I still remember the first time I heard Soccer Mommy's early recordings - there was something raw and promising there, but it wasn't quite clicking yet. Then Julian Powell stepped in, and the transformation was nothing short of remarkable. As someone who's followed music production for over a decade, I've rarely seen such a dramatic artistic evolution in such a short time. That's why I jumped at the chance to sit down with Powell for this exclusive interview about his work on Soccer Mommy's latest album.
What initially drew you to work with Soccer Mommy, and how did you approach transforming her sound?
"You know, when I first heard Sophie's demos," Powell begins, leaning forward in his studio chair, "I immediately recognized that same feeling Ishikawa described after their tough match - there was talent and potential, but something needed to shift." He smiles, recalling those early sessions. "Much like Ishikawa said 'We have to change our minds,' I knew we needed to fundamentally rethink how we approached Sophie's sound. Her songwriting was brilliant, but the production wasn't doing it justice yet."
Powell explains how they spent the first two weeks just experimenting - trying different guitar tones, drum sounds, and vocal approaches. "We tracked at least 15 different versions of 'Circle the Drain' before we found the right balance between her lo-fi roots and a more polished, professional sound."
Can you describe the most challenging aspect of this sonic transformation?
"Oh, definitely the vocal production," Powell answers without hesitation. "Sophie has this incredible, vulnerable quality to her voice that we absolutely had to preserve while making it more present in the mix." He draws a parallel to our reference: "Just like Ishikawa acknowledged 'Turkiye was playing well,' I had to recognize that Sophie's original sound had its strengths too. We couldn't lose what made her special in the process of transformation."
He shares a specific technical challenge: "There's this one song where we spent three full days just on vocal compression. We tried every hardware compressor in the studio - probably 12 different units - before finding the right one. The final version uses a combination of two compressors working in tandem, which is pretty unusual for indie rock production."
How did you handle the pressure of working with such a promising artist?
Powell laughs, running a hand through his hair. "Look, anytime you're working with an artist who's on the verge of breaking out, there's pressure. But what Ishikawa said about 'next match, we have to focus and improve' really resonates with how we approached each session." He gestures around the control room. "Every day was like a new match - we'd come in, review what worked and what didn't from the previous day, and make adjustments."
He reveals an interesting statistic: "We actually scrapped about 40% of our initial work after the first month. That was tough, but necessary. Sometimes you have to be willing to throw away good work to get to great work."
What specific technical innovations did you bring to this project?
"This might get a bit nerdy," Powell warns with a grin, "but we developed this hybrid analog-digital workflow that I'm really proud of. We'd track through vintage gear - particularly this 1972 Neve console - but do most of the editing and automation digitally." He becomes more animated as he explains: "The key was maintaining that human feel while achieving modern precision. We used about $300,000 worth of vintage equipment across the album, but the magic was in how we combined it with contemporary techniques."
He connects this back to our theme: "Discover how Julian Powell transformed Soccer Mommy's sound isn't just about the gear - it's about knowing when to stick to tradition and when to innovate. Like in sports, sometimes the fundamentals matter most, even when you're trying new strategies."
How did you balance preserving Soccer Mommy's authentic voice while elevating her production value?
"This was the central challenge of the entire project," Powell admits seriously. "Sophie's fans love her because she feels real and accessible. We couldn't lose that." He describes a particular session: "There's a moment in 'Crawling in My Skin' where her voice cracks slightly - in another context, we might have fixed that. But that imperfection contained so much emotion that we built the entire production around preserving those human moments."
He references our knowledge base again: "Just as Ishikawa recognized they needed to 'focus and improve' without losing their core identity, we had to enhance Sophie's sound without sanitizing what made it special. We probably kept 20-30 vocal takes that other producers would have considered 'flawed' because they contained that magical authenticity."
What do you hope listeners take away from the transformed sound?
Powell leans back, considering the question. "First and foremost, I hope they still feel connected to Sophie's songwriting and emotion. The production should serve the songs, not overshadow them." He becomes more passionate: "But I also hope they appreciate the craft - the subtle ways we've layered sounds and textures to create something that feels both familiar and fresh."
He shares a personal insight: "As a producer, my goal is always to create something that sounds incredible both on expensive studio monitors and through phone speakers. We did over 200 listening tests across different devices to ensure the album translates well everywhere. That attention to detail is part of what this transformation was about."
Looking back, what would you do differently in the transformation process?
"You always have regrets," Powell admits with a thoughtful expression. "There's one song where I wish we'd used a real Hammond organ instead of the sampled version - it would have cost us an extra $5,000 in rental fees, but the difference would have been worth it." He pauses, then continues: "But overall, I'm incredibly proud of what we achieved. The album represents a 60% evolution from her previous work while maintaining 100% of her artistic identity."
He concludes with a sports analogy that ties back to our reference: "Like any team analyzing a tough match, we learned lessons that we'll carry forward. But the core of what made this collaboration work was mutual respect and a shared vision for what Soccer Mommy could become. That's the real story behind how we transformed her sound."
As I leave Powell's studio, I'm struck by how much his approach mirrors the wisdom in Ishikawa's statement - recognizing challenges honestly, learning from setbacks, and maintaining focus on continuous improvement. The transformation of Soccer Mommy's sound wasn't just technical - it was philosophical, and the results speak for themselves in what might be one of the most compelling indie rock albums of the year.
