Sofia Devitt. There’s a sharpness to that name, a hint of eccentricity, yet it’s steeped in true commitment to her craft. A singer and songwriter who has lived her whole life immersed in music, Sofia is now truly having her moment. Her new single, Restless, sounds like a whisper that rises to a scream, impossible to ignore.

She writes, composes, and produces everything herself. Devitt resists being boxed into any standard molds. Growing up surrounded by a musical universe—from ‘70s rock legends to Broadway soundtracks—she creates something that defies a single word. When I first heard Restless, it was a revelation, or maybe more like an unpredictable journey through sounds with a unique texture—something between brittle glass and a delicate, almost elusive smoothness. It’s hard not to want to uncover her secrets. In this interview, you’ll find out how Sofia Devitt crafts her music, why she prefers complete creative control, and how she’s turned personal experiences into powerful sonic expressions.

photo by @sofia.devitt

“Restless” is already creating excitement among your fans, and it really sounds like something different compared to “Muscle Memory.” I feel a sharp change in mood in the new single—almost as if you’re intentionally pushing the boundaries of your sound. Could you tell us what sparked this musical shift?

When I started writing “Muscle Memory” I was sixteen and at a very different point in my life. While I had been writing songs for years prior, I was very insecure about my writing and very hesitant to show anyone. “Muscle Memory” was the first time I felt brave enough to showcase my songs for other people to see. It feels almost like a diary entry of that time period. Since then I’ve grown more confident in my songwriting and I feel like I’m finally writing music that feels and sounds authentically me. “Restless” is the first song I wrote for my upcoming album and that sparked this whole new sound for me so I’m super excited for everyone to hear what I’ve been working on!

You started producing your own music when you were just 18. That’s a unique path in itself, especially when so many artists rely on others. In your case, you’ve had control over your sound from the very beginning. Do you feel like taking on production has been liberating, or has it ever felt like a huge responsibility that weighs on your creativity?

I initially got into music production during COVID at age 15. I missed making music with my friends so I would produce songs and videos remotely throughout that time and I grew to love it. I missed making music with my friends so I would produce songs and videos remotely throughout that time and I grew to love it. My choir teacher asked me to make videos for virtual concerts which made me consistently work on this skill. Eventually I felt more confident with it and began to experiment with production in my own music. I produced my first EP “Muscle Memory” by myself when I was eighteen. While it was a super rewarding project, I think I was scared to ask someone else for help producing. I’m a massive perfectionist and I’m always scared to show my work to others when it’s unfinished. This led me to feel more comfortable doing it all myself at the time.

I think that taking on the role of producing is so much fun and fulfilling, but it can also be draining when you get stuck. I’m not a professional producer, so of course there are going to be things I don’t know or have trouble with. One thing I’ve been trying to work on myself is remembering to not have the expectation that everything should be perfect the first time around. You should have fun with the process! Right now I’m co-producing my upcoming album with Preston Hatem and it really helps my creative process by not fixating on every detail. With Preston taking care of mixing and mastering, I can focus more on my writing and arranging. Collaborating and dividing up the work really helps.

I can’t help but notice a certain cinematic quality in your tracks, as if they’re made for a film or a series. Have you ever wanted to write music for movies?

As a kid I loved watching old movie musicals and listening to broadway soundtracks and I’ve always been drawn to dramatic arrangements. I think being surrounded by that music has subconsciously led to the theatrical quality of my music. I love lots of string layers and horn arrangements so I always try to weave them into my songs!

I would love to write music for TV or movies, I think it’s so fun writing from different perspectives and composing for certain scenarios. I’ve always had this idea in the back of my mind to write music for a broadway show when I’m older. I love listening to musical theater and writing music like that would be a totally different experience that I have always been curious to try.

You often talk about the influence of ’70s classic rock, yet you weave in modern indie-pop elements. It sounds like a meeting of two different eras in one space. Do you feel like your music is trying to connect what’s been with what’s still to come?

