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Rising avant-pop force Sophie Powers is back and bolder than ever with her latest single, "move with me." Marking the dawn of a new era, the 20-year-old artist sheds the bubblegum neon aesthetic that defined her earlier work, stepping into a darker, rawer, and more nihilistic vision that embraces chaos rather than sugarcoating it. 

A sonic adrenaline rush, "move with me" surges with pulsating synths, futuristic pop melodies, and Powers' signature rebellious spirit. The track captures the struggle of balancing ambition with intimacy in a world that never slows down. It's about finding someone who doesn't hold you back but matches your momentum.

OnesToWatch had the chance to talk with Powers about the next chapter of her artistic journey, her ventures outside of music, and her viral American Idol audition.

OnesToWatch: I want to discuss this new chapter of your music, which starts with "move with me." It's been described as you stepping away from this neon and very Y2K persona and moving into a darker and more introspective one. However, as experimental as it is, it's still very Sophie Powers. What inspired that, and how has that transition been for you, going from the artist we all know into this evolution?

Sophie Powers: That's a great question. With "move with me," it's in the title, moving on from one era to the next. People can expect a raw approach to my songwriting and the visuals, in that there has been a lot of change in my life, so there will be a lot of change in them. That's such an open-ended question because there's so much changing, and I'm trying to think what I can give away and what I can't. I will say, though, that "move with me" is only the beginning, and it's to test the waters and slowly dip my toes in. It's going to get way darker than even this. I'm not going to goth, but in a more Mad Max direction. That's a good representation of where we're going in the world and my music.

What inspired this change for you? When did you start to think, "I think it's time for me to try something else?"

I went through a lot of life transitions: I was dropped from my label, fired my management, got new management, had a serious boyfriend for the first time ever, and moved houses, all in the span of two months. 

That's a lot of change.

Yeah, so I spoke to my management, thinking, "This is crazy." I'd been in the same place for two years until that point, with the music releases, my relationship, my house, everything. Life imitates art, so it made the most sense for my art to change alongside these big life changes. That's kind of what also motivated me to keep things interesting for the fans and get out of an EP roll out that I'd been in and plan to be in for about four years because I was going to do a part A and a part B EP but you know, things happen, teams change and that's life.

How do you manage navigating that very stressful and frustrating time? 

Just the music itself and making it. I'm so excited for these next few releases, focusing on my art and craft and pouring my heart and soul into that alongside some amazing people, especially Mike Gonick and Cam Hunter. I do all my songs with these two Canadian dudes; Mike's like a fake Canadian, but he lived in Canada for ten years, so he's honorary. We have been doing everything together since I was 15, I mean, obviously, I'll bring in other writers with them, but that's family, and even if we are working, it doesn't feel like work. So really focusing on that got me through everything, so I'm even more excited than I would have been for the fans to hear these next songs.

Have your inspirations changed in this new chapter, or are they still the same? I know you have always pulled a lot of inspiration from anime, pop culture, or nostalgia. Do you feel like you are still pulling from those things, or do you feel like it's still that, but like other things you've discovered?

I'm still drawing from the same sources, but I've also added new ones to combat the new era.

Like Mad Max?

Yeah, Mad Max, Dune, Tomb Raider. I've gotten really into 2008 video games, which are still nostalgic, but before, it would have been 2008 3DS games, and it's just Resident Evil.

I saw the press photo for "move with me," and I definitely got quasi-first Resident Evil movie vibes when Milla Jovovich wakes up in that red slip in this dilapidated mansion.

I haven't seen the first movie, actually. I watched everything and played the games, but not in order, and then I'll know what happens because I'm too lazy.

It's ok; everybody has their own path. I watched and played Persona 4 before playng any of the other Personas.

I've been reading the Persona manga, actually. It's literally on my nightstand right next to me; I just finished it.

Wonderful! I hope you like the next one. So let's transition into talking specifically about "move with me" because this will be your reintroduction into this next chapter. You mentioned that it's about moving on and ushering fans to move on with you into this new era. What inspired the single? 

I heard the song without vocals, and Mike created the beat for an Apple commercial. They took it, and I was like, "No, no, no, they can't take that," and he said, "I've already been paid," and I said, "Figure it out. We need to use this; it's really good," and so he figured it out and now it's in an Apple commercial and we wrote a whole song over it afterwards. It's a very undercover love song, which is why there's a reference to a bed in a music video. It's because you're under the covers with someone, but it's also a secret love song. It's not blatantly saying, "I love you," or proclaiming anything to anyone. It's more self-centered, and I've taken a lot of time to focus on myself in this next era. Still, there are also new people in my life, like my new boyfriend or new collaborators, new management, new release situation, and so many amazing people with whom I am now very close. However, I am still growing as an artist and person, so moving from one to the next was the most appropriate thing. I'm not a teenager anymore, I just turned 20.

