Oh, Soko… winning us over with her murderous, alien-centric music all those years ago, the “hyper-emotional” vegan went on to show us that First Love Never Dies, before cementing herself firmly on our list of best people with 2015’s My Dreams Dictate My Reality. With incredibly exciting things on the horizon, lead roles in The Dancer alongside Lily-Rose Depp, and The Stopover, in which she plays a solider in Afghanistan, have already taken her to Cannes and are on the verge of bringing her other passion to the wider world. Soko the French love cat has been very good this year.
Happy Christmas, Soko! What’s going on in your photo then?
This is girly pink baby me meeting Santa for the very first time.. and I wasn’t so into it so I held onto my brother and ignored Santa!
Have you been naughty or nice this year?
I turned 31 last month, and I have to say, this year of being 30 has being incredibly transformative in the best way. I’m not afraid of who I am anymore, and I’ve been making the conscious decision to only surround myself with as much goodness as I can; loving, caring, nice people. And if you can only attract what you already are, and I have the absolute best people around me, then I’ve been pretty good!
What’s on your Christmas list?
A Roland Jazz chorus vintage amp and some vintage pedals. If santa is really generous, I wouldn’t mind getting an old Rickenbaker 4001 bass! That’d make me really happy. And anything that can keep me excited to stay in my musical bubble really!
How will you be spending Christmas day?
I have no idea. I kind of hate xmas, I have to say. It always makes me feel really lonely and really miss my dad, so I’m always shared between wanting to spoil everyone and enjoy the xmas spirit and also wanting to disappear and be alone and hide under a rock until the jolly crap is over! So either I’ll be alone for xmas… or if I can afford to, go back home and see my family in the south of France, that’s what I’d rather do !
What’s your favourite Christmas song of all time?
All I Want For Christmas Is You
, by Mariah the queen! Also,
River
by Joni Mitchell. It’s not a proper Christmas song, but it’s about xmas and I love it.
Who do you want to kiss under the mistletoe?
Myself. I need a little bit more self-love instead of spreading myself short with unworthy romantic relationships. Then I can spread my love to all of my friends and family and people that really matter and count in my life.
What’re the best/worst Christmas presents you ever received?
I never really get that many presents to be honest, and I don’t think I can even remember any of them. That’s so bad! I have the worst memory!
What were your 2016 highlights?
My two films, The Stopover and The Dancer. Going to Cannes was definitely the absolute dream. Hard work paying off was was nice; especially to be there with two films, and both directed by super strong and inspiring women with a real voice. And getting to make music again… that’s been the actual best. It makes me feel so many feelings.
What’re your hopes for 2017?
More kindness, sweetness, love, care, community, and togetherness.
How will you usher in the New Year?
Making music non-stop, so that I can hopefully put out a new record, tour, make more music videos, and start working on the movie I’m writing and want to direct.
What are your New Year’s resolutions?
Focus more. Work even harder. Play harder. Learn to delegate. Be patient. Run more. Do more yoga. Keep up my daily meditation. Challenge myself to learn new skills and go beyond whatever I thought I could ever dream of doing. Dance everyday. Continue playing like a child. And settle a little bit… like, make a home for myself somewhere, wherever, but I need a base. I can’t be a total gypsy my whole life. Hopefully 2017 is the year where I stop couch surfing and living out of my suitcase and grow up!