At sixteen, Sophie began writing music for television documentaries and swapping her vocal abilities for free studio time at the EMI studios in Australia. For the next few years, labels would approach her with offers, provided she shifted her image to fit their ideals and sing the pop songs their producers wrote. “Being irritatingly ideal at that time in my life, I politely declined and continued on my own path of exploration.” Here Sophie reached a peculiar juncture, and went to university with the intention of becoming a diplomat, believing she could be of better use in such a role. She soon shifted courses and was accepted into the Sydney Conservatorium of Music, where she studied contemporary composition and orchestration. In due course, she began making a name for herself as Australia’s improvising rock cellist, touring with numerous acts, though the position soon wore itself out, and Sophie decided it was time to move on.
She moved to the US at twenty-three, and not long after touch down received word that Mark Linkous of Sparklehorse had heard her music and wanted her to join up with them for their tour with Radiohead. Sophie obliged, and afterwards found herself contributing on Sparklehorse’s albums, Good Morning Spider and It’s A Wonderful Life.
After her time with Sparklehorse, Sophie continued pursuing numerous musical avenues, and eventually was able to afford moving to upstate New York, where she could finally set up a studio of her own, though even this conjured up it’s own burdens. “Having the luxury of my own studio was great, but without an engineer to stop me, I destroyed most of what I wrote. To my dismay, my beloved music was turning into a gargantuan mirror and I couldn't stand it. Barely any songs made it out alive; the studio was like a war zone.” Unbeknownst to her, a major change was approaching. One night, while Sophie was out, there was an explosion in her studio, which promptly melted every piece of gear she owned, taking the whole house with it. She relocated, and began rebuilding another studio from scratch, and it was here that Sol Seppy began to manifest itself.
“I couldn’t see myself putting out a record before this” says Sophie. The catalysts for The Bells of 1 2 had long been developing, but had taken time to firmly materialize into a cohesive vision, apparent on the record. As the sole voice and creator behind Sol Seppy, Sophie landed not only the role of writer and performer for The Bells of 1 2, but also that of engineer and producer, with some additional mixing duties by Paul Antonell; all in all, a very substantial task for one person to surmount. As a result, the record is a true testament to the kinetic power of one’s own emancipation from the weighty trials that come hand in hand with the creative gift. “There was a strange joy around these songs in the studio.” This haunting, yet uplifting underpinning permeates most of the songs on the record.
Sol Seppy, the venture born of a longing for some perhaps unrealizable escape, has returned upon itself with an internal response, bearing the title, The Bells of 1 2. It’s celestial romanticism glows in the enchanting vocals of Sophie, each track a channel to some uncanny territory. Slo Fuzz beckons with an affectionately plaintive chorus, wishing to fly away, bubbling over ethereal melody lines. Wonderland tells the story of an artist with the sinking feeling that a change will never come. Come Running is a curious ode to companionship. Enter 2 Human plays out as one of the most heartrending incitements in recent years. Each song is more than enough to get lost in.
This enchanting record has finally seen its completion, a benchmark for Sophie’s Sol Seppy, and a tribute to the unfolding of one artist’s spectacular vision. The Bells of 1 2 is prismatic by nature, with Sophie’s guiding light splitting into an wide array of sonic colors. “It’s the discovery of beauty that inspires me the most,” she says, clandestinely hinting at an endless impetus for the songs of Sol Seppy.
Wonderland
Sol Seppy Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
It was so amazing I hung it up
My friends said "That's by the girl next door
She doesn't think she's very good at all."
And then one day Sarah came around
"Please would you take that thing down?"
