Soccer Mommy’s “Evergreen” is a Perfectly Cozy Welcome to Fall
For fans of Boygenius, Clairo, and Beabadoobee, American singer-songwriter Sophia Regina Allison, known as Soccer Mommy, will be your next music obsession. Originally from Nashville, Tennessee, Soccer Mommy taps into an alternative and grunge sound while balancing raw and earthy vocals and nostalgic, but laid-back instrumentals. Her fourth album, Evergreen, is sweet, nostalgic, and emotional, bringing together various vocal and instrumental sounds that capture Soccer Mommy’s musical abilities and showcase her evolution as an artist.
She takes you on a journey through the complex feelings surrounding a break-up and the beautiful chaos of life in your twenties. While the songs explore different levels of emotion, the album is cohesive and personal to both Soccer Mommy and the listener. Evergreen starts with “Lost,” a rustic track that combines Soccer Mommy’s gentle vocals with a soothing violin and drum instrumental, and effortlessly sets the tone for the rest of the album. She sings about feeling guilty for how a relationship ended and feeling selfish for wanting a second chance, even though she understands it may not be the best thing for her or the other person involved: “I’ve got her name/I’ve got her picture in a frame/But I don't give her anything/And I never did/Oh, what a nerve/Asking for more and more of her/She’d give until there's nothing left/If I wanted it.” The album continues with “M” and “Driver,” both of which evoke nostalgic feelings associated with the beginnings of a relationship and how everything feels blissful and carefree. “Driver” starts with a more rock and roll sound with guitar and drums, but the chorus, bridge, and amazing guitar outro make the song feel dreamy and light, just like how Soccer Mommy feels: “My head is always in the clouds/I’ll be the driver if you choose/No promises to stay on route/He’d never leave me now/Even if he could, there's no way out.” Soccer Mommy showcases her talent for combining instrumentals through the nostalgic outros that accompany songs such as “Driver,” “Thinking Of You,” “Dreaming Of Falling,” and “Salt In Wound.” These extended outros not only build the momentum of each song, but the outros feel like a way for Soccer Mommy to share feelings that she cannot express through words. When emotions are too complex, music and sound become a powerful outlet, one that Soccer Mommy utilizes effortlessly throughout the album.
“Some Sunny Day” is a more relaxed track that feels like a rainy autumn day, with instrumentals referencing sounds from the 90s and early 2000s. As the title and instrumentals suggest, Soccer Mommy is more optimistic for the future: “But I know some sunny day, babe/I’ll see your face/Painted in a summertime that won't fade.” Even through heartbreak, she allows room to look forward to the future with a smile instead of fear. “Changes” is instrumentally similar, as the guitar is soothing and laid back, however, the lyrics and vocals are more raw and sorrowful as Soccer Mommy sings about feeling homesick and wanting time to slow down: “My mother's hair is colored by her age/The house is painted over, it'll never feel the same/And every time I come here, I'm further away/Slipping through my fingers.” Your twenties are a tumultuous time for everyone, as you feel like your life is just beginning, while also feeling guilt for leaving your current life behind to chase your dreams. Soccer Mommy captures these complicated back-and-forth emotions as her vocals grow more and more eager throughout the song like she is trying to stop time, even if just for a split second.
The album shifts with “Abigail,” a track named after a character in the popular farming video game, Stardew Valley. Like the game, the song is more upbeat and the instrumentals and lyrics are sweet and sentimental: “I know all of your favorite things/Chocolate cake and shooter games/And making music in the rain/When no one is around.” The next track, “Thinking Of You,” features the same nostalgic instrumentals that make the album feel familiar and homey, but combines more angsty vocals, which continue throughout the second half of the album.
Photo by Anna Pollock
“Dreaming Of Falling” not only expresses the complex emotions after a breakup but also the feelings of hopelessness and anxiety that accompany everyone’s twenties: “And sometimes it feels like I am/Dreaming of falling when I'm half awake/And screaming into the quiet/All I can say is it felt that way/Just thinking of you tonight/‘Cause it never ends and it never breaks/I’ll never hit the ground/Even when I open my eyes again/I still feel the drop somehow.” A simple instrumental allows Soccer Mommy’s more angsty vocals to shine through. The remaining tracks on the album evolve to have an underlying feeling of frustration and anger, as Soccer Mommy processes a relationship ending. In “Salt In Wound,” she sings about wanting to let go of someone and move on, but still seeing them in every walk of life: “When I close my eyes/When I dream my dreams/When I hear that song/When I'm on my knees/And when I walk at night/Down an empty street/I see you in the stars/Hanging over me/You’re hanging over me.” No matter how hard she tries, she cannot escape, and part of her does not want to. She feels consumed by someone and the happy memories of a past relationship, and she wants to let go and move on, but she is afraid of not being ready. “Anchor” expresses some of these same fears as Soccer Mommy wants to move on from a relationship, but does not know how or if she is mentally strong enough to: “I don't wanna think about the way I loved you so/I wanna be whole/Floating on an icy sea, I thought of something warm/I thought of your love.” Her brain is telling her one thing, but she cannot help her heart from wanting to go back to a relationship that brought her so much love and warmth, especially when she is struggling to balance heartbreaking emotions.
Evergreen concludes with the title track, a soothing and simple song with a peaceful chorus that features a violin instrumental as a callback to the opening track. While the song and album’s title captures the aesthetic of each song and Soccer Mommy’s indie sound, the word itself refers to a plant that holds onto its green leaves year-round. While Soccer Mommy explores complex emotions throughout the album, the title reminds us that no matter what we experience, we are resilient and capable of feeling hopeful for our futures.
Be sure to give Evergreen a listen and catch Soccer Mommy on tour starting in 2025.
