Written for Influencer Intelligence
Performance poet and singer Sophia Thakur has over 14K subscribers on YouTube and a strong 6.9% engagement rate on Instagram. Dubbed 'our generation's first poetry influencer', Sophia stars in the November edition of our Ones to Watch report. Having collaborated with the likes of MTV, Nike and BET and performed at some of the UK's biggest venues, Sophia has jus released a book which will arrive in the US in 2020. We caught up with Sophia to discuss TEDx talks, super powers and wet bath mats...
What's been your career highlight so far?
This is a tough one so I hope that you don’t mind three. Being invited to give two Ted Talks before the age of 20 was my favourite part of turning 21. I had been a fan for years, so that was a full circle moment. Successfully bringing performance poetry into unorthodox spaces has become somewhat of a trend for me but I’ve marvelled in every minute of it. This includes performing an acapella poetry set on a very busy and musical Glastonbury stage, but also being invited to give the Key Note talk (poem) at various very very very corporate conferences across Europe.
How did your Stylist Magazine profile come about?
Stylist had got in contact to have me perform at Stylist Live 2019. Following this, they kindly asked me to open the first ever Stylist Magazine Awards (a truly remarkable night. The women. The stories. The dessert). And following that, they picked up on my book coming out. We jumped on a very candid call and a week later you could pick my face and ramblings up on the underground. Very cool.
What causes are you most passionate about?
I am deeply passionate about the importance of expression. Through words, sport, music, fashion and anything else that encourages us to peel back a layer. Its ability to heal, open, explain and explore some of the most troubled parts of us is becoming increasingly more important. I care about the betterment of BAME women and girls, and the need for more conversation around mental health. Namely men’s mental health.
What was your experience like during your TED talks?
Grand. Everything about the first Ted Talk felt big. Larger than life. Even the topic that I was discussing...hypermasculinity...it felt bigger than me. I get like that before things that end up shaping my life. I’ve ended up working in the men's mental health space ever since. Once I was on stage, inside the poem I sunk into the moment and let the poem do the leg work. That part of the first experience was thrilling. The second Ted Talk was a funny one. I was turning 20 the day after the talk so I had planned a house party across the country that midnight (great planning, I know). It was a 4am wake up, 6am train, 11am talk, 2pm train, 8pm party. But for the talk itself I was somewhat more collected and understanding this time around. I had a better idea of how things worked so I could focus solely on the poem and performance. I really enjoyed this talk. They brought a cake out on stage for me afterwards. Best birthday ever.
Tell us about your new book SOMEBODY GIVE THIS HEART A PEN.
My baby. It feels like I‘ve given birth. But to my past lovers, trauma, family and political opinions. A millennial baby perhaps. The collection is about the universal tendencies of the heart. It’s a very honest take on the experiences that should connect us, that sometimes do the opposite. It touches on why we respond to love, politics, mental illness, race and gender in the way that we do via the stories that govern that. It tells the story of our parents and our politics. My aim was to encourage a level of stillness within ourselves and our experiences. To bring back being present in our moments and slowing down to understand them.
How have you built up a community on YouTube?
By accident if I’m honest. I don’t post as often as I should, but years ago I was quite consistent in putting up poetry videos. I perform really often and that brings people to my YouTube page also. I’m more active on Instagram at the moment.
Do you think more young people should consider performance poetry as a profession?
Absolutely. It could be the most flexible industry ever. You make your own rules and get to do it rhyming. The space for creativity is never lost on poetry as a profession. It’s also a very powerful tool. It maintains the understandability of conversation, but the impact of art. That marriage can change a heart and shake a nation.
Which brand would you like to collaborate with who you haven’t yet worked with?
I’d love to work with Tesla or Fenty. Both have a strong environmental ethos and fantastic product. If brand is referring to something less commercial than it would be amazing to work with BUPA or Children in Need.
What’s the best thing about what you do?
It’s lawless. I’ve been making it up as I go along. No two days are the same. This week I’ve been creating demos to send to my band to learn for my book launch. Which happens to be a month after the book release and also happens to be at the Jazz Café with a full band and amazing special guests joining me on stage. The week has also brought me into schools across the country to perform pieces from the book and sign some of them. It’s also had me video editing. Every day is different. I’ve been led to believe that the possibilities for poetry are endless.
Which influencers do you follow on social media?
Some prolific writers and friends. Angie Thomas. Salma El Wardany. Nikita Gill. Rupi Kaur. George the Poet. The Slumflower. @Uchjn . Maya Jama.
Do you have any special skills or superpowers?
From the bottom of my heart I believe that I can speak the language of eyes. From one glance I can have a conversation with your real intention, or your secret, or your current worry at the time. I’ve scared strangers many a time with this skill! Aside from that, I’m pretty good at articulating the emotions attached to other people’s experiences. I suppose that’s the one job of a poet. It comes in handy in creative marketing and brand work.
What really bugs you?
Man. Stepping out of the shower onto a wet bath mat. It makes me want to cry. But also, the lack of accountability in leadership roles across all industries. I believe in ‘lead by example’, but also compassion to the natural imperfections of humanity. We all make mistakes. It’s a part of life. I just wish we were more comfortable both owning and learning from them...but also allowing people to move on from their mistakes.
And also people that use both arm rests on the train. Those aren’t the rules.
What is your personal mantra?
‘Roll with it’. It’s an answer to everything life gives me. Be that a new and very unorthodox idea, or a terrible day. Rolling with it entails understanding it, pausing on it and working out how to move on from it.
Are there any artists you are dying to work with?
At the moment...I’d love to work BurnaBoy, Jorja Smith and Santi. It’s been a dream to write with Adele or Cleo Sol for years and years too!
What’s your earliest memory?
The middle of the dancing circle at the family party. Oh yes. That’s where I stay.
Who would play you in the film of your life?
Hopefully Jada Pinkett or Tracee Ellis Ross as an adult and Yara Shahidi as a youngen.
What’s your most prized possession?
My mum's joy. I don’t know when I made myself responsible for it but for whatever reason I protect it with my whole life. Dad gets jealous. Also my diary. It’s got Sophia’s teenage secrets inside it.
What’s next for you?
There’s a few music singles coming out before the year ends. A global poetry tour announcement and a few really exciting pieces of content and fashion shoots/ collaborations.
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