SofaTalk has long been an artist who refuses to be boxed in. His music is a patchwork of global influences, drawing from house, funk, broken beat, jazz, and beyond. As an artist, label head, and curator, he thrives on experimentation, creating soundscapes that defy convention. His latest album, The Soul’s Code, out February 29th on Oath Creations, is a testament to his eclectic approach. Featuring collaborations with Veezo and Zopelar, this eight-track project cements his reputation as a fearless sonic explorer.
Pre-order/save upcoming album single 'The Truth', set to be released on Friday 31st January, here: https://hypeddit.com/sofatalk/thetruth.
We caught up with SofaTalk to discuss the album, his creative process, and his passion for blending genres unpredictably.
The Soul’s Code marks SofaTalk’s second full-length album, arriving five years after South Side on Broken District. He describes the project as an opportunity to create something deeply personal, free from the constraints of genre expectations.
“It all started about a year and a half ago,” he explains. “I wanted to focus exclusively on a complete, intimate project that could tell something—a journey through various sounds. The most stimulating part of building an album is not feeling tied to a specific sound or target audience. I was able to work creatively, including tracks that weren’t necessarily dancefloor-oriented or followed unconventional structures.”
That creative freedom is evident throughout the album. Opening track “Dub Lush” featuring Veezo layers strung-out low-end frequencies with whimsical chord arrangements and sweeping overtones, creating a unique dub-soul hybrid. “The Truth,” the first single released on January 31st, loops a thudding kick beneath a tense, claustrophobic melody, lifted by a raspy, soulful vocal. “Paradiddle” embraces the chaos, fusing house, funk, and broken beat into an erratic yet captivating groove.
SofaTalk’s genre-blurring approach stems from a deep love of musical exploration. His process is rooted in research and immersion across a broad spectrum of styles.
“I listen to a lot of music—contemporary jazz, fusion, progressive rock, nu jazz, funk, reggae, dub, neo-soul. I also follow electronic movements like broken beat, UK garage, Detroit house, and LA’s instrumental hip-hop scene,” he shares. “I never follow a set formula; I try to find an alchemy between global sounds and rhythms.”
That fusion can take unexpected forms. “For example, I might start with a dubstep beat programmed on a Roland TR-808 at 140 BPM, then layer jazz chord progressions with an electric piano over it. Or I’ll build a house drum pattern and arrange it with dub sounds.”
This openness to sonic experimentation makes The Soul’s Code such a compelling listen. “Complex Journey” distils the album’s energy into a lo-fi jazz-house fusion, while “Out of Nowhere,” featuring Zopelar, spirals through Latin percussion, flanged effects, and squelchy synths, all tied together by a fidgety house groove.
Two of the album’s standout moments come from collaborations with Veezo and Zopelar. “Dub Lush” is a prime example of SofaTalk’s synergy with Veezo, a keyboardist and producer he frequently works with.
“When I started working on ‘Dub Lush,’ I initially envisioned a vocal part, but as the arrangement took shape, I decided to leave it instrumental and add additional synths,” he says. “Fabio [Veezo] gave it a magical touch with his modular synth arpeggios.”
Zopelar’s influence on “Out of Nowhere” was equally transformative. “I was working on the track and wanted his input because it felt so close to his sound. Pedro [Zopelar] was immediately excited and started working on it right away. His Brazilian-tinged chord progressions and synth leads brought exactly the creative energy I was looking for.”
Beyond his own music, SofaTalk is deeply involved in shaping the sound of the underground. His label, Cognitiva Records, is a reflection of his vision as both an artist and curator.
“I founded Cognitiva in 2016 to release music that I love. I oversee the artistic direction, and that process constantly inspires me. The research, collaborating with other musicians, and the ability to contribute to defining new directions in jazz-influenced electronic music is fundamental to me.”
His approach extends to Cognitiva All Star, an event series that showcases forward-thinking electronic music, and Soundscapes, his monthly radio show on Universal Rhythms Radio.
Despite his avant-garde tendencies, SofaTalk maintains a connection to club culture. Tracks like “Paradiddle” and “Drum Circles” push boundaries while still packing dancefloor energy.
“These two tracks are actually the most dancefloor-oriented on the album,” he says. “I start with rhythmic parts that are more aggressive than usual, sometimes reaching 140 BPM, and add fat basslines. Then it’s all improvisation—samples, effects, synths, placed in a random way. I have a lot of fun with it.”
Although based in Italy, SofaTalk’s influences extend far beyond his home country. He cites American jazz legends like Herbie Hancock and Weather Report, as well as the punk-funk stylings of Arthur Russell and the experimental soundtracks of Ennio Morricone.
“I’m more connected to American musical culture, but I also love the ‘Italprog’ movement—artists like Area, and the soundtracks and library music of Morricone. That mix of inspirations filters into my music.”
With The Soul’s Code, SofaTalk has crafted an album that resists easy categorisation. By drawing from an extensive palette of sounds, he continues to carve out a singular space in the electronic music landscape.
The album’s dreamlike closer, “Magpie Rules,” encapsulates his ethos—blurring genres, bending melodies, and always remaining one step ahead of expectation.
SofaTalk’s The Soul’s Code is out February 29th on Oath Creations. Three singles drop in advance: “The Truth” on January 31st, “Out of Nowhere” on February 15th, and “Complex Journey” on February 22nd.
SofaTalk
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