Digital Cover Story 66: SOFI TUKKER
Words by Antonia Kunzel
Meet SOFI TUKKER - The Grammy-nominated duo composed of Sophie Hawley-Weld and Tucker Halpern, known for their eclectic blend of electronic, house, and global influences. With an infectious energy, vibrant performances, and inclusive approach to dance music, their style has earned them a dedicated international following - characterized by bold beats, catchy hooks, and multilingual lyrics, they are often drawing influence from their diverse cultural experiences and collaborations.
Now, they have finally unveiled their latest album, BREAD, which brings an infectious and playful energy to the table, much like the acronym that defines it: Be Really Energetic and Dance. Cultural influences have always been a driving force behind SOFI TUKKER’s music, and this remains true with BREAD. Their global travels and connections introduce them to new sounds and collaborators who push their creative boundaries. These collaborations often result in sounds they could never have imagined on their own, reflecting the organic way different cultures seep into their music. “We’re lucky to travel a lot and meet so many interesting people, who often introduce us to new music and sounds. The best scenario is getting to collaborate with musicians from different parts of the world and just be in awe of how they can create sounds we would never even dream of and are so in love with.”
It’s a simple yet powerful concept at the heart of what SOFI TUKKER aims to deliver. While the album contains deeper layers—thoughtful lyrics, and profound themes—the duo’s core intention remains clear: to get people moving and stand true to their inclusive and community-driven approach to dance music, as well as embrace abundance. “At the end of the day, sometimes the remedy we seek is as simple as dancing,” they explain, illustrating how their goal is to encourage people to immerse themselves in the joy of movement.
But how do SOFI TUKKER embrace abundance themselves? “I think one of the main ways we embrace this is by actively saying no to an imposter syndrome mentality. It would be easy to say, oh no, who am I to get to make music for a living?”, they share. “And who are we to want more out of our music career? Deciding to go for it in our career is probably the most consistent and daily way that the philosophy of abundance plays out in our lives. Why not us? Why not dare to dream bigger and bigger and enjoy every second of it without guilt or shame? We are so lucky and it’s also perfectly ok for us to want more.” And that is definitely an ethos we should all live by - dream big!
Above all else, it also shares an important message to the listener. With BREAD, SOFI TUKKER wants listeners to take away a feeling of connection and shared humanity, especially in a world often divided by differences. But, whether it’s a shared love of music or the universal act of gathering around a table for a meal, the duo aim for their music to be a reminder of that unity: “There is so much separation, so much black and white thinking, so much extremism, and not enough conversation and genuine attempts at mutual understanding. We all share a lot more than we think… including that we probably all gather around some form of bread to get energy”. And once you listen to the album, you will certainly feel that.
Just before the album release the cover track, Throw Some Ass, arrived - with a brillant music video. Filmed at the Palácio das Laranjeiras in Rio de Janeiro, which the duo dubbed “The SOFI TUKKER Center for Asses That Don’t Move Good” (yep, inspired by Zoolander), the visuals perfectly match the fun, vibrant vibe of the song and the overall ‘be really energetic and dance’ vision. “We knew we wanted to film the music video in Brazil with Brazilian dancers, since that’s ultimately the origin of the song and dance. We were looking for a location that would really elevate ass throwing. We wanted to set it in a super elegant and opulent palace, since that’s typically not the place people would expect ass to be thrown,” they chuckle. “It’s actually where the governor of Rio works and lives… pretty sure he came home one day to find a bunch of dancers shaking their ass in his living room, with a sign outside that renamed it ‘“The SOFI TUKKER Center for Asses That Don’t Move Good’”.
But aside from releasing a banger of a project, SOFI TUKKER are gearing up for the upcoming BREAD tour - not only will it reflect their philosophy, but it’s also promising to be their most ambitious live show yet. “In the same way that we’ve never worked this hard on an album before, we’ve never worked this hard on a tour before. We really went all in. We’ve spent so much time fine tuning and rehearsing every second of the show. From the BREAD world visuals to the choreography, to the arc of the show… we have tried to push the limits of what an electronic show looks like… “, they share - it sure sounds like an unmissable event, so make sure you get your eyes peeled for tickets. From musical theatre elements and interactive moments that break down the walls between the audience and the stage, fans can expect an immersive experience that captures the album’s essence—an invitation to Be Really Energetic and Dance.
SOFI TUKKER’s passion for fashion and activism also plays a significant role in their creative vision. Music, fashion, and activism are interconnected in their world, with each element influencing the other. A song might inspire an outfit, or an outfit might spark the idea for a song. “Everything we do plays off each other. Sometimes something we make in a song will influence what we wear… sometimes what we wear influences a song. Purple Hat is the simplest example of this because Tuck was literally wearing a purple hat and a cheetah print shirt when we wrote the song… sometimes the song sounds like an outfit”, they mention.
Their activism also ties closely to their music, with themes like female empowerment and LGBTQ+ advocacy woven into both their lyrics and their work with organizations like Planned Parenthood and The Trevor Project. “The culture around our music is very woven into the LGBTQ community, and so working with the Trevor Project just feels natural, and so on. We are super inspired by the colours and trees of the rainforest, so it only makes sense to both include it in our album visuals and make sure we’re part of reforestation efforts to preserve the environments we love so much (shoutout to the Unendangered Forest project!)”, they unveil and emphasize things that are happening in the world and in our lives constantly impact the music.
Overall, BREAD really is SOFI TUKKER’s most evolutionary project to date - it brings their signature energy, optimism, and sense of community to the forefront, creating not just an album but a movement—one that encourages listeners to embrace joy, abundance, and connection - but also authenticity. “This album has really taught us to trust our gut and taught us how to collaborate… we invited in so many creative people, but then at the end of the day, we let our instincts lead, even if we didn’t technically have as much training or as many years or whatever it is… we took the reins and took risks and even when we collaborated, we always really made it our own and made sure it felt like us.”