Sophie Powers is having a busy month. As a new member of the virtual girl group K/DA, the hyperpop artist performs several new songs as the voice of the League of Legends character Evelynn, and that’s just the start. From performing at bbno$’s “The Internet for Palestine” benefit concert to releasing a new song called “dirty white tee,” her next few weeks are looking pretty packed.
On the heels of the new K/DA EP FIRESTARTER, Powers also has more K/DA on her plate, including an upcoming showcase at the League of Legends World Championship on November 14. In the midst of it all, Powers sat down with ScreenRant to talk taking on the role of Evelynn, collaborating with K-pop icons, and the best hot chocolate to get in LA.
Becoming KD/A’s New Voice Of Evelynn
As it turns out, the road to becoming a member of K/DA had a few curves along the way. At the start of our conversation, Powers walked us through. She wrote some songs for Riot Games that never got used, but a Jinx cosplay at TwitchCon and a viral freestyle in a Crash Adams video drew Riot’s attention once more.
They saw the Jinx cosplay, and they hit up my manager, Evan, and they were like, oh, like, this is so cool, whatever. Kind of left it at that. And then a couple months later, I got a text from Evan being like, oh, would you ever consider writing some stuff for K/DA? Because I’d written for Riot, but it was like, Valorant, I think, or their other games, not K/DA.
So I said, yeah, for sure. I did a bunch of writing — again, none of which they took — but then they were like, well, we’re actually in search of a singer for Evelynn. And, you know, you kind of already have like a large presence in Asia, and you’re so a part of the community, because I guess Asia is one of their key markets. And they saw my Jinx cosplay. I’ve cosplayed Jinx a couple times now. But they’re like, we saw you at the Grammys’ event with Arcane as well. We’d love to audition you. And then I did a lot of that, because they have to make sure that all of our voices mesh, right? All the girls. And then it did, thankfully, and here we are.
They saw the Jinx cosplay, and they hit up my manager, Evan, and they were like, oh, like, this is so cool, whatever. Kind of left it at that. And then a couple months later, I got a text from Evan being like, oh, would you ever consider writing some stuff for K/DA? Because I’d written for Riot, but it was like, Valorant, I think, or their other games, not K/DA.
So I said, yeah, for sure. I did a bunch of writing — again, none of which they took — but then they were like, well, we’re actually in search of a singer for Evelynn. And, you know, you kind of already have like a large presence in Asia, and you’re so a part of the community, because I guess Asia is one of their key markets. And they saw my Jinx cosplay. I’ve cosplayed Jinx a couple times now. But they’re like, we saw you at the Grammys’ event with Arcane as well. We’d love to audition you. And then I did a lot of that, because they have to make sure that all of our voices mesh, right? All the girls. And then it did, thankfully, and here we are.
With her solo music, Powers is in charge of the creative direction. With K/DA, quite a few more people are involved. Luckily, the complex network of production behind the League of Legends release does come with some upsides. Powers was able to “focus on the music” and “steering a ship creatively,” letting her “show up as Evelynn” without having to worry about budgets or timelines in the same way.
Powers isn’t the first to step into the role of Evelynn, and the character has become particularly associated with Madison Beer, who provided her singing voice in K/DA’s debut single “POP/STARS” and later tracks. While Beer’s attention-stealing parts could be a challenge to follow, Powers didn’t attempt to simply emulate what had come before.
I was honestly wanting to take the character in a new space because there’s no way I could outdo Madison, even if I tried. So I’m like, okay, I’m just going to have to try something completely new because she did such a good job as Evelynn. And I really decided to take Evelynn and her femininity and her dark energy and just really embody that to the best of my abilities and show up. Like, show up. Full face of makeup, full outfit, full nails, everything in the studio. I never do that for my own songs. I, like, only do that when I perform live, but I had to show up for my girl.
<p>So, yeah, there was pressure, but it wasn't too bad because of the fact that I was changing directions.</p> </blockquote>I was honestly wanting to take the character in a new space because there’s no way I could outdo Madison, even if I tried. So I’m like, okay, I’m just going to have to try something completely new because she did such a good job as Evelynn. And I really decided to take Evelynn and her femininity and her dark energy and just really embody that to the best of my abilities and show up. Like, show up. Full face of makeup, full outfit, full nails, everything in the studio. I never do that for my own songs. I, like, only do that when I perform live, but I had to show up for my girl.
So, yeah, there was pressure, but it wasn’t too bad because of the fact that I was changing directions.
That hasn’t protected her from criticism, though. There’s been plenty of excitement about the new K/DA music, but some fans are particularly loyal to Beer’s take on Evelynn.
I feel like the response at first was super negative, and it’s kind of shifted since people have gotten the chance to listen to the songs, and not only my voice, but also Mimi and Soyeon and Miyeon and how we’re all meshing together as a group.
<p>But I get it. If I was attached, if I was a fan — and I was a fan of K/DA, like, I still am, but even before I was a part of it. If I was attached to someone as a character, it's hard to just let that go. Right?</p> <p>So I'm pretty realistic about it, and I think understanding that, but also being such a fan of League and cosplaying and all my friends being streamers, it made it much easier for me to focus on the love.</p> </blockquote>I feel like the response at first was super negative, and it’s kind of shifted since people have gotten the chance to listen to the songs, and not only my voice, but also Mimi and Soyeon and Miyeon and how we’re all meshing together as a group.
But I get it. If I was attached, if I was a fan — and I was a fan of K/DA, like, I still am, but even before I was a part of it. If I was attached to someone as a character, it’s hard to just let that go. Right?
So I’m pretty realistic about it, and I think understanding that, but also being such a fan of League and cosplaying and all my friends being streamers, it made it much easier for me to focus on the love.
