Her first single may have just been released this past February, but solo electronic project After Louise is growing at a rate that will make you wish you hopped on the train earlier with her debut EP, Nothing’s Accidental.
True to the EP’s title, nothing about her success points to a first-time artist getting lucky on a first try. What began rather modestly – through TikTok videos that show Sofia Carrillo making songs in her bedroom with a laptop and keyboard – has rapidly evolved into a lightning-in-a-bottle moment for modern synthpop within a year.
While the LA-based artist is no stranger to using social media to promote her music, having previously turned to TikTok for her other alias, Calica, After Louise has resonated in a way that feels organic and true to someone actually making music from their bedroom.
Of course, there’s more to After Louise than the confines of a four-walled space. With a song like “Crybaby,” the immersive atmosphere, defined by background vocals and careful usage of reverb, makes the effort feel grander than a project that’s mostly Carrillo’s doing.
Even more impressive is how the shimmering production on “Crybaby” only grows brighter as the hopelessly romantic lyrics propel the track forward and away from the drum loop that kicked things off. That ability to sneak up on you is also found on “No Fun,” where the drum pattern at the start resembles The Ronettes’ “Be My Baby” before drifting into an electronic daydream.
Compared to other bedroom acts or solo electronic projects, After Louise manages to distinguish herself from the rest – whether it be Oxis or Grimes. Going back to her first single, “Fine,” the slick guitar and synths work to complement Carrillo’s voice rather than take any attention away, naturally making her the focus instead of any production motifs or potential inspirations.
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Although it’s difficult to say where an artist’s trajectory is heading off of one EP alone, it’s not far-fetched to say that Nothing’s Accidental is a proof of concept for an artist who’s been working within the indie sphere for quite some time.
At the same time, the fact that the After Louise name – a project mostly defined by the simple yet charming TikTok videos and the balance between nostalgia and yearning through synths – brought Carrillo’s sound to a wider audience speaks to how it takes one perfect moment to get things going.
Nothing’s Accidental by After Louise is out now. For more on new music and tickets to potential shows, follow her link in bio.
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