Sofi Tukker: On their new EP Dancing On The People, and staying on top with your mental health

Back in 2017, Sofi Tukker ascended to the heady heights of international stardom when their single 'Best Friend' found itself being used in everything from an iPhone X commercial to FIFA 18.

Since then, they've never quite come down. Their 2018 debut album Treehouse securing their place as one of the world's top dance acts - wide-ranging in their sounds, but ultimately with a playful, upbeat heart to their songs.

Dancing On The People is the duo's latest release. Veering from joyous four-to-the-floor tracks to dark, pulsating snyth-heavy numbers - with the standard mix of Brazilian Portugese and English lyrics through - the six track EP is a tribute to Sofi Tukker's tailor-made 'Animal Talk' parties (unique dance events which they throw across America). "We make the music we want to hear in those environments," says Sofi.

Hot Press caught up with the band last month ahead of the release of their new single from the EP, 'Purple Hat'.

You're just getting set to release 'Purple Hat'. How're you feeling about it?

Tucker: We’re so so excited. I mean really. I don’t know if I’ve ever been so excited about a song.

Why all the excitement?

Sofi: I don't know how to describe it but this track just feels like it's so us.

Are you more comfortable with your sound than you’ve ever been?

Tucker: I think we’re always pushing it and challenging what is our sound. This song really feels like a cool mix of a lot songs we’ve done in the past. It has a lot of elements which represent who we are.

You've finished the Dancing On The People EP. Can you talk about the writing behind it?

Sofi: We’ve been writing it for a while now. Probably about a year. It’s been inspired by the parties we’ve been throwing all around the world. We have these events called Animal Talk parties, where we dress an entire club up as a jungle and everyone wears animal masks and just goes crazy. I think the energy that we feel from those environments and our live shows has been really infectious, so we’ve made songs from that and for that. We make the music that we want to hear in those environments.

Is there an Animal Party that stood out?

Tucker: One of the craziest ones was in New York at Output because a couple of weeks later that venue closed. It was such a legendary club so to be fill that place out for an Animal Talk party was amazing.

You're coming to Vicar Street in Dublin this November. Have you had memorable nights in Ireland?

Sofi: Oh my God we’ve had the best memories. Honestly the crowds in Ireland are just unparalleled.

Tucker: We played Whelan’s last time and that was one of the best shows we've ever had. Every single song was being sung by the crowd so loudly that I couldn’t hear my in-ears. It was the best feeling. So much fun. I love that place.

Sofi: There was a lot of Brazilians there as well. A lot of our music is in Portuguese and I didn’t realise there was such a massive community there.

You've never been afraid to support organisations like Planned Parenthood or activist groups like March For Our Lives. Do you ever worry about the backlash of being political as well as musical?

Tucker: We don’t feel that much backlash. We usually stand for things that are – for us – pretty common sense. Women’s rights and gay right and mental health. I think you’re an idiot if you don’t support that.

Sofi: I think for the most part, people understand that we’re just people and we have opinions.

Tucker: We just want everyone to be themselves and be happy and live a life that inspires other people.

You’re not constantly scrolling through Twitter looking at the hate then?

Sofi: I’ve done it before with people who are trying to engage with us, but I don’t use Twitter that much. It’s not our favourite medium. But I don’t know – I actually feel like there’s a lot of positivity on the internet. It's allowed us to have a lot of really great interactions with like-minded people all around the world.

You’ve worked with the Trevor Project, a non-profit suicide prevention organisation which helps LGBT+ youth. What advice would you give to people struggling with their mental health?

Sofi: I think the biggest thing is that everyone goes through some form of challenge with mental health, and it’s so ubiquitous that there’s really no shame in it. I think we need to get past the stigma of mental health and acknowledge that everyone goes through it and there’s nothing to be ashamed.

Was there a personal reason why that project was so close to you?

Sofi: I’m not going to get into too much detail, but mental health and struggling with mental health is something that is really close to home for both of us in our personal lives and the people we love.

Tucker: Our close friends and family. It’s something that we’ve been affected by, and I think most people – whether its them or their family or close friends – are directly affected by it. So it’s something that’s important to us. It’s really nice that we can support The Trevor Project while also still doing something we love.

Dancing on the People is out now. Listen to it in full here.