Luvcat interview

From busking on the streets of Liverpool to bunking off school at just 14 to visit Chester’s Faktory Studios, it’s safe to say Sophie Howarth was dead set on making her mark in the music biz. Under the alias Luvcat, she shot to prominence when her debut single ‘Matador’ went viral on TikTok.

With highly anticipated shows at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sefton Park and Glastonbury on the horizon, the future looks bright for Sophie and her bandmates. We caught up with the Liverpool-born sensation to discuss her remarkable journey

Words | Tom Beattie

The rich diversity of sound and characters within the Merseyside music scene has made it the envy of regions the world over. One emerging star from this parish is the mysterious creative tour-de-force that is Sophie Howarth, who has forged her own unique path in the industry to date.

The musician’s first foray into the industry came as a busker, performing in the bustling streets of Liverpool and Chester. Naturally, this brush with the public came with its own set of challenges, including learning to deal with the tough appraisals of passers-by. Years on, Sophie allows herself to look back with fondness on this period in her life, with the cathartic and formative chapter preparing her for what has proved to be a successful journey to stardom. The singer recalls a worker in the vicinity once complaining of her playing Dolly Parton’s ‘Jolene’ several times in one day.

“I started off as a busker, I was already doing pubs and clubs but thought, well I could maybe earn a bit of extra cash and reach more faces on the street,” she remembers. “It’s not an easy job, I’ve got great admiration for anyone busking on the street – it can be hard and gruelling, especially in the winter. I’m proud that I did that as a kid.”

Armed with a musical education instilled in her by her father and grandfather, Sophie was exposed to an eclectic mix of talents from yesteryear throughout her childhood. From Frank Sinatra, Leonard Cohen, and Joni Mitchell to The Waterboys, Van Morrison, and The Cure, this diverse musical upbringing laid the foundation for her to craft her own distinctive sound.

The 27-year-old has enjoyed what can easily be described as a colourful existence to date, having first been discovered by The Verve’s Simon Jones, while playing at a wedding. The Liverpool-born bass guitarist took her under his wing, with this chance meeting proving to be a significant landmark in her rise to prominence. Sophie reveals: “He found me singing at a wedding at 14 and he’s kind of been like a father figure to me in the industry. I love him, he’s amazing. I used to bunk off school and go to his studio.”

With the help of a Paris-based friend, she eventually played arguably the most seminal show of her career in the French capital – as she took on the moniker of Luvcat for the first time. “The first show I played as Luvcat was on the River Seine, then I came back to London, where I put a band together,” she explains. “Paris has really inspired some of the songs I wrote and there’s a lot of French characters who inspired my music.” After bringing her band together in London, the power of social media brought Luvcat to a worldwide audience, with a TikTok of her performing in a pub in Kilburn having proved a viral sensation.

The song that launched her to global attention was ‘Matador’, which features the opening line: ‘Here we are again at the Kazimier Garden’, in reference to the much-loved Liverpool venue. Sophie’s Merseyside roots are never far from her thoughts, it seems. In fact, the song itself was written the day after playing at the Seel Street staple, she tells me. With a sound that evokes everyone from Kate Bush, The Velvet Underground and Tom Waits, her music combines alternative rock with a gothic, romantic edge which sets her apart from her contemporaries. It’s hardly a surprise, therefore, that Luvcat is making such an impression among fans and critics alike following her breakthrough on social media.

The Libertines, fronted by Pete Doherty and Carl Barât, are unapologetic devotees. Luvcat recently supported the indie legends on their UK tour, with Sophie later speaking of her gratitude to the band for their guidance as they traversed the length and breadth of the country. “They were sweethearts,” she says. “They were really inspiring and bought me red roses at the end of the tour. “Peter’s dogs ran on stage while I was playing, it was a real family environment. I loved it. I just love how in love they both are with music and supporting young artists, that’s really inspiring.”

Critical acclaim has since followed in the form of the Breakthrough Artist of the Year prize at Nordoff and Robbins’ Northern Music Awards. Performing a killer two-song set at the event at the Liverpool Olympia, the evening proved to be a landmark homecoming for Luvcat.

Reflecting on a milestone achievement for the band, she says: “I couldn’t be prouder. I’m so proud to be a northern artist. All the boys in my band are from the north too. It’s just the most fun. It was so great to be in a room full of friendly northerners!” With dates in the diary for Los Angeles, New York and Glastonbury, and a fan base spanning everywhere from Germany to Australia, the sky appears to be the limit for Luvcat. “It’s just amazing, playing sellout shows across the pond, with my best mates,” she admits.

As her career reaches dizzying heights, Sophie’s Liverpool roots remain dear to her, and it is clear that she is looking forward to another trip back to her beloved hometown for BBC Radio 1’s Big Weekend festival in May, which will take place at Sefton Park. With her excitement palpable, she adds: “I can’t believe it, I feel I got so lucky with the awards being in Liverpool and then the Big Weekend too… I love Sefton Park too, it’s just stunning. I’m buzzing for it and can’t wait to be back.”

After witnessing her show-stopping performance at the Olympia, I can confirm that the buzz surrounding Luvcat is well justified. Liverpool has provided a launchpad for a plethora of talents throughout the decades and there is every reason to believe that she is on her way to becoming a household name.

Luvcat will perform on the BBC Introducing Stage at Radio 1’s Big Weekend in Sefton Park on Saturday, 24 May

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