"Now that I have found you, I may never use fake cello's again!" (MC www.lovehzstudios)
After seeing My Friend the Chocolate Cake (MFTCC) live for the first time at the Metro, thanks to her big sister Jane, Sophie realised, as she sat on the sticky purple carpet, that she too could play cello in a band.
Sophie then sent an email to her new inspiration Helen Mountfort (MFTCC) to get advice on how to go about it, and received this advice "...the best thing to do if you want to make your own band is to go on a hunt for people that you want to play with..."
Later that month, an ad appeared for a cello player in Drum Media, listing some of her favourite bands including Radiohead, Portishead & Mazzy Star. This was her sign. So, she called, and from that day onwards cello had a new sound and a new home within Starboard.
Starboard provided Sophie with freedom from the stringent classical rules and allowed her to let loose and play with the music; music that SHE loved to listen to. Jamming, arranging songs, performing, and recording: anything to do with Starboard became the new obsession. Wherever Sophie was, so was 'Charlie' the cello!
Sophie's creative style of playing interested a diverse range of musicians & artists, and through the ever efficient musical network, the word got out! Sophie and 'Charlie', all of a sudden, became very busy.
A Stella One Eleven recording & live performance came first, followed by a TV appearance with Endorphin.
Todd Sparrow and Big Heavy Stuff (BHS) came next, plotted out over beers at the Hopetoun. As the beers flowed, the plans got bigger. Sophie ended up being involved in a very creative and fulfilling recording session in the blue mountains; it also allowed her to experience live radio for the first time, with an appearance on Triple J's 'Like a Version' segment.
Next Sophie got a taste of the real way the music industry works...
Dave* knew Sarah*. Sarah knew Darren*, and Darren and Sarah knew Dave. The end result of this web was that she played with all of them.
*Sarah Blasko (who knows Darren & Dave)
*Dave Trump (who knows Darren & Sarah)
*Darren Hanlon (who knows Sarah and Dave)
Sophie doesnt know exactly how the next chapter started, so, here is the condensed version of the past few years in the studio and on stage...
Goldenbooks, Travis Caudle; Ashleigh Mannix; The Vines; Youthgroup; Doc Neeson's Angels; Inga Liljestrom; The Church; Josh Pyke; Sophie Hutchings; Marty Willson Piper; Tiare Helberg; Mark Moldre; Nina Stamell, Bluebottle Kiss; Holly Brook; Dave Mason; Suzy Connolly (Butterfly 9); Sarah Humphreys; Kate Plummer; Chris Gillespie; Joe McGinty; Lobsterman; James Cooper; The Devoted Few; Tales of Mine; Matt Baker; A Gold Star Secret; Nathan Tasker; Merise; Captain Nemo & Charlton Hill
Sophie's classical influence & training hasn't been completely neglected over the years, with Sophie performing with the Ten Tenors at the Sydney Opera House; touring throughout rural NSW with the Sydney Opera House Babies Proms Orchestra; travelling overseas to Japan and Russia with the SBS Youth Orchestra, and playing regular string quartet gigs. She has achieved both her A.Mus.A and L.Mus.A in cello performance and is still committed to regular cello practice.
She has also performed numerous commerical gigs including appearing on Channel 9's TODAY Show & Kerri-Anne Kennerly Morning Show (yipeeee) with Alfio, as part of the Warner Music Australian Promotional Tour.
BUT...One thing has thus far eluded Sophie and 'Charlie'...DAMIEN RICE!
After pouring her heart out in a hand written letter, addressed to Mr Rice himself, Sophie pleaded her case as just the fill in cellist for his Australian Tour. Sadly, this young and eager cellist got no response! On reflection, Sophie realised, that perhaps sending a CD of her studio and live sessions (see above) may have helped her cause. To this day, she still wonders what happened to the letter...
SO, if ANYONE has ANY CONNECTION to Mr RICE, please tell them that a 29 year old and her 109 year old cello 'Charlie' are hoping to fulfil their only remaining lifelong dream...to play with her favourite artist - Damien!!!
And to the postman who orginally picked up the letter - please return it.