#sojii

[snufffilmcollective-blog]

An Interview With Val From Sojii

In this digital age, there’s A LOT of fucking bands out there, and one of my favorite past times is sitting down with a good pair of headphones, and just digging through Bandcamp on the search for something new. On most occasions I find a few bands or artists who catch my attention for a few songs, but ultimately I loose interest or forget their names soon after closing out the app. Not Sojji though. The distinctive pig in a dunce cap album art work enticed me to click on their debut self tilted ep, and when the spastic energy of the beginning of “Milksop” gave way to a tight lead line, I was hooked. It wasn’t long after playing their ep back to back a few times that I liked the page, and hit Val up for an interview. 

1. To someone who has never heard Sojii, how would you describe your sound and the overall vibe of the band? Angular hard stool 2. Y’all have a very cool, trashy, some would say, “lo fi” aesthetic being presented through the sound of your music and the photos you post on the band page. Is that an artistic decision you made with intention, or just a reflection of your collective lifestyles? 

Well I think all the trashy photos are from me cos I'm a trashy person. Danny is more linear and Donny is a classy fuck. 

3. I know that you used to live in New York and that Sojii followed you when you moved to Grand Rapids. How did the band initially form and how did moving affect it?

Yeah. Well the band didn't only move. All the members have changed completely. It started because Anna, Raegan, and I went to the same school and we hated everyone and knew there was more somewhere out there in the deep smoggy sky. It has changed completely cos there are different people. For better or worse. I believe it's more of a fluid entity than a fixed image of identities.

4. What are your personal influences as not just a musician, but as a person? What are Sojii's collective influences?

My personal influences are industrial buildings and sites I saw [they] were so cold and forlorn and I wanted to take them home with me. Adrenaline too. I think our collective influence don't exclude md2020. Touring. Sodium. Ajvar, Alice, and Prudence.

5. Lyrically you have a very “stream of conscious flow” with some pretty dark and nihilistic subject matter being presented. How do you typically come up with your lyrics?

You just said it! It just cums.

6. I’ve really enjoyed the ambiguous nature of you lyricism and how many different meanings can be inferred from your lines. For example, off your latest single, “Junkmale”, you have the lines “Look outside the kitchen window/At the kingdom at my feet/I slain the fertile cesspit/Put my feelings at ice cold ease” followed by “if you wanted it/I don't/Kill that part anyway/If you needed it/I don't/kill that part anyway”. Would you care to dive into what you meant by this?

I don't remember exactly. It started as a concept Katie gave me for the music she wrote. Really It's about killing my ability to carry a child in order to live life as selfishly and opportunistically as I can. (Gender roles blahblablahblah)

7. You finished a tour last year with the noise duo An Atomic Whirl. How was that experience for you? Where there any memorable moments from your time with those goof balls?

Otherworldly. They're a couple of the craziest cats I've ever met. I wanna tour with them in Asia. Idk if this is trü but Kenji said he was gonna make his solo project into "Kenjii" cos of us. Haha. Also they're moving back!

8. Besides AAW, what are some other great bands you've had the pleasure to play with? So far what venues have you enjoyed the most?

Ape Not Kill Ape (MI), CHOIR (PA), Girl Pusher (CA), Vertighost (CA)

Honey Trap in LA, Baxter BLDG in DC, Aviv in NYC (r.i.p)

9. With three tours under your belts, what have you learned since the first one? If you could give some advice to up and coming touring bands, what would it be?

Who I want to play music with. What is important to me. What really matters. Tell cunts not to bring fucking cheeze whiz cos it'll stain the fuck outta my '98 econoline carpet goddamnit.

10. What are your most memorable good/bad/weird moments from tour?

Good time was when these two kids followed us from west ma to another couple shows and brought us exciting party favors.

I wanna say no bad times on tour cos I love every bit but it throws me off when anyone is sad or upset. Tour 'sposed to be fun. I did end up in the ER in Connecticut because of aforementioned party favors. The cops took my knife away and never gave it back.

I believe that I am the weird moment because I can't think of anything weird.

11. When you first started the band, did you imagine things would turn out as they have? Now that you've made quite a bit of progress, where do you see Sojii in the future?

