Small Black started with a name and worked backwards: a housemate of singer/multi-instrumentalist Josh Kolenik came up with the moniker on a cold Portland, Oregon night. The name stuck when he returned to Long Island, New York and began collaborating with Ryan Heyner, an area musician and former member of the hardcore band Silent Majority who shared friends with Kolenik. The pair holed up in the attic of the beach house and surfboard shop Kolenik's uncle owned to record songs with vintage keyboards and samplers, spending late 2008 and early 2009 recording as Uncle Matt made surfboards underneath them.
Though Kolenik had played in several bands before Small Black, the mix of shoegaze and synth pop he and Heyner hit upon felt special, and the group's lineup was complete once bassist/guitarist Juan Pieczanski and Jeff Curtin from Kolenik's previous band, Slowlands, joined to bolster production and fill out their live act. Small Black released their self-titled five-song EP on their own CassClub label in October 2009, and released the U.K. single "Despicable Dogs" as well as a video for that song featuring Uncle Matt soon after. Following their performances at that year’s CMJ Music Marathon, Small Black signed to Jagjaguwar Records, which reissued the band’s debut EP with two bonus tracks in 2010. That year, they also released a split single with the like-minded Washed Out, with whom they also toured. New Chain, the band's first full-length, boasted a slightly more polished sound that reflected their consistent touring as well as their interest in hip-hop and arrived in October 2010. In late 2011, the band offered the Moon Killer mixtape as a free download from their website. The collection of new material was built on samples ranging from Pere Ubu to Nicki Minaj and featured multiple drop-ins from Das Racist MC Heems as well as remixes from Star Slinger and Phonetag.
After spending much of 2012 on the road, Small Black returned with May 2013's Limits of Desire, a more sophisticated-sounding set influenced by Talk Talk and the Blue Nile. They covered the latter band's classic "Downtown Lights" on the following year's Real People EP, which had a more dancefloor-oriented style and featured vocals from Frankie Rose. Small Black's passion for sophisti-pop grew on October 2015's Best Blues. Recorded by the band in their Brooklyn home studio and mixed by Nicholas Vernhes at the Rare Book Room Studio, the album included contributions from trumpeter Darby Cicci of the Antlers and vocalist Kaede Ford. Soon after Best Blues' release, Kolenik's Uncle Matt passed away, and the memory of him inspired many of the songs on Small Black's fourth album. Arriving on 100% Electronica in April 2021, the reflective Cheap Dreams found the band returning from their hiatus with an extra dose of goth to their synth pop reveries. In 2023, Small Black looked back with a pair of archival releases. They commemorated the tenth anniversary of Limits of Desire with a deluxe edition of the album, and also issued a deluxe version of their debut EP that included previously unreleased songs from their early beach house sessions.
Biography by Heather Phares for ALLMUSIC
Sophie
Small Black Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
a full rush of air
A reason for removing
the lock from the door
But who could hope to know
what she does and where she goes?
You might learn to
As she is
As she will be
SOPHIE
SOPHIE
Your double in many ways
But only one of you
can pull the strings
To be the guest
To be the other one
Is it so
Is it so bad?
You're starting to understand
her
How she is
How she will be
SOPHIE
SOPHIE
Everybody knows
Everybody knows
who she is
who she will be
SOPHIE
The lyrics to Small Black's "Sophie" touch on themes of mystery, attraction, and duality. The song's opening line references "the end of ruins," possibly implying an end to negative or destructive patterns in the singer's life. Sophie is then introduced as a source of renewal, as indicated by the line "A reason for removing the lock from the door."
The second verse shifts focus to examining Sophie's character, questioning "what she does and where she goes." This line suggests an air of mystery surrounding Sophie, as though the singer is unsure of who she truly is. However, despite this uncertainty, the singer expresses a desire to "take her as she is," to accept her wholly, flaws and all.
The chorus repeats the name "Sophie," creating an almost hypnotic effect while reinforcing her presence as a central figure. The lines "Your double in many ways / But only one of you can pull the strings" seem to suggest that Sophie holds a kind of power over the singer, who is ultimately resigned to being "the guest" or "the other one." This power dynamic is further explored in the third verse, which suggests that the singer is starting to understand Sophie, perhaps even coming to accept their secondary role.
Overall, "Sophie" is a song that touches on themes of attraction and acceptance, while also acknowledging the complexity of human relationships and characters.
Line by Line Meaning
She was the end of ruins
Sophie was the one who put a stop to the chaos and destruction happening around her.
a full rush of air
Sophie's presence was powerful and intense, like a strong gust of wind.
A reason for removing
Sophie was a motivator for change, inspiring the singer to take action.
the lock from the door
The artist was previously locked in or trapped, but Sophie provided the key to freedom.
But who could hope to know
The artist reflects on the mystery surrounding Sophie's character and actions.
what she does and where she goes?
The singer wonders about Sophie's activities and whereabouts, unable to fully understand her.
You might learn to
The singer seeks to gain knowledge and insight about Sophie.
take her
The artist wants to fully embrace and accept Sophie for who she is.
As she is
The artist wants to accept Sophie exactly as she is, without any pretense or changes.
As she will be
The artist wants to embrace Sophie's future growth and development, without trying to control or influence her path.
Your double in many ways
Sophie and the singer share some similarities, possibly in personality or life experiences.
But only one of you
Despite the similarities, there is still a distinct separation between Sophie and the artist.
can pull the strings
Sophie has the power to make decisions and direct the course of events, while the singer may be more passive or reactive.
To be the guest
The singer is content with being in the presence of Sophie, without needing to be in control or in charge.
To be the other one
The singer is aware of their role as a follower or supporter in relation to Sophie's leadership.
Is it so
The artist is questioning the implications of their dynamic with Sophie.
Is it so bad?
The artist wonders if being subordinate to Sophie is a negative thing, or if it is a positive opportunity for growth and learning.
You're starting to understand
The singer is developing a greater level of insight and comprehension about Sophie.
her
The singer is slowly gaining a better understanding and appreciation of Sophie as a person.
Everybody knows
Sophie is a well-known and prominent figure, with many people aware of her existence.
who she is
Sophie's identity and character are widely recognized and acknowledged.
who she will be
Sophie's future is anticipated by many, with a sense of excitement or speculation about her potential growth and accomplishments.
SOPHIE
The repeated use of Sophie's name emphasizes her central importance to the song's narrative and themes.
Contributed by Katherine F. Suggest a correction in the comments below.