Happy Birthday! You did it!

Yes! [laughter] Thank you!

So, talking about all this growth that you've undergone, what are some things you've learned about what kind of people you want to have in your corner as you've evolved and grown?

I want people who are equally as neurotic as I am, willing to basically bypass the 9-to-5. I'm not asking anyone to be my slave, and I'm not asking anyone to pull those extra hours for me. I don't want to stress over communicating with someone because I'm more worried about their time than what needs to be communicated. Honestly, I don't expect a response right away ever, and I've started scheduling my text now — best invention ever from Apple — and I want people who are down to help build my artist project from the ground up. I mean, I am a newer, upcoming artist figuring things out, and it won't happen overnight. We often see people blowing up super young, but it takes 10 years to become an overnight success; at least, that's what I believe. Look at Chappell Roan and Charli xcx; even Sabrina [Carpenter] has been around for about 10 years, and now she's just blowing up. I want someone who's down to put in their reps with me.

Excellent! Do you have a favorite part of the single that, whenever it comes on, you're like, "Ooo, this is my favorite part, I can't wait for people to hear this"? I love strong drops that come right before a hook. What about you? Anything that stands out to you from "move with me?"

It's definitely the bridge drop because there are no vocals other than some ad-libs, but it's so cinematic, and I live for the drama.

As you should! So, really quickly, I want to talk about your outside endeavors. Ever since I have known and met you, you have been such an advocate for your skill set as a fashion designer, creating your own stage outfits and fits, and showing them on Insta and TikTok. Now you have this amazing collab, and it's so you, I love it so much. How does it feel now that you have your designs and this collaboration is now available to the masses and has sold out?

It's been pretty crazy. That was a year's worth of just going back and forth on the designs and a year and a half of communication and seeing if it could happen. Vince at Gloomy Bear saw my designs online and thought it would be a great fit for Gloomy Bear's and AC/DC Rags brands. It's definitely in line with my old aesthetic, the glitch aesthetic, and it was a nice way for me to cap that era and finish strong. I went to Japan for two weeks in March for the release of the collection. I loved it, and I hope everyone online loves it. I don't have as much control as I'm used to, so it's been a learning experience, but I love collaborating, and everyone on the Gloomy Bear and AC/DC Rags team has been so kind and talented.

What would you call this new chapter of your music if you could come up with a name for the line?

Probably Dirt. I don't want to say the name of the project yet, but it'll make sense. I think I just want to hone in on the music first and take a step back from fashion. I'll always be a fashion girl with a passion for fashion, but I really, really want to focus on growing as an artist this year. If opportunities arise that are amazing in fashion, but it's a full-time job, I'll take them.

What are some goals you would like to achieve by the end of the year?

I want to have at least five songs that I put out from now until fall that I'm proud of and that people resonate with. If I don't have those five songs people resonate with, I'll keep releasing until I hit five. Maybe I'll have to release eight songs to get those five that really click. I feel more connected to my fans now than ever; I get to showcase my personality and ability as an artist in this new era because I have much more creative control. I'm just really excited to push myself.

Who are you ones to watch?

God, there are so many artists I think should be bigger than they are right now. Ok, one artist that I think should be bigger is Rina Sawayama, I fucking love her. I also want to include one of my friends, Lexie Liu, cause I love that girl. I would also include... I'm trying to think of guys... I want to say Peter McPoland. I think he will just be massive, and MICO will be huge too. So those are my two guys and my two girls.

Would you like to say anything to the fans or new people who just stumbled upon this interview?

I want to say create art, whether it's unserious or serious. If you saw my American Idol audition, or if I'm extremely serious and boundary-pushing, like my next music video is about to be. It doesn't matter; put it out there for no one to see, just for yourself, or if you want people to see it, it really is a form of therapy, and if you need a force or a place to lean on, or a place for therapy. If you don't want to make art yourself, my music is always there for you as a shoulder to lean on.

Wait, how did you end up on American Idol in the first place? I saw the clip and was like, "Sophie's Canadian; how did she get on this show" and I find myself singing "Dinosaurs shut the fuck up" all the time.

I said that, and they cut it out in that clip, but there's another clip where Carrie was like, "I don't know where you'd fit on the show." And I'm like, "Neither do I, I'm literally Canadian." They cast me for it and figured it'd be great to drive people to my actual music, and I couldn't win anyway. It was either I don't go on the show or I go on and not make it, but if I'm not going to make it, why do it? So I wrote a comedic song, blew it up online, got cast to the show, and now people are discovering my actual music, so that's cool!