Sofi Tukker Fantasy Interview

Reflect on a Completely Different Planet

Sofi Tukker is the genre-defying duo of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern celebrated for their inclusive and global perspective on electronic music and their work's themes of liberation, unity, and self-empowerment.

Their debut single "Drinkee" was nominated for a Best Dance Recording Grammy® which was followed by Best Dance/Electronic Album Grammy® nomination for their debut album Treehouse.

Sofi Tukker's music has charted on every continent other than Antarctica and in 2018 they had a top 20 hit on US pop, alternative, and dance radio with "Best Friend". The group has performed on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon, CONAN, MTV's TRL, and Last Call with Carson Daly.

Sofi Tukker now invite you into their "Fantasy" - their new single and video are the first taste of the next phase of the group following the international success of their debut album Treehouse which culminated in their second GRAMMY nomination, performance at the GRAMMY Awards Premiere Ceremony, and the gold certification of "Best Friend" in the US last month. The single has been co-written and co-produced by Australian, Jon Hume of Evermore fame.

In only a few whirlwind years, their music has taken unexpected daredevil turns amassing a passionate fan base across the world moved by the freedom and joy in their songs and their ecstatic live performances. The anthemic "Fantasy" has been an audience favourite at those rapturous live shows. The lyrics and vocal delivery are intimate and introspective revealing a defiant vulnerability that speaks to how Sofi Tukker have evolved as people and artists since their debut.

Sofi Tukker enlisted Charles Todd (Scheme Engine) for the resplendent and lush "Fantasy" video that brings the song's themes to life through jaw-dropping landscapes and adventurous styling.

"Once you have built up a whole imagination about somebody (or something), you may think you have to risk your life and put all your energy into achieving it. But then when you get there, it's not what you thought it was at all. In the end, it's all about the journey.
That's what the video is about: we are on a journey to realize our fantasies, and we have to overcome obstacles to get there, but when we finally reach the goal, we instantly get transported to another world," says Sofi Tukker.

"We wanted the styling to reflect that we are on a completely different planet. We wanted it to mesh with the crazy colours of the fantasy world we created. Everything about the styles and colours and textures all contributes to building this other world.

Tour Dates:
4/26: Wayville, Australia @ Groovin The Moo Festival
4/27: Maitland, Australia @ Groovin The Moo Festival
4/28: Canberra, Australia @ Groovin The Moo Festival
5/1: Sydney, Australia @ The Metro Theatre
5/3: Melbourne, Australia @ Corner Hotel
5/4: Bendigo, Australia @ Groovin The Moo Festival
5/5: Townsville, Australia @ Groovin The Moo Festival
5/8: Newstead, Australia @ The Triffid
5/10: Perth, Australia @ Capitol

5/11: Bunbury, Australia @ Groovin The Moo Festival

@sofitukker

Interview with Sofi Tukker

Question: Firstly, tell us about Coachella, last weekend, how was it?

Tucker Halpern: Legendary! It was really incredible; I'm not sure I've ever felt that amazing at a show. It was such a special moment.

Sophie Hawley-Weld: With Fantasy especially I was thinking 'do not cry. Do not cry. You have to sing right now, remember do not cry' (laughs), it was so emotional and moving. The whole set was very special for us.


Question: How did this year differ to your set in 2017?

Tucker Halpern: It differed a lot; one of the biggest differences was preparation and expectation. The first time it was one of our first festivals and we were trying not to screw up and hoping there would be some people there, to see us. We played at 3pm and it was 120 degrees Fahrenheit (which I guess isn't that hot for you guys) and we were totally shocked and excited by having a full tent.

This year we planned to take our live show to a new level including making an entire new stage setup, we basically went crazy with production – it was 6 months of planning. When we rehearsed, the week before Coachella, we were preparing on another level to try and do something new that we'd never tried before. We were nervous as we were preparing a whole other dimension to such a big show. It was awesome. Everything worked and we were relieved and ecstatic! Having special guests that are some of our favourite artists in the world made it the best day ever.


Question: Will you be bringing a similar set to Groovin The Moo?

Sophie Hawley-Weld: Yes, we're bringing a very similar set to Australia but it'll be even longer with more new songs.

Question: Which is your favourite song to perform live and why?

Tucker Halpern: Ooh! After the other night it is probably Fantasy.

Sophie Hawley-Weld: Fantasy at Coachella was very special. I usually like a new song; called Like This that we perform and Tucker does a dance and I have to copy him and I love it because I love seeing what he comes up with, every night.

Tucker Halpern: It's a lot of pressure to find dance moves.

Sophie Hawley-Weld: It's a lot of pressure to try and do the dance moves, that you do (laughs)!


Question: What's the best part about touring?

Tucker Halpern: The best part for me is experiencing different cultures; I didn't really travel or leave the Country at all before Sofi Tukker. Touring has taught me so much about the world and taught perspective – I learnt that the US isn't the center of the Universe (laughs). Travel has been very important to who I have become and want to be as a person.

Sophie Hawley-Weld: We always get to meet a lot of new people whilst touring – we make a lot of new friends when we travel which is such a fun activity.


Question: How do you calm down after a show, to prepare for the next?

Sophie Hawley-Weld: We definitely have different answers to that.
Tucker Halpern: I am still winding down… I was so shook after Coachella! Usually I'll stay up hyped and work and then all of a sudden I'll be asleep which works for me whereas Sophie has a huge wind-down.

Sophie Hawley-Weld: I take a bath, meditate and regroup my energy – it is a whole process.


Question: How is Fantasy a reflection of your growth, in the music industry?

Sophie Hawley-Weld: We made Fantasy because it's what we really wanted to hear, we were inspired to make it as there is something nostalgic and euphoric about the track, to us. We also made Fantasy because we imagined playing it live.

Tucker Halpern: We make music that we love and are excited about; Fantasy was a song we wanted to make, it is inspired by classic dance music. Fantasy is a real song that could be played on the acoustic guitar and still be a great song or be played on a dance floor making you dance-cry. We'd never made a song like Fantasy and that drove the desire; I specifically love the older dance songs.


Question: Where did the idea for the music video come from?

Tucker Halpern: Visually our growth was shown in the music video too as we went to another level on the video. We went to Mexico and filmed an entire video that was meant to be in another world, on another planet that we want to create and take you to when you listen to our music and come to our shows. Fantasy was a cool combination of a lot of ideas into the next phase.


Question: What's next in this fantasy?

Sophie Hawley-Weld: We have also just released a remix for Fantasy from R3HAB, we love it, and its super euphoric. It features at the end of Fantasy at Coachella, on YouTube.

Tucker Halpern: Next in our fantasy is coming to Australia.


Interview by Brooke Hunter