In conversation with
Sarah Lipman
Sarah Lipman, Head of Communications at SoFar Sounds
spoke to us about the concept of SoFar, how it came about,
their impact on the industry, artist associations and a lot
more in an exciting interview.
What is the aim that you are trying
to achieve in this super-digital era
where everyone has access to all
kinds of music?
Sofar Sounds is reimagining live
events through curated, intimate
performances in over 400 cities
around the world. Even in today’s
digital era, there’s nothing like
seeing and discovering new music
for the first time live.
Every Sofar experience is wholly
unique, a “choose your own
adventure” of sorts that empowers
discovery of artists, spaces,
people, neighborhoods and cities,
whether at home or abroad.
Why the concept of secret &
intimate? Shouldn't music be
available fro all? Especially the
ones you think are worth a listen.
When we say that Sofar is secret
and intimate, we don’t necessarily
mean that it’s an exclusive
experience. It’s secret in that our
location or venue is kept secret
until 24-36 hours before show time,
and guests don’t learn who will
be playing until they arrive. We
have no headliners or closers, so
all acts receive equal attention
from audiences. Our venues
are intentionally kept intimate
— capacity is usually about 100
people —to provide that up-close
experience for both our audience
and our artists.
What is your funding scheme like?
Does crowd funding work?
We don’t use crowdfunding, and
ticket sales depends on the city.
You can learn more about our
ticketing here.
How do you think you are making an
impact on the music culture across
the globe?
We hope that Sofar Sounds is
providing an alternative way to
discover and see new music live
that goes beyond streaming or
seeing a popstar in a stadium.
We love those things, too, but
Sofar offers the ability to strip
music back, bring it to someone’s
living room or a unique space like
boutique store.
Music is something that connects
us all around the world, and Sofar
Sounds is another platform to
foster that connection.
What kind of artistes do you like to
choose or have? Is there a certain
type that you like to accommodate?
We like all kinds of artists!
Whether you’re a beatboxer,
singer-songwriter, spoken word
artist or a classical violinist, we
want you to play a Sofar! Our
lineups are carefully curated by
our City Teams to offer a diverse
range of sound and genre. No two
shows are alike.
How do you go about selecting your
venues? Are those procedures and
methods constant across countries?
On our City Teams, we have
people who are dedicated to
scouting the best spaces in their
city. These can be people’s private
homes, old church basements,
cafes or even a rooftop or
backyard. Additionally, if you
head to www.sofarsounds.com,
you can apply to host if you think
you have a space that may be a
good fit for a Sofar show!
The
Score Magazine
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