I like to embrace the now with eyes to the future. I don't know that I've made much progress, but I have a lot of wet dreams about Sojii. I want to do everything I can as long I let me.

12. I understand that y'all are working on recording more material. Would you like to fill us in on how that's going, and give us a hint as to how it will sound?

:}

It's going great. YOU'll KNO WHEN U KNO. All I can say is we'll probably b recording in Chicago.

13. wut's ur last wurds???

Gabe Page

Valerie is one of the more interesting characters I have come into contact with through this magical thing called the “DIY Community”, and I think Sojii accurately reflects that, not just in Val’s meandering and ambigious lyrcism, but also in the straight weirdo rock nature of their specific brand of noise rock. Seriously, CHECK THIS BAND OUT. You won’t regret it. (Well, maybe you’ll regret it if you get the god damn cheese wiz in the carpet!) Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sojiiband/ Bandcamp: https://sojii.bandcamp.com/music

[breeeliss]

Me: Allura and Lance's relationship is beautiful and platonic and are great friends. Also me: Here's a 10 page essay, a PowerPoint, and a documentary that they're both in love with each other and should get married and live together

honestly mood i stan them just standing next to each other in a scene for two seconds tbh

[spockvarietyhour]

okay so, um.....yeah. hope you weren't invested in Laris, Elnor, or Jurati..............

and Soji, I forgot Sojii, but tbh the show forgot abt her too.

[aarsenicoo]

SOJII UBRIACAI FATR COMOAGIA

[pgeville]

SATURDAY [09/09/17]

 - post-punk show // w/ SOJII [MI], APE NOT KILL APE [MI], NAGAS // 9pm // +Pizza Special

[kallura-icedcoffee]

Voltron Meme

Tagged by @spinzgirl and @aquaburst07

How did you discover the show?

I’ve known of the previous iterations of the show but never watched them. Someone I follow on twitter mentioned VLD it in passing and I made a mental note to check it out.

Was it love at first sight or did it take you a while to get into the show?

I binged three seasons in the course of a 3-day weekend so you tell me.

Do you have a favorite episode?

The Ark of Taujeer and Hole in the Sky are my favorite serious episodes (for Kallura and Allura independently), A New Defender had me on my toes and The Voltron Show had me hysterical, like I’ve never laughed so hard.

Do you have a favorite Paladin?

Allura! Followed by Keith and Shiro.

Do you have a favorite Lion? (If it’s different from your fav paladin, why?)

Black cause it’s just badass and has the wings, but I also like Red because hello fire. There’s also something fast & loose about Red that I like. I also love Green when she does that thing where she grabs ships by the mouth and just flings them around. Good kitty.

Do you have a favorite Villain?

Lotor. He’s the Loki of Voltron. He’s the hero when he wants to be and the villain when he wants to be. You never know quite what he’s up to or what his intentions are. He’s not necessarily bad he just has his own personal goals and won’t let others get in the way of that. I hate Haggar but there’s also something great about her. Like she just really doesn’t give two fucks and she always has this secret plan on the side. She lets other people think they’re running the show but it’s her, it’s always been her. I gotta respect that.

Do you have a favorite Alien Race? (recurring and/or minor)

Alteans and Galra of course. I also like the mermaid aliens (like Plaxum).

Favorite side / other character(s)- Rebels, General, Blade of Mamora, Garrison, etc?

Matt and Kolivan.

How/Why did you join the fandom?

I honestly was going to stay out of it at first. When I found myself really getting into the show I went lurking and the fandom looked a hot ass mess tbh. But I liked Kallura and it looked like there definitely needed to be more Kallura love so here I am.

Care to share a favorite headcanon?

Allura would absolutely love earth holidays and be so extra about it, like Disneyland levels of decorations.

What do you think is the best part of the show?

The characters are diverse and deep and imperfect (it’s hard to spread the wealth developing so many characters but the show tries). You have characters dealing with some really dark, layered stuff. The actions scenes are really fucking cool too.

Any hopes and wishes for future episodes / seasons?

