The Sophs recently returned with a single and video, for “Death in the Family.” The track is described by the band as an admission of vulnerability and moral failure. Frontman Ethan Ramon says it’s “one of the most personal songs I’ve ever written. It confronts my complicated relationship with shame, and how, at a certain point, I had convinced myself I’d rather grieve a loved one than take any kind of accountability. Releasing it almost feels like purging those thoughts. Maybe it’s because I finally feel like I’m explaining myself clearly. Maybe I feel protected by my vulnerability. All I know is it means something to me.”

The Sophs’ brutal honesty, flamingly intrusive thoughts, and broad genre-spreading caught the attention of Rough Trade label heads Geoff Travis and Jeannette Lee immediately when they received a demo from Ramon. In the band’s demos they heard the sort of creativity and variety — and “don’t expect me to act pretty” sentiment — that could get The Sophs — including frontman Ethan Ramon, Sam Yuh (keyboards), Austin Parker Jones (electric guitar), Seth Smades (acoustic guitar), Devin Russ (drums), and Cole Bobbitt (bass) — a slot on nearly any stage. “It’s rare that a demo that arrives in the post sets your heart racing and sends you off on a quest to track down its sender. But that’s what happened when we listened to the music sent to us by Ethan Ramon,” Travis and Lee explain.

The Sophs will play a donation/pay-what-you-can hometown show in Los Angeles at the non-profit venue Scribble on Friday, July 25 before heading to NYC for two free shows in August and then onto the UK and EU, including a spot at the UK’s End of the Road Festival in August.

The Sophs 2025 Tour Dates

Friday July 25 – Los Angeles, CA @ Scribble – Donation/PWYC
Saturday August 2 – Pomona, CA @ Above the Bridge Festival at Fox Theater
Tuesday August 26 – New York, NY @ Berlin Under A – FREE SHOW
Wednesday August 27 – Brooklyn, NY @ Union Pool – FREE SHOW
Saturday August 30 – UK – Larmer Tree, End of the Road Festival
Monday September 1 – UK – Bristol, The Lanes
Tuesday September 2 – UK – Bournemouth – So Young Presents: Who Are You? At Bear Cave
Wed September 3 – UK – London, The Windmill
Saturday September 6 – NL – Asten, Misty Fields Festival
Sunday September 7 – DE – Haldern, Haldern Pop Bar
Monday September 8 – FR – Paris, Supersonic Records

Order “Death in the Family” by The Sophs HERE