I grew up listening to a pretty diverse range of music. My dad listens to everything under the sun and I think that fostered a curiosity in me as a kid to take in as much music as I could in as many places as I could. The sound of 70’s rock immediately drew me in, and those artists are some of my biggest musical influences. I would listen to Fleetwood Mac, Bruce Springsteen, The Eagles, and so much more on REPEAT. I take a lot of inspiration from their storytelling and guitar arrangements. I think that when I write music it’s my stream of consciousness coming out sounding like everything I’ve been listening to. I take a lot of influence from modern rock and indie pop, but other places too! I think the music I write is a big melting pot of 70’s rock, indie pop, broadway and who knows what else. But it’s constantly shifting combinations which is really cool!

photo by @sofia.devitt

The theme of “Restless” is “the chaos of a bad feeling.” That’s a pretty powerful emotion, one I think many people are familiar with but rarely turn into music. Was this song born out of a particular moment in your life?

When I wrote “Restless” I was facing turmoil in a lot of different relationships in my life. I kept having a nagging bad feeling in my gut that I kept trying to ignore and suppress and I didn’t know how to feel about it. I had been struggling with a few months of writer’s block, and while trying to write one day,  I came up with that opening riff out of nowhere. I tried to keep writing while I still felt creative and the song poured out easily. I feel like often I can get too in my head when I’m writing, but this time it was different. It’s like I was working out what I was feeling in real time, and I didn’t even realize I was doing it! I initially wrote this song out of frustration of feeling anxious and stressed constantly. But since playing it live, the song has taken on a new meaning. While the lyrics are anxiety-driven, the musicality of the song makes you want to dance. Seeing everybody dancing and singing the lyrics at shows has given that song a strong feeling of community. “Restless” is so fun to play live because it shows everyone feels the same way sometimes, but we can still dance together and be okay feeling that way.

Live shows have always been an important part of an artist’s journey, but after the pandemic, they’ve taken on new meaning. Your October 24th show—what is that like for you? Did you catch something new on stage that you hadn’t experienced before?

Since the pandemic, I’ve taken in every show way more than I did before. My show on the 24th is my first time playing with a band in Boston and I’m super excited! I love jamming with my band onstage and having fun with the audience so it will be a fun time. 

Do you have any more shows planned for this year? Is there a place you’ve been especially eager to perform?

I haven’t announced any more shows yet but one of my goals this year is to be playing out a lot so there will be many more shows! I’ve been really eager to play some bigger venues on the East Coast, and hopefully opening for a band / artist that I admire! The Stone Pony in Asbury Park is a big one for me, I’m a huge Springsteen fan so that would be insane to play that venue.

What’s more important to you: big venues or more intimate performances?

I think big and intimate venues both have their qualities that make them unique. Bigger venues are so special because there’s such a sense of community. So many people in one space with a common interest is always fascinating to me. I have to say, I love intimate shows because I feel up close and personal with the audience and I can see how they react to certain songs. Overall it just feels like I’m playing for my best friends which I love. (Sometimes I am!)

As a songwriter, arranger, producer, and performer, you’re essentially running the entire process of making music from start to finish. That’s certainly a unique position, but it can also be exhausting. How do you manage it all? Are there moments when you feel like you might get overwhelmed by the process, or have you found a way to keep a fresh perspective on your work?

I think being an independent artist in general can be overwhelming. You really have to DIY everything, but I don’t think being overwhelmed is entirely bad. Personally, I like to have control over the sound of my music, how I present myself and express myself, what my shows look like, etc. I write and arrange my own music, design my own merch, and control all of the visual elements of my brand. While it can be exhausting taking on many different roles, I’m a very driven person and I keep in mind what I’m working towards. It can get very overwhelming doing everything yourself, but you have to remember to have fun while you’re doing it!

Do you already have ideas for new material after “Restless,” or are you planning to take some time to rest and enjoy this moment?

Restless is one of ten songs on my upcoming album. We are currently in the process of mixing that and getting it ready so we’ll have it ready before the end of the year! I have collaborated with so many people bringing this vision to life, which is very different from the process of my first EP. Every project has its frustrations and bumps in the road but it’s so rewarding.  After the album is out my plan is to continue playing live shows and write some more music! I find I write the best when I can step away from the technical production and analytical areas of my music.

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