NOAHFINNCE, who Powers will be supporting in September this year. As for the song itself, it doesn’t sound like anything that has been heard before. Powers‘ vocals distort as electronic instruments play in the background. However, the instruments also sound very rock influenced. It shouldn’t work on paper, but the fantastic production on the EP makes it sound perfect as NOAHFINNCE‘s vocals harmonize well with Powers.
Life Goes On!! allows Powers to come into her own. It is a furious punk song. Most female artists in the rock scene are unfairly compared to bands like PARAMORE or EVANESCENCE, but Powers doesn’t allow this to happen due to creating her own genre. Hyperpunk is exciting and new, and Powers is very much making her own rules.
Breakup On The Weekend is an electronic trap-influenced song that deals with relationships. Despite her young age, Powers shows a maturity beyond her years. Of course, a trap-influenced song shouldn’t work on an EP that is hyperpunk; however, the production means that the pacing for the EP is not affected. All the songs so far are fast-paced. See Me!! is a rock/electronic song that wouldn’t sound out of place on Top 40 radio but also wouldn’t sound out of place in the rock world either. This cross-genre appeal shows that we are living in an ever-increasing genreless world, and we are all the better for it.
The good thing about this EP is that it also has songs that only have Powers on it. This means that her talent can be centre stage. However, this doesn’t mean that she hides behind her features. On U Love It (featuring $ATORI ZOOM), she confidently takes centre stage, embodying female empowerment. Greed (featuring DE’WAYNE) and 1 Thing (featuring Kellin Quinn of SLEEPING WITH SIRENS) are vastly different; the former is more mainstream, whereas the latter sounds more like the very first song on the EP, which feels like a full circle moment. Both songs are fantastic, despite being on opposite ends of the musical spectrum.
In conclusion, Red In Revenge is a fantastic debut EP. Powers has truly inserted herself as an exciting new talent in the rock world. Her style and confidence make her one of the names to watch. She knows what she wants her music to sound like and she doesn’t hide behind the featured artists on her songs; she’s their equal, and she knows it. This EP is empowering, unique and doesn’t follow the crowd. Keep an eye out for the hyperpunk wave because it will catch on soon, and no doubt Powers will be leading the way.
Rating: 8/10
Red In Revenge is set for release on May 20th via Set Records.
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