She blacked it out and then she ripped it up
Roses are red and the dinner is done
You seem to be happy and so in love
She had disappeared long ago
Waiting for Arthur to come through her window
Here I am, my love
But nobody came and the mist fell down
Her friends transformed into cane toads
Sitting in a room knowing all's a gas
And Arthur was replaced by a spacecraft
You want the kiss of life
Open up your heart
Then step inside
And you'll be alright
You want the kiss of life
Open up your heart
And step inside
And you'll be alright
But she can sing like my shore
It calls her name it's pure and true
And she runs toward this unbelievable love
A love she's dreaming of
My child I am you
I am
The song "Wonderland" by Sol Seppy is a hauntingly beautiful track that tells a story of lost love, betrayal, and the struggle to find oneself. The singer discovers a picture that they find amazing and hang it up, only to be told by their friends that it was painted by the girl next door who doesn't think she's very good. When the painter, Sarah, sees the picture, she blackens it out and tears it up, hiding herself in a paper bag. The singer then sings of how things have changed and wonders what has happened to the love that was once so strong.
The second verse takes a darker turn, as the singer describes how nobody came to save Sarah and how her friends became like cane toads, just sitting around in a room. The love she was waiting for, Arthur, was replaced by a spacecraft. The chorus then kicks in with a message of hope, urging the listener to open up their heart and step inside for the kiss of life.
Throughout the song, the lyrics are poetic and open-ended, leaving much to interpretation. However, the theme of lost love, betrayal, and the struggle to find oneself remain constant throughout. The song has a sense of melancholy and longing, captured perfectly in Sol Seppy's ethereal vocals and the sparse, atmospheric instrumentation.
Line by Line Meaning
I found this picture the other day
I recently discovered a picture that piqued my interest
It was so amazing I hung it up
The picture was so breathtaking that I decided to display it on my wall
My friends said "That's by the girl next door
My friends informed me that the creator of the picture was my nearby neighbor
She doesn't think she's very good at all."
My neighbor has low confidence in her artistic abilities
And then one day Sarah came around
Subsequently, a person named Sarah visited me
"Please would you take that thing down?"
"Could you kindly remove that picture from your wall?" Sarah requested of me
She blacked it out and then she ripped it up
Sarah covered the picture in black paint and destroyed it afterwards
And hid herself in a paper bag
Sarah concealed herself in a paper bag afterward
Roses are red and the dinner is done
The meal is finished, and there are red roses present
You seem to be happy and so in love
You exude happiness and love
She had disappeared long ago
Sarah had departed a long time prior
Waiting for Arthur to come through her window
Sarah was waiting for Arthur to enter her bedroom via the window
Here I am, my love
I am here, my beloved
But nobody came and the mist fell down
Nobody arrived, and dense fog started to appear
Her friends transformed into cane toads
Sarah's companions transmogrified into cane toads
Sitting in a room knowing all's a gas
The group sat in a room, comprehending that everything was comical
And Arthur was replaced by a spacecraft
Arthur was replaced by a spaceship
You want the kiss of life
You yearn for the touch of vitality
Open up your heart
Unseal your heart
Then step inside
And then, enter
And you'll be alright
You will be okay
She can sing like my shore
Sarah can sing similarly to the natural beauty of my homeland's coast
It calls her name it's pure and true
The ocean's music echoes her name, being sincere and genuine
And she runs toward this unbelievable love
She runs towards an astonishing, indescribable affection
A love she's dreaming of
This is a love she has dreamed of
My child I am you
My dear, I am you
I am
I exist
Contributed by James T. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@viviondioline
Everything I've heard by her has become an instant favourite. I just discovered her, and I'm in love.
@thumblister
Your music reminds of the one time I was in love and in a long distance relationship back in 2006. I'm now married to the same woman and it's as bitter as lemons...
@ellawats0n
I do not understand why this song and other songs are so little known, because this is extraordinary
@muteotl
escuche esta cancion mil veces como si fuera medicamento para poder sentirme bien y lo lograba cada vez
@yakeenjafar7151
Fav song of all time
@jimbrendel5176
Great feeling for music and word. One of the very few.
@isolampe1991
wow...what a great song...
@wordonawing1
This song and video goes straight to my heart, both utterly beautiful xxxxxxx
@Mirkon177
absolutely stunning...
@sanssleep
stunning....life is good