Every so often, an artist emerges that makes you wonder if your Spotify Discover knows you at all. For me this week, that’s Soccer Mommy; the Swiss-born, Nashville-raised moniker of artist Sophie Allison. Releasing her fourth album Evergreen this week, I find myself baffled that her sweetly melancholic indie sound has somehow evaded my radar for the past six years. With no prior immersion into her discography, Evergreen became an unexpectedly beautiful exploration—an intimate collection of songs that are bittersweet, uplifting and are a credit to the indie landscape Allison finds herself in.
Originally a bedroom-to-Bandcamp project, Soccer Mommy’s music retains that sense of bedroom recorded vulnerability and accessibility, despite the polished production that graces Evergreen. Each track offers an intimacy that feels immediate, almost like a lo-fi discovery on SoundCloud, inviting listeners into her world with a deeply personal touch. There’s a delicate balance between refinement and rawness, where the emotional core remains unfiltered. It’s really something.
Track by Track: Evergreen
The album opens with “Lost”, a beautifully restrained track where delicate acoustic guitar underpins Allison’s achingly vulnerable vocal delivery. The sweet indie sensibility that gently swells throughout the song might initially distract you from the deeper tragedy woven into the lyrics. An ode to loss, the emotional weight is immediate, with Allison’s lyrical craftsmanship on full display. Lines like “I’ve got her name / I’ve got her picture in a frame / But I don’t give her anything / And I never did” capture the sense of regret and unspoken grief.
In the chorus, she sings, “Lost in a way that don’t make sense / Lost in a way that never ends / If I had another chance, I’d ask her then,” perfectly encapsulating the song’s title and evoking the emotional purgatory between loss and the other side of goodbye. The track radiates with quiet devastation, setting the tone for the reflective and deeply personal journey that follows.
Personal loss remains at the forefront with “M”, which treads a similar path to its predecessor. Where many artists might risk monotony with recurring themes, Allison’s lyrical precision and heartfelt delivery towards loss are so finely honed that the repetition never feels redundant. The jangling indie-pop guitars and steady rhythm lay the groundwork for another emotionally potent track. Lines like “I feel you / Even though you’re gone / And I don’t mind talking to empty halls / ‘Cause I miss you / Like a loyal dog / Waiting by the door to hear the lock turn” cuts deep with a piercing sense of longing and grief.
The song concludes with the poignant lyrics: “And when I wake, the thought remains / That I won’t ever be the same / And I can see / It’s not a dream / It’s real as anything to me,” offering a heart-breaking finality that can speak to both the end of a relationship or the mourning of a loved one. M masterfully taps into universal heartache, reaching into that part that hurts and translating it into sonic form that crushed for anyone who’s felt the weight of loss.
Taking an unexpected turn, the third track “Driver” hits hard with thick, gritty guitar tones and pounding drums, jolting listeners out of any folk-tinged dream pop reverie they may have drifted into. The attitude-filled opener wastes no time in establishing itself as a standout rocker that immediately grabs your attention. Yet, the track balances this energy with a softly delivered chorus, where the production expertly strips back the layers, re-enforcing the lengthy chorus to breathe. As the track builds, it eventually gives way to a fun, droned-out guitar solo, leaving Driver feeling both spontaneous and tightly composed. The versatility is well appreciated while the excellent command of dynamics suggests Sophie Allison rightfully has command of the steering wheel.
Next comes “Some Sunny Day”, a track that leans into a distant, psych-tinged moodiness. It offers a fun sonic change of pace, adding a more atmospheric layer to the album. However, as lush as the instrumentation is, Allison’s voice occasionally gets lost in the mix, slightly overshadowed by the swirling sounds around her. Despite this, the track’s hazy vibe adds an intriguing texture to the record.
With “Changes”, the album circles back to the earlier vibes, floating in like a gentle breeze only to deliver another emotional gut punch. Allison’s soft, delicate vocals glide over the ethereal instrumentation, deceptively tender as she unravels lyrics that cut deep. Lines like “And I can feel the changes / And I don’t wanna face it / It’s harder not to know that / Everything will fade to memory in time” are a stark reminder of the impermanence of life and love, a theme that lingers throughout the record.
