Mother Soki Brings Back Dreamy 90s Synth in Her 2025 ‘Fantasy’ EP and New Single
Mother Soki via Instagram
My first exposure to Mother Soki was a couple of months ago when Ethel Cain posted a screenshot of Soki’s single “Honey, I’m–” with the caption “Wow.” As a fan of Cain and trusting her taste, I knew I had to listen. I was immediately pulled in when I streamed Soki’s Fantasy EP.
In the black and white EP cover, Soki is a bride sitting by herself inside a church, foreshadowing the EP’s moody vibe. It opens with “Joneses,” a mellow, dark song with a trip-hop beat. In the song, Soki mentions a lover, which can be who she’s talking directly to when she begs them to "impale" her. The bleak command contrasts her last words towards the ending of the song such as “God, I thought I’d kill you.” She seems dissatisfied as she asks her lover “Do you even know me?”
“Sliver” is the catchy second track, featuring gated reverb drums over a dreamy tune. The repetitive chorus “I hope I fill you up” suggests wanting to emotionally satisfy someone whether that be romantic or not. But the music video shows Soki as a private investigator stalking an unknown man before drugging him and stuffing him into the trunk of her car. The grainy aesthetic and padded-shoulder blazer Soki wears gives the video a late 80s, early 90s feel to it.
Possibly her most famous single due to social media traction, is“Rivet Gun.” This one has more of a heavier bassline to it and a dark guitar sound. Throughout, there is a metronome, rhythmic beat and airy, harmonizing vocals. It feels dreamy, matching the Gothic vibe of the music video. In the video, Soki wears a white Victorian dress and creates a companion of her own– a ‘creature’ in a black, animal mask whom she marries. The visuals reflect the song’s themes of molding someone into something they’re not.
“CY” is my favorite track because of its 80s synth sound. The song feels like late night drives, motel rooms, and the neon lights of diners. The mischevious beat is something straight out of an 80s detective show. Soki offers a playfulness with lyrics like “pardon my humor/it’s not like the others and not for myself.” There is noticeably a theme about “changing yourself”-- whether that be for better or worse– which can be what the title ‘CY’ means.
The last track on the EP is titled “Bygones,” an ambient pop song with relationship themes. This song circles back to “Joneses” with the similar lyric “I feel like you don’t know me.” “Am I hard to love or crazy?” Soki asks, alluding to an incompatibility in a relationship. She admits that “Letting go feels like forgiveness, it's blind,” my favorite lyric– and a nod to the title. There is something about this song that feels like the equivalent of tossing and turning late at night in bed. “Bygones” closes with “If my hands are washed, then why do I feel unclean?” leaving the listener to reflect on the lingering feelings of guilt after trying to ‘wash’ away their actions.
At the beginning of this month, Soki was featured in RIP Swirl’s new single titled “Be My.” The unfinished sentence is similar to Soki’s single “Honey, I’m–.” Although the song is under RIP Swirl’s name, Soki is the only vocalist, using her familiar airy, melodic vocals and ambient instrumentals, except this time lacking her usual 90s synth sound. There is a heavy sadness to the song with lyrics like “Do you hear me now?/Do you hear my cry?/Do you hear my heart?” She begs “Be my” over and over, suggesting a romantic request waiting to be fulfilled, whatever it may be.
