America’s Got Talent favorite, Sophie Pecora has spent the last two years developing her music. Now, we all get to listen to her work in her first EP, “Raise the Bar.” We caught up with Sophie to talk about the work that went into the project, her favorite songs, and the exciting new things she’s already working on.

Showstopper Magazine Online: What was your process for creating “Raise the Bar”?

Sophie Pecora: I had written the songs on this EP one to two years ago. All of them I wrote by myself in my bedroom with my guitar just like all my other songs, so I only knew them as acoustic until early this year. I did my first studio sessions which is where my songs for the EP got produced. It was amazing watching my songs come to life with the adding of other instruments. 

SMO: What song was the hardest to write?

Sophie: None of the songs were particularly hard to write, but the one that took me the longest was “Misfits.” I started writing “Misfits” in seventh grade, and at first, it was a slow, ballad-type song with a sad vibe. The song went through a few different phases. Once I decided to write a rap for the song, it changed. It ended up being a very unique song because of the very emotional, uplifting, chill pop mixed with a hip hop element in the verses. The song also gives off anthem vibes which I think is so cool. 

SMO: Do you have a favorite song from this project?

Sophie: My favorite song on the EP is “Misfits” because it just really hits in a special way. This song is the most personal to me out of all the songs on the EP. I love the message of the song, and I feel like it is widely needed in this world because so many people feel like misfits and feel like they don’t belong, but I want to show them that misfits have something special and they do some really amazing things.

SMO: What are you most excited about with the release of “Raise the Bar”?

Sophie: I am most excited to see people’s reactions to the songs. At this point, I’ve heard them so many times, so I don’t know what it’s like for those who are going to listen to it for the first time. I think my fans will love all the songs, though, because they have loved my acoustic music, and these songs on the EP are just another level of what I’ve already been doing. The songs also still have the same authenticity as my acoustic music which is really important to me, and I think my fans will also appreciate that.

SMO: Why did you decide to title the project “Raise the Bar”?

Sophie: “Raise the bar” is a lyric from one of the songs on the EP called “Creep,” and “Creep” is all about rising to your true potential and your true self. The whole EP is a collection of stories that show different hardships people may go through in life, but it also shows that they can get through it and they can raise the bar in their life; they can do better and can always improve as a person no matter what their past was like.

SMO: What are you working on now? 

Sophie: I am working on a second and third EP right now. I have so many songs I’ve written in the last couple years that I have yet to release, so I’m just spacing them out into different EPs. Each EP has a whole different vibe, and they show different levels of my songwriting skills, so I’m excited to release all the songs and see what people think and what style people will connect with.

“Raise the Bar” is available to purchase and stream now on Spotify, Apple Music, YouTube, and other major music streaming platforms.

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Veronica Good has been with Showstopper Magazine since 2016. When she isn't keeping you updated on the latest trends, she is at home with her many pets or probably playing The Sims 4. Veronica has a BA in English and an MA in writing from Coastal Carolina University. She is also a writer of fiction and poetry, and her work can be found in Archarios, Tempo, and Scapegoat.