Powers did reach out to Beer, who, she says wryly, “ghosted” her. She was, however, able to get some tips from Lexie Liu, who portrayed Seraphine on the K/DA single “More.” Powers and Liu previously collaborated on the track “klepto,” and Powers responds enthusiastically to the idea of reuniting with Liu on a future K/DA track, saying she’ll “ask Riot” about the possibility.
Evelynn Is Here To Slay
The Powers version of Evelynn really comes through on “WATCH ME” and “GIRLS,” two tracks on the EP where she gets a big spotlight. Her fans — or fans of newer pop sounds in general — will likely recognize how much her “inner diva” comes through here.
I don’t want to air anyone out, but you get told as a young female artist so often by producers, which, let’s be real, 99% of the time are men, that you don’t sound good doing this, or you can’t do this, or people don’t want to hear this. But the people consuming K/DA or my music are relatively not that far in age from me. And if they are, they probably like the same type of things that I do. They’re consumers of K-pop. They’re consumers of comics and anime and cosplaying and fashion.
Enjoying this article? Support our work with a small crypto donation.<p>I just really trusted my own vision here, and I didn't listen to the producer, whatever they were saying. I just did my thing. And seeing people actually like that, I really needed.</p> </blockquote>I don’t want to air anyone out, but you get told as a young female artist so often by producers, which, let’s be real, 99% of the time are men, that you don’t sound good doing this, or you can’t do this, or people don’t want to hear this. But the people consuming K/DA or my music are relatively not that far in age from me. And if they are, they probably like the same type of things that I do. They’re consumers of K-pop. They’re consumers of comics and anime and cosplaying and fashion.
I just really trusted my own vision here, and I didn’t listen to the producer, whatever they were saying. I just did my thing. And seeing people actually like that, I really needed.
The music video for “GIRLS” is set to hit Spotify on November 3 and other platforms on November 5, a fact that comes as a surprise for Powers at the time of the interview. Luckily, she’s still able to tell us a little bit about it.
I was just matching Evelynn’s walk in the video. That’s really all I can say is that girl wears some stilettos and she struts. And they had me in eight-inch heels and I don’t wear heels like, ever. So all I can say is don’t roast me on the Internet if you see videos of me falling in heels. But Evelynn’s about to slay and all the girls are about to show up.
</blockquote>I was just matching Evelynn’s walk in the video. That’s really all I can say is that girl wears some stilettos and she struts. And they had me in eight-inch heels and I don’t wear heels like, ever. So all I can say is don’t roast me on the Internet if you see videos of me falling in heels. But Evelynn’s about to slay and all the girls are about to show up.
If it’s not apparent enough already, Powers was a fan of Evelynn before stepping into the character. “If I were to play any character in any of the Riot groups, I would have chosen Evelynn or Jinx.” She’s also into the character’s new look for FIRESTARTER, flourishing her themed nails and promising a cosplay.
At League of Legends Worlds, Powers will be performing alongside some very polished dancers, with Miyeon and Soyeon (the voices of Akali and Ahri) having plenty of experience as members of the K-pop group I-dle. “Don’t remind me,” she groans, disclaiming that her personal experience in musical theater is “very different, obviously, than a professional trained dancer.” All the same, she’s looking forward to the collaboration, laughing as she announces her intent to “bring her presence and aura farm her way to the top.”
This isn’t Powers’s first time collaborating with K-pop idols, as she’s previously written songs for the girl groups IVE and Nmixx and performed on a remix of Illit’s “jellyous.” She’d also love to work with Yves, Bibi, and Jeon Somi, all soloists with unique sounds. As for her group wishlist, there’s Stray Kids, Cortis, and LE SSERAFIM, the latter of which has made its own video game splash through repeated collaborations with Overwatch.
Sophie Powers Has A Lot More On The Horizon
Powers already has plenty to focus on. At the moment, she’s running off of hot chocolate, and she shouts out Tim Horton’s and the LA establishment Joan’s on Third as good options (for the latter, Powers recommends whole milk or almond milk and no whipped cream). There’s a light at the end of the tunnel, though.
Once it’s all over, it’ll be the most rewarding thing, and I’ll be able to rest and be proud of myself. That’s what I’m looking forward to, I think, more so right now. But I want to do a good job for all of it, you know, so it’s just a lot of pressure. But I’m excited.
</blockquote>Once it’s all over, it’ll be the most rewarding thing, and I’ll be able to rest and be proud of myself. That’s what I’m looking forward to, I think, more so right now. But I want to do a good job for all of it, you know, so it’s just a lot of pressure. But I’m excited.
That doesn’t mean she’s slowing down, though. Her latest side quests include designing a new clothing collection, creative directing for another artist, and even — the “crazy tea” — a mysterious one that might take her to another country for six months.
K/DA, on the other hand, earns the special designation of a “life quest,” and it’s one that will give her some ammo to take back into her projects as Sophie Powers. As she prepares to rush to the studio after the interview, she says it’s empowered her.
I want to embrace my own instincts more. I think I trusted them so much throughout this project, this EP, and I didn’t do that before, and I really, really pushed myself to just lean into those instincts. And I’m actually going back in on some of my songs now, and I’m like, no, I know you guys want it this way, but I want to hear it this way. And not that it’s my way or the highway, but just that self-trust.
</blockquote>I want to embrace my own instincts more. I think I trusted them so much throughout this project, this EP, and I didn’t do that before, and I really, really pushed myself to just lean into those instincts. And I’m actually going back in on some of my songs now, and I’m like, no, I know you guys want it this way, but I want to hear it this way. And not that it’s my way or the highway, but just that self-trust.
Fans who want a taste of that self-trust should have the chance to see it in action at League of Legends Worlds on November 14. If there’s any one lesson to take away from portraying Evelynn, that seems like a good one.
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