We recently got to have a good old chat with SoJo about the release of her new single Arena For Love and her upcoming debut album Feeling Free.
1.Thank you for taking the time to chat with us! Your journey into songwriting began at a particularly difficult time in your life, when the lyrics to ‘Flashdance…What A Feeling’ suddenly took on a whole new meaning. Can you remember what it was about that moment that made you decide to take the leap and sign up for a songwriting course?
Thank you so much for your interest in my music and story — it’s lovely to have the opportunity to share it!
There wasn’t really one lightbulb moment, but the lyrics “Take your passion and make it happen” definitely started to resonate in a way they never had before. I’d always adored pop music and dance routines — my sister and I grew up dancing in front of Top of the Pops every week — but I’d never pursued anything musical myself. When life took an unexpected and rather unwelcome turn, I impulsively booked a six-week songwriting course, just hoping for a distraction, some new faces and a bit of fun — little did I know those six Tuesday evenings would unleash a whole new musical adventure!
2. You went from having no formal musical training to writing and releasing your own songs. What was the biggest challenge you faced when you first started songwriting, and was there a moment when you realised this was something you could genuinely see yourself doing?
Definitely overcoming imposter syndrome and self-doubt — I’d always assumed being able to play an instrument or read music were fairly essential qualifications for writing songs! Thankfully, my wonderful songwriting teacher became my much-needed instrument, as well as my mentor and biggest encourager, bringing the lyrics and melodies I’d written to life in a way I couldn’t yet do myself. Hearing my songs take shape was completely addictive, and while I’m now learning piano (a challenge with my coordination!), I’ve discovered that passion, persistence and a willingness to learn can take you a surprisingly long way.
3. Your new single ‘Arena For Love’ was inspired by the idea of having the courage to step back into the arena, even when life has knocked you down. What does that message mean to you now, and has your understanding of bravery changed since you first came across it?
For me, it’s about getting off the sidelines and having the courage to participate fully in life, even when things might not work out as you’d hoped. I’ve realised bravery isn’t necessarily about feeling confident — it’s about being willing to try, embrace imperfection and risk the occasional failure rather than wonder what might have been. And one of the joys of getting older is realising that most people are far too busy getting on with their own lives to spend much time judging yours!
4. You’ve described your music as “heartfelt pop”, which feels particularly fitting given how personal your songs are. When you’re writing about experiences that have been difficult or painful, how do you find the balance between being honest about those emotions and creating something uplifting for listeners?
I was going through some incredibly painful emotions, but I was determined that something positive would come out of it, and I loved the idea of creating songs with honest, heartfelt lyrics that could still make you want to sing and dance. Writing the songs over several years gave me time to process everything and find a more uplifting perspective without sugar-coating the heartbreak — and initially they were just for me, lifting my spirits when I needed it most. I’ve always loved feel-good pop, from what I call the fabulous three Fs (Flashdance, Fame and Footloose) to my enduring obsession with Steps, so perhaps it’s no surprise that my breakup album comes with some dance routines!
5. Your debut album ‘Feeling Free’ tells the story of a period of enormous change in your life. Was there a particular song or moment during the writing process when you realised just how far you’d come from the person who first signed up for that songwriting course?
When I wrote I’m On Fire, I certainly wasn’t feeling on fire — it was more an aspiration, a declaration of how I hoped I’d feel one day! Fast-forward to just after my 50th birthday, and there I was performing that very song for the first time to a packed, dancing crowd at the Trofana Alm in Ischgl, Austria, thanks to my amazing sister relentlessly pestering the DJ until he gave in. I remember looking out at everyone dancing, feeling an incredible buzz and thinking, “Wow, I actually do feel on fire!” — it was all a bit surreal, and such a wonderful moment.
6. You’ve spoken about how heartbreak can make you want to put a “KEEP OUT” sign around your heart. Has writing music helped you become more open to taking chances again, not just in love but in other parts of your life too?
Absolutely — when my marriage ended, I was floored, frightened and questioning pretty much everything I’d taken for granted. I’d spent years playing the game of life by the rules — career, marriage, children, PTA, house renovations, etc — and when it all went spectacularly off-piste, I thought, “Well, if life isn’t going to play by the rules, why should I?” So I’ve gone a little rogue (in the nicest possible way!), and music has brought wonderful people, unexpected adventures and a whole new sense of possibility into my life.
7. Your first single, ‘Keep Calm And Think About Peter Andre’, was inspired by a mug your sister gave you, which is such a wonderfully unexpected starting point for a song! How did that idea develop into your first release, and what was your sister’s reaction when she heard it?
Ha ha, I know – you don’t see many titles like that on Spotify! I was trying everything to manage my heartbreak — meditation, breathwork, you name it — but sometimes a cup of tea in my sister’s Peter Andre mug, reminiscing about the Mysterious Girl days, worked just as well! So I wrote a song about it, and despite my music mentor insisting I had stronger songs to release first, I chose it because it had brought me so much joy when I really needed it. My sister, who’s been my biggest cheerleader throughout, was absolutely thrilled that her thoughtful little gift had inspired my debut single!
8. You’ve been building your musical career while also being a mum to two teenage daughters. What have they made of your journey into music, and what do you hope they’ve taken away from seeing you pursue something you’re passionate about?
My daughters have been wonderfully supportive — filming content, appearing as backing dancers and even inviting me to perform at their parties — although they definitely have their limits, and I still get the occasional “Oh, Mum!” when I’ve pushed my luck! They describe themselves as “80% proud and 20% embarrassed”, which I reckon is a pretty healthy balance. More than anything, I hope they’ve seen that you don’t have to be perfect to have a go, and in a world of social media comparisons and impossible expectations, life is far more fun when you do what makes you happy rather than worrying what everyone else thinks.
9. Your songs have documented everything from heartbreak and uncertainty to joy and newfound confidence. When you listen back to those earlier releases now, do they remind you of the person you were at the time, or has your relationship with those songs changed as you’ve moved forward?
I feel incredibly attached to every song — they’re like little musical diary entries, each capturing a different emotion or stage of my journey, and I don’t think I’d have got to where I am without going through all of them. Listening back reminds me how far I’ve come, although I’m still very much a work in progress, and I love that something which began as a way of processing heartbreak has become such a source of joy. I recently told a friend I’d earned the grand total of £20.70 from all my 20,000-plus streams, having spent an eye-watering amount more on actually making the music, and she wisely replied, “But just think how much you’ve saved in therapy bills!”
10. For anyone listening to ‘Feeling Free’ who might be going through their own difficult chapter or feeling that it’s too late to follow a dream, what would you love them to take away from your music? And looking ahead, what does feeling truly free mean to you today?
I’d love people going through a difficult time to feel a little less alone, and perhaps find some hope that even when life takes a turn you’d never have chosen, there can still be wonderful things ahead — and it’s never too late to try something new, just for the sheer joy of it. There’s a line in my song Feeling Free — “I’ll be my judge, I’ll be my jury” — which sums up what freedom means to me now: letting go of the need for approval, being comfortable with who I am and making choices that feel right for me. I’m still figuring plenty of things out, but I love the life I’ve built with my daughters, friends, music and adventures, and I’m excited to see what else might be around the corner.
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Spotify | Apple Music | Instagram | TikTok | YouTube | | Facebook
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