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‘Runnin In Circles’ – How Coldplay started and shaped Sophian

October 5, 2023

Boorloo/Perth-based indie-rock band Sophian have returned with their latest single Beautiful Day. Frontman Sophian Manik tells us about how Coldplay helped shape the band:

I grew up on a tiny little island in the Maldives called Malé. Growing up I had so many things I loved doing, from surfing, fishing, going island hopping and exploring what the ocean had to offer! More than anything though, I loved music. I had 7 older siblings growing up, so I got to experience a wide array of different music genres! Out of it all though, what I grew most attached to was a band called Coldplay. My sisters would listen to them on repeat and there was something about their songs that just made me want to go and explore music myself. So, when I was about 7 or 8 years old, I pestered my older sister to let me play the guitar and teach me a chord or two.

I spent hours every single day from then, either asking my siblings or their muso friends who would come over, to teach me more. The internet wasn’t big back then in the Maldives, so I really had to rely on the older people around me who had more exposure and knew what they were doing. But I’d listen to my sister’s Coldplay CDs and practice playing the guitar and singing along every single day for years to come. I knew from an early age that I wanted to be a musician and play music around the world but at the time as a young teenager on a small island, I didn’t think it would be possible.

How am I, as this young little teenager on a small island, going to be a successful artist?

This thought kind of let music fall on the wayside for me while growing up. I still practiced in my bedroom and at home every single day, but I never pursued anything with it.

Fast forward a few years and I ended up moving to Perth, Western Australia! Once I got here, I started to explore the music scene here and realized how incredible it was. I knew I had to try and do something, but I was so scared and nervous, where do I even start? I didn’t know anyone in the industry! Then came a time, where Coldplay was coming to Australia. Of course, they weren’t coming to Perth though. I knew I had to see them. It was probably my biggest bucket list item at the time. I had a few friends from back home who wanted to see them too, so we started planning on getting to Melbourne to see them. I was a broke Tafe student at the time too, but I knew I had to make it work. I remember spending about $500 on a resale ticket and realizing I was going to be eating peanuts for the next month because I had spent my allowance already. I was committed though. It was the best decision of my life. As I was standing there, a mere few meters away from Chris Martin I realized I had put my life’s calling aside and that I 100% needed to go pursue music. It was truly one of the most remarkable nights of my life.

Once I got back to Perth, I knew I had to figure out what to do. I started figuring out ways of starting and did my very first open mic at a venue called Mojos in Fremantle (WA). This is how it all started. A few years later and a music project I had spent some time on. My now drummer Tyler, guitarist Finn and I started the project ‘Sophian’. Not long after Julia joined, followed by Michael. We formed in early 2022 and since then have been working on releasing music and working towards touring around Australia and the world! I finally got my dream together. I’m playing music with my best friends and working towards making a life doing so. Coldplay guided me and shaped me for today. I am forever grateful for that. I have to give my parents and siblings a big shout out too. I wouldn’t be here if it wasn’t for them.