London, 2026

 

Frame 1 is SOPE’s debut EP, released in early 2026. Composed of four songs — each powerful in its own right — the EP offers a first glimpse into the musical personality of the duo. Behind the four letters of SOPE are Alastair Shaw and Niall Selman. Based in Manchester, the pair craft music that feels singular in its approach, exploring creativity through unusual production techniques and a determinedly DIY mindset. Their process allows sounds to emerge through experimentation and trial and error rather than strict textbook formulas.

 

Written, recorded and produced entirely in Manchester, Frame 1 is a striking example of how creativity can flourish within the limits of available means. Its production blends traditional studio techniques with inventive homemade approaches. One such example is the use of voice sampling to create dense layers of sound — textures that at times resemble string sections, and at others drift into something more synthetic and atmospheric.

In only four songs, SOPE manages to deliver a bold and coherent artistic statement. The music feels both grounded and cinematic, honest yet adventurous, intimate while still reaching toward something larger. The production often balances restraint with bursts of intensity, giving the EP a sense of quiet ambition.

Opening the EP, “REAL LOVE” immediately establishes the emotional landscape of the record. A sense of melancholy and nostalgia runs through the song, yet it is balanced by a quiet feeling of hope. It also introduces the variety of textures that will define the EP as a whole. Acoustic and electric elements sit side by side, never competing but instead complementing each other in a carefully balanced production.

“ATCOTT” moves in a different direction. Built around a waltz-like guitar pattern, the song slowly grows in scale as electronic flashes and layered sound textures begin to emerge. Voices appear in unison, sometimes left raw and natural, at other times subtly treated through electronic processing. The contrast between organic and processed elements gives the piece a constantly shifting character.

“As Above / So Below” feels almost like a modern folk anthem. Centred around the idea of duality, the song moves between shadow and light, both musically and lyrically. Structurally it plays with expectations: the chorus opens the song each time it returns, before gradually giving way to more grounded musical themes. The effect is one of gentle tension — a constant balancing act between clarity and mystery.

The author’s personal favourite, “IDWD”, reveals the emotional core of the songwriting. It is a song that feels deeply personal while unfolding within a production that gradually builds an understated epic atmosphere. Longing string-like textures and anxious percussive crescendos intertwine with pulsating synths and bright guitar lines, creating a sense of tension and release that carries the song forward.

 

In the duo’s own words, Frame 1 is a short collection of songs exploring love, reflection and those fleeting moments that hover at the edge of perception. The title itself refers to a single frame — the breath before movement, the quiet pause before a scene unfolds. Across its four songs, the EP gradually moves from lighter emotional spaces toward darker and more introspective territories.What is perhaps most striking about Frame 1 is how much ground it manages to cover in such a concise format. Within just four songs, SOPE manages to pack an impressive range of ideas, sounds and moods. Rather than feeling like a simple introduction, the EP already carries the sense of a fully formed artistic identity — one that values experimentation as much as emotion. If Frame 1 is indeed only the first frame of the story, it suggests that the scenes that follow could prove even more intriguing.