“Let’s do what we wanna do, me and you.” − Sofya Wang

Sofya Wang is the new kid on the indie-pop music block that you need to be listening to. She is leaping headfirst into the musical world with a plan and more self-awareness than your average, carefree 19-year-old. Sofya is equal parts talented and focused, and simply has no interest in hiding who she is. Brace yourselves, queer ladies – we have a new singer to swoon over.

Sofya’s newest single “Boys Aside” will tickle your ears with its effervescent synth vibes spun with a little bubblegum pop from its opening beats. The sound is buoyant — walk around town with this tune in your ears and you might feel as if you are floating along the sidewalk rather than pounding the pavement. The vocals, sultry without sounding heavy, bring a velvety touch to the lightness of the song. I recommend it to anyone stuck in Los Angeles traffic on a warm summer day; just pop on your sunglasses, roll down the window, and feel the groove. You’ll be bobbing your head in no time.

The lyrical substance of Sofya’s music is just as refreshing as the sound. It is a fully realized piece of music that our women-loving-women can revel in. There is no need to dig through the lyrics, dissect each word, and struggle to exhume some hint of queer subtext (I’m looking at you, Tracy Chapman). We do not have to hope that by “friend” she means “secret girlfriend” (I am looking at you Xena: Warrior Princess). Sofya intentionally and unapologetically focuses on celebrating queerness in her music, and does so with a healthy dose of unbridled pleasure built-in. Lust between women sits in the foreground of her songs, which even today seems strangely revolutionary.

The music video for “Boys Aside” was released at the tail end of September, and like the song, it is fiery. You will not find any of the clichéd tropes of tragic lesbian romances gone bad. Nobody cries, nobody dies, and you will not see anyone writing saccharine love letters while pining over their ex. What you will see is a well-choreographed dance number by a diverse group of women, stunning set design, and a few exceptionally steamy scenes between Sofya and another woman. The song itself is centered on said potential love (or lust) interest, and when I asked where that inspiration came from, I was met with an entirely unexpected but appreciated answer. “I went to a strip club, and I really liked this stripper there,” Sofya drawled with blistering honesty, “I was trying to get her number but I just ended up spending money.” Unrequited longing is universal, I suppose.

Although there seems to be a societal shift happening, “out” LGBTQ musicians have an unfortunate history of being somewhat sidelined by wider music culture. When I asked Sofya if she was worried about possibly limiting her audience, as she herself is an uncloseted, queer singer, she didn’t seem to be worried. “I’m not going to release only ‘gay stuff’,” she explained, “…I don’t see it being too much of an issue nowadays.”

When asked about what we can expect from her upcoming music, Sofya hinted at the inclusion of her more conventional musical skills that go beyond singing and songwriting. She is a classically-trained pianist and cellist, and intends to infuse a retro folk-inspired sound to some of her new work. We can be confident, however, that no matter how her sound evolves, her music will give us the same playful sexiness that we see in “Boys Aside.” With a playful yet mischievous smile, Sofya admits “I subconsciously make everything sexy.”

It’s no surprise Sofya’s fan base is already quickly developing, even as a newcomer to the industry. She gives us the pleasant pop energy that anyone can get hip to and an incredible gift to queer women who simply want to hear songs that reflect their own lives. Keep an eye out for her new music set to be released before the end of the year.

— Written by Amanda Roberts