Your Ride or Die
Originally from just outside Chicago, Vicky Sometani later spent time in the Bay Area and Brooklyn before eventually settling in East London about a decade ago. Since arriving in London, she’s quietly carved out a place within its intimate acoustic circuit — playing more than 60 shows, collaborating internationally with Sofar Sounds, and picking up a few early moments of local attention along the way.
Her latest single “Black & Blue” has been on repeat in our office. It’s a beautiful song, carried by a vocal delivery that really lands, and a sense of restraint that makes it hit even harder. There’s a softness to it, but it never feels fragile.
Her debut release landed in the iTunes Singer/Songwriter charts and picked up support from BBC Introducing London and Soho Radio. The project highlighted her understated, jazz-leaning folk — intricate guitar work and direct, unguarded lyricism delivered with a quiet kind of precision. For Sometani, songwriting has always been both expression and something closer to grounding — a way to steady herself and turn inward.
More recently, a creative partnership with Bristol-based artist MAX RAD has opened a new chapter. What started as a remote collaboration in early 2023 quickly grew into an ongoing co-writing relationship, pushing her sound into new territory with touches of electronic, funk, and soul. Their single “Known By You” went on to earn BBC Introducing Track of the Week.
At the center of it all is a strong sense of intuition — about her collaborators, her direction, and the kind of impact she hopes to make over time. We caught up with Vicky for the latest installment of our series Nice To Meet You to talk about vulnerability, collaboration, building an audience, and the slow work of building something that lasts.
Thanks so much for taking the time. To kick things off, where are you originally from, and where are you based now?
I am originally from the US. I grew up outside of Chicago, lived in the Bay Area, CA, and Brooklyn, NY, before moving to East London 10 years ago.
Does the energy, pace, or even the politics of London consciously or subconsciously make their way into your songwriting?
Who was the first person who got you into music?
There was always music in my house. My siblings and I grew up singing and harmonising together. My mom had a guitar and wrote songs — I think she passed that to me.
Is Northern Soul music something you would say is an inspiration?
I grew up in the US, so I’d say American soul and Motown had a much bigger impact on me. I’m probably missing so many, but Etta James, Bill Withers, James Brown, Marvin Gaye, and Whitney Houston were some of my favourites. I also grew up listening to a lot of country, indie, and indie folk like The Strokes, The Shins, Iron & Wine, Feist, and Sufjan Stevens. Later, I got more into dance music, house, disco, etc., so I think all these genres sort of blend into the melodies that come out of me naturally and the grooves I gravitate toward.
What was the process that led you to writing your first song?
I still remember writing my first song. I was 10 years old, and I went to my bedroom to be alone and it just came to me. I ended up singing it quite a lot with the church band. I think songwriting came from me being overstimulated and unconsciously needing to process and regulate myself. I always feel calm and like myself again after writing a song.
Do you remember the first time you put your music into the world? What did that vulnerability feel like?
The vulnerability was almost too much to bear! I felt exposed and naked. I think the first time you do anything can be really scary. I was in a much more stressed state of being at the time — everything felt more life and death. Now it feels like just another day, another step in the process. It feels exciting and fun, and not the end of the world if it goes one way or another.
Was there a specific artist, album, or moment that made you realize you wanted to pursue music?
When I was in high school, I discovered Lauryn Hill’s MTV Unplugged album, which got me through some dark times. It was around that time I started writing songs on the guitar, and I think she had an influence on my songwriting. I don’t think my singing style is similar to hers at all, but I think I learned a lot of vocal control from her.
What’s an album or song that still reminds you why you do this?
“Masterpiece” by Sault is probably my all-time favourite song. Cleo Sol speaks to my soul, and the production across her music projects is my neurodivergent hyper-focus stim like nothing else. Her music is healing, and I would love to make music that has a fraction of the impact her work has had on me.
I want to make a positive impact in the world, through my art and through my story. I am a strong believer in energy with love being the highest frequency we can share and emit.
What’s something about your journey so far that feels quietly meaningful to you?
Finding my team! Finding the right producer who wants to grow with me and develop my sound and is not only so incredibly talented, but is able to bring the best out in me is a dream come true. Having the right team who are so aligned on taste and priorities and vision makes the path forward so much clearer. I’m way less concerned about the small things because my foundation is solid. I would add that getting to know myself better and what is important to me has deepened my intuition and is at the core of everything I do. Both things took me a long time to find and develop and, to me, feel like the most important part. That’s the goal and the journey right there, everything else is a bonus.
Where did you meet Max Rad, and how long have you been working with him?
Max reached out to me at the beginning of 2023 after hearing my voice on a previous collaboration. He sent me an instrumental and I sent him back a topline. At the time I had just gone through a rough breakup and wanted to get back into making music after taking a pause from it. I had a good feeling about Max and it seemed like we had really similar music tastes so I asked him if I could come to Bristol and do some co-writing in person, something I had done only a handful of times before. From that first session we hit it off and have been writing together ever since.
Your Instagram has been blowing up — well deserved! Have other musicians or artists been reaching out?
Yes! I’ve been receiving messages from musicians and all kinds of people across the board. It’s been incredible receiving so much support and lots of people saying they relate or are inspired by me, which makes me feel like I am living in my purpose.
What feels most challenging about where you are right now — and what are you working toward on the other side of it?
The thing that no one, no label or manager or artist can tell you how to do is how to build an audience. Breaking through on social media, on streaming platforms, and in the wider world, it’s a step-by-step process and takes time, and the path for every artist is different, but I feel good about the progress I am making. I want to make a positive impact in the world, through my art and through my story. I am a strong believer in energy with love being the highest frequency we can share and emit. I am working towards that; sharing love and light into the world on however small or large a scale possible.
What’s the biggest goal you have for your music at this moment?
Right now my goal is to build my mailing list/gig waitlist. I don’t know how much longer these social media apps will be around, or rather how much longer people will want to use them. The algorithms are always changing and it’s the same for streaming platforms. My goal is to build my own list where I can message people directly about shows, new music, and merch. I would love to sell some vinyl!
Can you share one of your lyrics that sums up your state of mind right now or feels representative of you?
“Leave love to find its way, lead me to love”
Follow Vicky Sometani on IG at @vsometani
