The fiercely independent Sophia Somajo seems more than a little fed up with the current state of music industry politics. On her own imprint Do It Yourself Bitch Productions, Soso declares her music an anti-social experiment pushing the boundaries of the music industry. Following her steadfast view of autonomy, the Swedish songstress wrote, recorded and produced her latest indie-pop effort all within her apartment, opting to take every aspect of her art directly into her own hands.

That Time I Dug So Deep I Ended Up In China is a lesson in very extreme contrasts. On one hand, the music is generally upbeat, quick-paced and ideal for the dance floor. It’s sort of like a mix of lo-fi indie rock versus club music. However, lyrically this is a very intimate and forthright listen, often detailing despondency from a seemingly autobiographical view. Soso has no problems laying her heart on the line here, and the subject matter is often deeply personal.

With song titles like “Who’s Going To Love Me Now” you get a very clear idea of SoSo’s thought process. Early on in the album “Happy People” describes a content childhood, but hints at that happiness being a thing of the past. “Ballad” is another different path for Soso, the sultry track discussing a night of passion where she asks to be punished for being a “bad girl.” “Joaquin Phoenix” is a musical love note to the actor penned after she watched one of his films, and “Sab Lackath” is an entirely different idea, Soso actually recording herself sobbing and then chopping it into beats.

While there is no shortage of bedroom artists in this digital age, few are as willing to lay their soul out for everyone’s ears as this young woman is. And while this is certainly a very pop oriented listen, Soso puts a gritty, often raw spin on her melancholy. Far from the feel-good disc of the year, this one is ideal for anyone who has ever felt the weight of the world falling on their shoulders and doesn’t feel the need to run for the nearest distraction, instead opting to face life’s inevitable downfalls head on.

Rating: B

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