Soccer Mommy is back on the road, and Australia’s next. Off the back of her fourth studio album Evergreen – a record shaped by grief, growth and the messy clarity that comes with both released last October – Sophie Allison is returning down under with a new live show and a fresh perspective. Sonically softer and more expansive than her earlier work, Evergreen trades grit for gentility, without losing any of the emotional punch.

Playing shows across Sydney, Melbourne, Torquay, Castlemaine, Brisbane, and Perth – including a headline show at Sydney's City Recital Hall on Thursday 12 June as part of Vivid Sydney – the tour marks the singer's first time back in the country since 2023.

To mark the occasion, we spoke with Allison ahead of her upcoming shows. Here, she talks the albums that shaped her, the artists on repeat right now, and the back-and-forth that comes with finishing a track. Plus, the songs from Evergreen she’s most excited to play live.

Tell me about your latest album Evergreen. What was the seed from which this album grew?

This album really came out of a period of my life with a lot of change. I was dealing with grief and with growing up and that was kind of the impetus for most of the songs.

Was there anything about this album that felt really different – sonically or thematically – from your previous body of work?

Evergreen has its own specific themes just like every other album I’ve made – but sonically, I wanted it to feel lighter and airier than my previous records. I really wanted there to be a dreamy gentle feeling to it.

How do you know when a song is finished? Is it a gut feeling, or do you feel the urge to endlessly tweak?

It depends on the song. Sometimes you just know instantly that you’re done with something, and other times you have to sit with it and try to tweak it to get that sense of completion.

What were some of the formative albums you listened to growing up?

Some early favourites that come to mind are Let Go by Avril Lavigne and Metamorphosis by Hilary Duff. I think, in high school, Sleater Kinney’s self titled and Loveless by My Bloody Valentine were really life changing too. There’s too many to name.

What have you been listening to and loving lately?

I’ve been really loving the new Momma record. I’ve also been listening to a lot of the Radio Dept. That recent record from Dean Blunt and Elias Ronnenfelt was really great too.

What’s the best live gig you’ve been to lately?

I did see Momma recently in Nashville and it was really great!

In your upcoming Australian shows, is there a particular energy you’re trying to channel? Is there a mood or sentiment you’re hoping an audience might take away from your shows?

I just want people to be able to connect to the music and have fun. A lot of these songs are really emotional so I want people to feel that, but I also want it to be a fun and warm environment.

What songs off the new record are you most excited to perform live?

I always love playing Driver and Thinking of You. Lost always feels really good too.

Thematically, a lot of the songs on this record are about the concept of growing older. What’s one piece of advice you’d give to your younger self?

I would tell younger me to be more forgiving to myself. I think there’s a lot of stress and pressure in this job and it’s okay to take a break sometimes.

What have you got coming up that you’re really excited for?

I’ve got some acoustic versions of some songs from Evergreen coming out that I’m really excited to share. I feel like these versions show a different side of the songs that are really cool.

Tickets to Soccer Mommy's upcoming Sydney show are available now on the Vivid Sydney website. Also performing at Rising Melbourne, Torquay, Castlemaine, Open Season at the Princess Theatre, Brisbane and Perth. Tickets and tour information via the Frontier Touring website.