Sophie Villy

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Sophie Villy
Sophie Villy in 2014
Born (1990-10-30) 30 October 1990 (age 33)
Tbilisi (Georgia)
Occupation(s)Musician, singer/songwriter, composer
Websitesophievilly.com

Sophie Villy (Georgian: ხუციშვილი Khutsishvili; born on 30 October 1990 in Tbilisi, Georgia)[1] is a Georgian-Ukrainian singer-songwriter, composer and producer, she performs internationally in both English and Georgian.[1] Villy has composed soundtracks for feature films from Georgia, US and France, one of which "Lost in Escapade" was selected for the Cannes Festival Short Film Palme d'Or competition in 2015 and won Best Original Music at Spain's Euro Film Festival.[2][3] She has been reported by KEXP, KCRW in Los Angeles, BBC Radio 2 and London's The Guardian newspaper as a representative of Georgia's new wave in music.[4] Periodicals in Kyiv also document Villy's role within domestic songwriting.[5][6][7][8][9] At a time of increasing nationalist tensions, her multilingual songs are debated by the Ukrainian and Georgian media as a protest of people who are tired of politics and aspire for peace in their country.[10]

Biography[edit]

At the age of five, Sophie began studying piano at a music school associated with the Tbilisi State Conservatoire and spent the next four years of her life there.[11] Ultimately, however, she turned to the guitar and began composing her own material at the age of twelve.[12] Between the ages of five and fifteen she traveled Europe, as a professional high diver.[13] Qualifying for a wide range of diving competitions, she won Euromeeting[14] in Strasbourg (2002), but was forced to abandon the sport due to a knee injury.[15] Music gradually became an alternative to sport and Villy started playing in Tbilisi clubs at the age of sixteen.[16]

Following the Russo-Georgian War of 2008, Villy moved to Kyiv, as she has both Georgian and Ukrainian ancestors. Here she finished studying tourism at university and formed her first group, Backstage.[17] The band was a short-lived project[18] and Villy began a solo career.[19] She began playing in regional festivals, now as an independent singer-songwriter. Open-air performances included Koktebel Jazz Festival. Domestic billing then led to additional invitations from events in Florida, New York, and California.[20] Once in America, Villy sang in English, as a result of which US periodicals noted––in several venues––the combined influences of Nina Simone, Jeff Buckley, and Nick Drake in her material.[21]

A debut LP was published in 2012––"Mother Fish."[22][23] Civic themes soon became evident in a politically charged single, entitled "Position" and dedicated to both private and political liberties in Georgia.[24] The song was broadcast in heavy rotation on KCRW radio in California and simultaneously aired by Michael Sheen on BBC Radio Two in London.[25] Britain's The Guardian newspaper listed Villy's 2014 song "Connected"[26] among a global selection of new tracks––as airplay grew concurrently in both New York and Los Angeles.[27] The following year a second album was published––"Dress"[28]––while additional shows were announced across Europe.[29] In Ukraine, "Dress" was declared Album of the Year by influential Ukrainian webzine Comma.Com.UA.

In 2015 Villy presented her side-project "Philosophie" in Europe and the United States,[30] while opening for Mercury Prize and Brit Awards nominee Anna Calvi in Budapest. Also in 2015, she played at the SXSW festival in Texas.[31] She has toured America on five occasions,[32] headlining Fall Arts Festival in Florida, including a show (School Night) at New York's Brooklyn Bowl with Lana Del Rey's ex drummer Ryan Voughn, hosted by Chris Douridas and with onstage support in Los Angeles from Tom Waits' guitarist Omar Torrez. In 2013, she performed with the drummer of Melody Gardot, Chuck Staab.[33] In April 2015 Villy collaborated with famous Georgian composers Dato Evgenidze and Nika Machaidze (Nikakoi). She also performed at the Shota Rustaveli Theatre with Dato Evgenidze.

In June 2015 Villy performed at the European Stadium of Culture in Poland and in July at the main stage of Tbilisi Open Air (with headliners Placebo, Archive, Beth Hart).[citation needed]

In autumn 2015 American record label Dado Records released "The Days" - her collaboration with the Georgian musician Sinoptik Music.[citation needed] In December she appeared in a tribute show for the Georgian musician and activist Irakli Charkviani, at the Tbilisi Concert Hall.[citation needed]

A third album from Villy was recently presaged[clarification needed] by the song "Reveal" ––just before New Year's Day, 2016.[34] As with interviews in the Ukrainian press,[35] so the song struck a repeatedly political note. It was "dedicated to heroes internationally––who have shown a genuine love for their country."[36] Since political tensions have worsened of late, Villy's catalog is increasingly seen in terms of a mediating role, between languages and conflicted cultures.[37]

Planet A was released on April 18, 2017. The US tour started in NYC. Album won "Best alternative rock album" of Academia Music Awards in Los Angeles, in June.[citation needed]

In September 2018 Villy set up an arts and music studio for children, called Soulscope. Since March 2022 Soulscope hosts Ukrainian children, who were forced to leave their homes due to the Russian invasion.[citation needed]

In November 2023 Villy won Hennessy Global project "All I Need” with the single “Flow”, in which she plays the Georgian traditional instrument Chuniri / ჭუნირი.[citation needed]

Discography[edit]

