Sophia Kennedy will release her new album Squeeze Me on 23rd May via City Slang. Now, in anticipation, the Baltimore-born, Hamburg/Berlin-based artist has also shared her latest single Imaginary Friend, a track exploring the theme of letting go of self-created personas.
Sophia Kennedy, known for her genre-blending sound, first gained attention with her self-titled debut in 2017, which danced between the glamour of the Great American Songbook and electronic textures. Her follow-up album, Monsters (2021), showcased a deeper dive into surrealism. Now, with Squeeze Me, she leans into catchy melodies with a pop appeal, maintaining her distinctive psychedelic touches.
In Imaginary Friend, Kennedy reflects on transformation, grief, and the tension between memory and reality. “Imaginary Friend is a song that has come a long way. It’s gone through many different stages to become what it is: a pop song,” Kennedy shared. “The song is also about a kind of transformation or metamorphosis of the different stages of coping with grief. It is about longing for reality and saying goodbye to an imagined idea of a person. Memories and longing can become obsessions, the imagined friend becomes an enemy. The decision to let go is therefore a liberating blow.”
The accompanying music video for Imaginary Friend was directed by Timo Schierhorn, who praised Kennedy’s unique stage presence and artistic vision. Filmed in a striking setup, with Kennedy performing on a 5.8-ton lift suspended 24 meters above the ground, the video captures a sense of daring and drama.
On Squeeze Me, Kennedy and her long-time collaborator Mense Reents craft a record that explores complex themes, from the fragility of human connections to the quest for self-determination. Minimalist yet richly layered, the album features shimmering synth bass lines, flickering choirs, and Kennedy’s unmistakable voice.
Sophia Kennedy will also perform her second-ever London show on 19th November at Shacklewell Arms, following her first UK performance nearly eight years ago.
Sophie Kennedy will release Squeeze Me on 23 May 2025.
Music – Sophia Kennedy – image courtesy Rosanna Graf
