Diandra Interviews Soren Bryce: Music That Bridges Hope And Cynicism

To be a great artist or, at least, one of insightful impact, you have to be perceptive. The problem is how to balance the darkness and lightness of reality. Enter Soren Bryce as an trying bridge hope and cynicism as two emotions that should be rightfully helped. While we are all taught of how these energies clash, for Soren, they share an ebb and flow relationship that help both her music and heart grow. 

Diandra: You have stated that growing up “even more” through the process/ business of making music has not been easy? What has being an artist, from such a young age, taught you about yourself?

Soren: I’ve been rather fortunate to have spent most of my teenage years and now early 20s being able to pursue something I am passionate about. While my development as a person has not been traditional, it’s definitely the most “me” way I could go about it, which is something a lot of people don’t get to do until much later in life.

Diandra: Your music seems to be about finding and bridging a sense of self, kindness, and clarity between your heart and mind. What would you say, as a person and artist, is the hardest part about keeping clear and kind in terms of love and creative decisions?

Soren: The hardest thing about keeping a clear head when creating is that music is simultaneously so subjective and objective.  My intention is to bring to life my own perception of the world, while also relating it to a broader thematic palette that people can connect to. 

Diandra: What did your experiences with Blackbear and Black Coast teach you in terms of collaboration and artistry? Is there any artist you would like to collaborate with and why?

Soren: My past collaborations have mostly taught me to learn when it is good to give in, and when it is good to fight for a choice. Overall it’s made me a more objective listener and given me a more open mind. I would absolutely love to work with Thom Yorke. Talk about artistry. (Personally, asking the universe for this!). Soren Bryce – Cellophane (Official Music Video)

Diandra: You love a good book. If there was one book that you could turn into a song, which would it be and what would be the focus/ theme?

Soren: I love drawing inspiration from literature because it makes you view scenarios from a different perspective other than your own. These characters – hero, villian, even just a small player – all deal with conflict and resolution in unique ways. The book I would choose to emulate Catcher in the Rye with the main theme being partnering cynicism with hope. 

Diandra:You love coffee. If you could describe your personality and music as a coffee drink, what would it be and why?

 Soren: Americano. Straight and to the point. No additives.

Diandra: You have stated your desire to travel. What is one place you would love to visit to learn more as a musician and infuse styles into your future music?

Soren: Japan is on my list of places I want to go to. I love the culture – it’s very minimalistic and precise, sharp and clean. Japanese music, especially Tokyo based artists and J-Pop, is such an interesting genre with a lot of poignant bells and whistles. 

Diandra: Describe one moment/ social interaction that inspired a certain song of yours? What was the lesson you learned from it?

Soren: One song off the new record was inspired by riding the subway every day while working on the album. I was doing a lot of people watching, and really started to feel the weight of the fact that every single person around me was leading a complex life, just like me. That’s all I’m going to say about that track. : ) 

Diandra: You have been described as many genres, which goes to show your creative scope. For artists, there seems to be hesitance to be placed in a specific genre. Do you feel genre-labels empower artists or confine them?

Soren: What are genres anymore? We’ve come so far from the roots of genres (blues, jazz, americana, etc) that we’re all just a hodgepodge of the things around us that inspire us. As you add to that doggy pile, it’s only going to get more and more fused, more and more skewed. There aren’t a lot of pure genres left, even in Pop music. 

Diandra: How would you define your value as an artist to both yourself and others? What are the messages and healing you believe music brings out of you?

Soren: To me, I’m just another human trying to work out my shit, if someone can relate to that and find comfort in that then I am happy knowing they don’t feel alone in it anymore. However, music has always been about getting things off my chest, out of my brain, so I don’t have to have it all sitting here in my body. These emotions can take a negative toll on you, and I start to feel it if it’s been awhile since I created something. 

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