Albums[edit]

Singles[edit]

  • "Position" (2012)
  • "Connected" (2013)
  • "Reveal" (2015)
  • “Hold Me” Phylosophie (2015)
  • "Swim On" feat. Nikakoi (2017)
  • "I wanna see you clear" feat. sTia (2018)
  • “All I Had” feat. Sinoptik Music (2018)
  • “Papers” feat. Aero Benin (2018)
  • " მზეში” / Praying in the Sun (2020)
  • “What Can Be Worse” feat. Misha Pravilniy, The Maneken (2022)
  • “I’m a Mother” feat. Giorgi Marr (2022)
  • “BLACKOUT” (23/02/23)
  • “Flow” (13/12/23)
  • “A Wish”/ Natvra - (27/12/23)
  • "ZHYVY" (24/02/24)

Video[edit]

  • "Here And Nowhere Else” (2012)
  • "Connected" (2013)
  • "Sometimes I feel like a motherless child” (2013)
  • "I Told You" (2014)
  • "Swim On" (2017)
  • "Planet A" (2018)
  • "Another Existence "(2019)
  • "What Can Be Worse” (2022)
  • "I’m a Mother” (2022)
  • "BLACKOUT " (2023)

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "Грузинка Sophie Villy в проекте "Помешанные" – TheNorDar Magazine". TheNorDar Magazine (in Russian). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  2. ^ "The Parrot," (dir. Thierry Dousset, France 2011)
  3. ^ "LOST IN ESCAPADE. Teaser". Vimeo. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  4. ^ Culshaw, Peter (29 May 2014). "Rock the barricades: the Ukrainian musicians soundtracking the unrest". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  5. ^ "Философи". Yep Magazine. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  6. ^ "Электронный проект Morphom – новая волна украинской музыки. Премьера клипа". GLAVPOST.COM. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  7. ^ "Новые украинские альбомы: Sophie Villy, Onuka, "С.К.А.Й."". open.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  8. ^ "Onuka – одесским поклонникам: "Мое вдохновение – грусть"". МАЯК (in Russian). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  9. ^ "ONUKA: Стараюсь быть вне шоу-бизнеса, потому что у меня он ассоциируется с болотом|ульба NEWS". bulbanews.ru. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  10. ^ "Софі Віллі: Іноді мені хочеться спалити фейсбук". cultprostir.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  11. ^ "Интервью с Софи Вилли (Sophie Villy) о музыкальной культуре в США, верности собственной музыке и независимости". LiRoom. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  12. ^ "Музыка с душой. Sophie Villy". STYLEINSIDER (in Russian). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  13. ^ "Open Grass: Sophie Villy". open.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  14. ^ "Euro Meet". www.euromeet.lu. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  15. ^ "Софиты на Софи". Деловой портал "Капитал". Бизнес начинается с Капитала. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  16. ^ "How Sophie Villy is bringing her music from Ukraine to the world". DIY Musician Blog. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  17. ^ "10 ВОПРОСОВ #BESTINUA SOPHIE VILLY". BESTIN.UA. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  18. ^ "Софи Вилли – L'officiel". L'officiel (in Russian). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  19. ^ "Protected Blog › Log in". daviddurantmusic.com. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  20. ^ Премьера: Sophie Villy «Position», ТОП10 (2012)
  21. ^ "Интервью в Харькове с музыкантами, группами, исполнителями, телеведущими, актерами, директорами Харьковских заведений". kharkov.nezabarom.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  22. ^ "Лента новостей Ужгорода". topnews.uz.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  23. ^ "Open People: Софи Вилли". open.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  24. ^ "Open Grass: Sophie Villy". open.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  25. ^ "BBC Radio 2 Sophie Villy – Position #Michaelsheen". SoundCloud. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  26. ^ Vogue.ua. "Плейлист: 5 топ-песен Sophie Villy | Vogue Ukraine". Vogue UA. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  27. ^ "Sophie Villy: "Прерывание развития культуры – равносильно смерти"". gorod.dp.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  28. ^ "Sophie Villy "Dress": вне времени". comma.com.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  29. ^ Down, Ryotaro AokiMa Maha ElNabawi David MacFadyen Lauren (13 February 2014). "Six must-listen new tracks from around the world". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  30. ^ "Премьера на L'official Online: совместный сингл Sophie Villy и Tape Flakes – "Hold Me" – L'officiel". L'officiel (in Russian). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  31. ^ "SXSW Music: List No. 5". www.austinchronicle.com. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  32. ^ "Софи Вилли: Масса слушает то, что ей навязывают. А это в основном примитив". www.theinsider.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  33. ^ "Юное дарование. Киевский концерт Sophie Villy". korrespondent.net. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  34. ^ "Премьера: Песня Sophie Villy о Майдане". www.buro247.ua. Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  35. ^ "Певица Sophie Villy," Jetsetter (19 January, 2015) and "Что в сумочке," Bit UA (Accessed 21 February, 2016)
  36. ^ "Sophie Villy присвятила пісню Україні та її героям". MusicInUA (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 11 April 2016.
  37. ^ "Софі Віллі: давайте припинимо виливати бруд один на одного," Insider (6 March, 2014) and "Про Україну ще почують! У піснях...," Tvoe Misto (8 March, 2014)

External links[edit]

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