Vancouver’s Sophia Bouvier has released her blues inspired track – “Poison Apple”
At just 17 years old, Vancouver-based singer-songwriter Sophia Bouvier is stepping into the light with a debut that feels seasoned far beyond her years. While many her age are just beginning to find their voice, Sophia has been honing hers since the age of eight, graduating from a childhood ukulele to the gritty, authentic stages of city streets, cafes, and local bars.
Her debut single, “Poison Apple,” serves as a bold introduction to her artistry. It’s a track defined by what Sophia calls the “push and pull of temptation,” weaving a narrative where sweetness inevitably meets a sting. Influenced by the atmospheric depth of Lana Del Rey and the soulful grit of Amy Winehouse, Sophia’s sound is a sophisticated blend of intimate storytelling and emotional complexity.
But for Sophia, music isn’t just a solo pursuit—it’s a communal one. When she isn’t performing, she is busy fostering the next generation of talent through her monthly youth open mic nights, proving that her commitment to connection runs as deep as her lyrics.
First off, care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hi! My name is Sophia Bouvier, I’m a 17-year-old singer-songwriter from Vancouver, Canada. My passion for music began when I was 8 years old, when I picked up my first ukulele.
By age 9, I was already busking at farmers markets and on the streets, and that quickly grew into a love for guitar and piano as well. Today, I’m a working musician performing regularly at restaurants, cafés, and bars, playing a mix of covers across different genres along with songs I’ve written myself.
Tell us a bit about your recent release.
My debut single, “Poison Apple,” was written when I was 15. I wanted to tell a story that captures the push and pull of temptation, trust, and heartbreak.
The lyrics explore those moments when something or someone feels sweet on the surface, but underneath there’s a sting. My goal was for listeners to hear their own story in the song and connect with it on a personal level.
Walk us through your creative process when creating music.
I create all my music right from my bedroom — from the very first chords and melodies to writing lyrics and starting the recording process.
A lot of the time, it begins with me playing around on guitar and coming up with funky chord progressions that feel exciting. From there, I’ll build a melody and find a hook.
When it comes to lyrics, I always keep a notepad with me because inspiration can hit at any moment. It’s full of random thoughts, but so many of my songs have grown from one of those small ideas.
Now that the music is out, what does the road ahead look like? What’s one bucket list goal you hope to achieve with this release?
With this release, my biggest goal is for “Poison Apple” to be the start of a six-song EP.
Throughout the process of creating it, I’ve been experimenting more with recording independently, and I’ve built up a growing collection of original songs that I’m excited to share next.
I’ve also recently started organizing a monthly youth open mic in White Rock, moving forward I really want to focus on collaborating with other young artists and building stronger connections within the music community.
Looking back, what was the one performance or milestone that made you realize this is what you were meant to do?
When I was 10 years old, I performed at the Children’s Sea Festival in White Rock. It was the first real stage I had ever played on and there were over 200 people watching.
I remember being so nervous, but as soon as I played my first song and the crowd cheered, all those nerves turned into excitement for what the future might hold for me. That was the moment I realized performing was something I truly wanted to keep doing.
If you curated a must-listen playlist of emerging Canadian artists right now, who’s the first person you’d add?
Two Canadian artists come to mind right away: Richard Tichelman and Madisyn Gifford.
Both were incredibly supportive early on in my music journey and helped encourage me to keep going. They’ve been a huge inspiration to me as a young artist.
Right now, I constantly have “Dancing in the Kitchen” by Richard Tichelman and “Die Happy” by Madisyn Gifford on repeat.
Where can fans catch you live next? What should they expect from a Sophia Bouvier show?
I always post my upcoming performance dates on Instagram @sophiabouvierr, with timestamps and updates.
Some of the venues I play often include The Barley Merchant, S&L, and Smugglers Trail in Langley, Way Back Brew in Surrey, and various farmers markets throughout the summer.
I’m especially excited for my debut at Guilt & Co in Vancouver on February 8th.
A live experience with Sophia Bouvier is a journey through different genres, while also bringing listeners into my own stories through songwriting.