Proving that inspiration can come from the most unexpected places, “Abigail” is a charming love song dedicated to the character from the video game Stardew Valley. Abigail, a romanceable non-player character in the game, becomes the muse for this upbeat indie track, with Soccer Mommy lovingly listing her endearing traits—her love for chocolate cake, shooter games, and making music in the rain. On the surface, it’s an infectious, feel-good love song, that camouflages itself well. But for those in the know, it doubles as a wonderful homage to the game itself, capturing the whimsical and light-hearted spirit of the game too.
The song’s shift into a vibey, upbeat sound mirrors the playful tone of the game, making it a fitting ode. This one’s a reminder of how the most unusual muses can spark great creativity and it leaves me wondering how many great songs have been inspired by more unexpected sources.
“Thinking Of You” delivers a delightful throwback to the early 2000s, with its late ’90s and Y2K influences shining through in both sound and style. Soccer Mommy’s self-confessed inspirations—Natalie Imbruglia, and Avril Lavigne—come through here, creating a nostalgic hit.
As we enter the final stretch of the album, “Dreaming Of Falling” emerges as another low-key mood-setter, where the melodic lyrics are perfectly paired with the beautifully isolated guitar. The song’s intro is great, and it wouldn’t feel out of place on Eliza and the Delusionals’ Make It Feel Like the Garden. With its soft, nonchalant vocals and the shimmering production of chorus-laden guitars, the track stands out as a quietly catchy favourite nestled towards the back of the album.
“Salt In The Wound” continues the slow-burning yet driving atmosphere that defines much of the album, with the lyrics of the pre-chorus, “you’re hanging in for me,” pairing with the gritty, sombre guitar work beneath. The song balances restraint and intensity, with a brooding mood that steadily pulls the listener in. Then comes “Anchor”, which takes the album in an unexpected, wild direction. A slew of intriguing production elements come together, making it one of the most unique tracks on the record. It’s a bold second-to-last song that keeps you on your toes.
The journey then ends with the emotionally resonant title track, “Evergreen”. The song is another walk through heavy emotional terrain, with lyrics like “I don’t wanna be let down / Not another perfect memory / I don’t wanna hear her name / Evergreen” capturing the raw pain of lingering memories. Yet, as the song unfolds, it feels like a catharsis—the culmination of a long journey through grief, growth, and eventual healing. There’s a suggestion of hope on the other side of the hurt, and it closes the album on a bittersweet yet uplifting note, perfectly capping off a wonderfully introspective record.
Final Thoughts:
Evergreen is a striking, introspective album that beautifully captures Soccer Mommy’s ability to navigate complex emotions. Through tender vulnerability Sophie Allison proves she can craft songs that cut deep while retaining an ethereal beauty and hope. Her lyrics are succinct and effective, often delivering emotional blows in the softest of voices.
While the production choices add texture and atmosphere, there are moments when Allison’s voice does gets a little overshadowed, which is a shame given how powerful her words are. In songs like “Some Sunny Day”, the instrumentation threatens to swallow her vocals, however, this is a minor hiccup.
What’s particularly refreshing about Evergreen is that it doesn’t feel like something crafted by radio-friendly engineers, and the album isn’t built to fight “Espresso”. Don’t get me wrong—the songs are plenty catchy, but they’re more of a glimpse into an artist navigating her thoughts, feelings and emotions: loud and in stereo. In many ways, that authenticity makes for a more valuable experience if it reaches out and touches you.
Evergreen as an album is a journey through grief and sadness, with a few rock bangers to boot. It’s true that loss can leave us feeling lost, but we’re still at the wheel. There’s always the suggestion, as in “Evergreen”, that on the other side of this pain, there is “Some Sunny Day” waiting. It’s a bittersweet but ultimately uplifting message, and that’s what makes this album work—its cathartic, reflective, and leaves you with a little hope that someone knows exactly how you feel.
FOUR STARS (OUT OF FIVE)
Evergreen is out this Friday. Grab it HERE