I hope Allura stays a paladin. I love watching her pilot and fight. She’s really fucking badass when she does. Like the way she handled Zethrid or the druids when she confronted Haggar, and don’t even get me started about the way she works that whip. More kallurangst would be swell too. And I would pay good money to see backstory on Shiro when he was still training at the Garrison, like to see if he was this goofy light hearted guy who occasionally got into some shit.

Do you think you’ll stick it out until the end of the show?

Yes. I enjoy the show despite the fandom messiness. Even if I don’t get everything I want from it I like to see things to the end. As long as I don’t get bored I’ll stick it out.

Tag your friends or someone you want to get to know better

Anyone following me can participate but I’ll also pick @princessstaryknight @allurainlove  @ma-sojii @gothicallura @kakunamatatq @sansllura

[poetessinthepit]

Ten Favorite Albums of 2017

Through The Mirror - Endon

All Bitches Die - Lingua Ignota

Ghost in Scow Out - GASP

Hand in Hand - Felicia Atkinson

Kingdom Come - Gazelle Twin

Sojii - Sojii

Synchromysticisms - Yowie

Beautiful Thugger Girls - Young Thug

Young Martha - Young Thug and Martha

Nothing Valley - Melkbelly

[okay-owl]

All these drawings have been stuck in my sketchbook forever. I wanted to re-line them digitally but it was going to take a lot of time so I just colored over the traditional sketches instead. Aaaaanyways I have a lot to say about these two!!

These are 2 of my Miraculous Ladybug characters, they are both Miraculous holders. The character on the left is Sojii's Chosen, the American Badger Kwami The character on the right is Netta's Chosen, the Burrowing Owl Kwami You can see the Kwami here: https://okayowl.deviantart.com/art/Kwami-OCs-644702007 (I still need to draw Banuu's Chosen)

I have so many ideas and stories already set up but I need to organize it all (eventually) Obviously they don't have names yet. I'm bouncing between some ideas but totally open for suggestions.

PS: yes I have my own love-square now and I'm obsessed -- Art and Characters © OkayOwl Miraculous Ladybug © Zagtoon Please DO NOT steal, trace, or re-post

[rat-rider]

Sojii is the best band ever.

[travelphotogblog]

SOJII @sojiiband @tbaproductions @charliesusacafe #sojiiband #tbaproductions #charliesusacafe #music #musicphotography #supportlocalmusic #norfolk #norfolkva #nfk #tidewater #hamptonroads #757 #757photographer #757photographers #oly #getolympus #olympus #penf #m43 #m43cameras #microfourthirds #mylifeinvirginia (at Charlie's American Cafe)

[breeeliss]

Honestly seeing all these Latinxs opening up about themselves makes me want to talk about myself too! I'm a Latina, and unfortunately I cannot speak Spanish very well. I can understand and read it somewhat well, but speaking is a whole different story. I grew up with speaking Spanish, but my parents just expected me to learn it just by listening whereas I went to public school and they taught me English how to read, speak, understand itself and the grammar.

But enough about me, I'd just like to say thank you so much for being you and standing up for light-skinned Latinxs. I'm not light-skinned, I'm just brown, but they're still Latinxs. And just thank you so much!! <333

YES please tell me about yourselves i love it!!

yeah speaking is always the hardest part of any language. and it’s funny because we grow up hearing it so we know how it sounds, we understand it, we can get the accent right, but speaking fluently is a skill that you need practice in. and when you’re in a home that speaks english you don’t really get a chance to work the muscle. if you ever want to get better at speaking, i find it’s cool to get a bunch of people together who are also rusty on spanish and just force yourselves to only speak spanish for like an hour or so everyday. just to get some practice in! but only do that if you want to not because you feel you have to in order to be a “good/acceptable latinx person.” 

i grew up always feeling like i wasn’t a good enough latina and always feeling out of place in latinx clubs at school for various reasons. so i’m really really adamant about letting people know that if you’re light-skinned, if you’re only half latinx, if you can’t speak spanish well, if you don’t know any dances from your culture, if you can’t cook, if you don’t listen to spanish music, if you don’t watch novelas, i don’t care: you are latinx and you should be proud of that. 

[superdarkcollective]

SOJII @ Super Dark Monday Series @ One Caroline <3

[badculturefilms]

Sojii at One Caroline 3/20/17 (at One Caroline)