Truth Of The Matter

Album: Cult Survivor (2020)
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • Cult Survivor is the debut solo album from Sofie, the DJ/musician who got her start interning at the indie label Stones Throw Records and becoming a talent scout before forging her own recording career. "Truth Of The Matter" is a retro-styled contemplation of a changing relationship.

    Sofie, who sang a stripped-down version of the song for the Songfacts Podcast in 2021, explained that the meaning has changed over time. She said: "'Truth Of The Matter' was a song about a friendship / relationship, but as it's grown as time has passed since I wrote the song, I've found it uncanny as to how many instances it can pertain to. We can break it down... 'Truth of the matter is it didn't always used to be like this,' which is so applicable to so many life scenarios because nothing ever stays the same. Then it's also about how people's interactions with you will inevitably shift over time. Situations change, circumstances change, and as a result, interaction is also going to be very transitory, so that's really what that song is all about."
  • Rinngo Archeta, aka Mndsgn, released a cover of this in October 2020. He and Sofie are good friends who previously collaborated on "Abeja" for Sofie's 2016 compilation, Sofie's SOS Tape. He explained why he chose to cover the tune: "'Truth Of The Matter' is one of my favorite songs on the Cult Survivor. It sounds like a theme song for a classic TV show. The melodies and harmonies were stuck in my head after the first time I saw a video of Sofie playing the tune with a band back when it was just a demo. The song and its feeling is somewhat of a contrast from what I've been listening to, so it was a breath of fresh air to step outside of my comfort zone vocally. Shout-out to Sofie for writing a classic number and also for showing me the chords over Facetime!"
  • The music video, directed by Ross Harris, opens with Sofie hanging out with a group of dogs and follows her adventures with Gary Wilson, an experimental musician known for his 1977 album, You Think You Really Know Me. Harris explained the concept: "It's a lost love story between Gary Wilson and Sofie. I wanted it to look like Wim Wenders made a karaoke video. I knew Sofie is a huge Gary Wilson fan and I've known Gary since the late '90s or so. We picked Gary up from the train station in my Lamborghini and just made up everything on the spot. It was Peanut Butter Wolf's idea to shoot the opening at the doghouse and I really love that set up. The video is dedicated to Diego the chihuahua as he sadly passed a few months after we shot the video."

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Adam Young of Owl City

Adam Young of Owl CitySongwriter Interviews

Is Owl City on a quest for another hit like "Fireflies?" Adam answers that question and explains the influences behind many others.

James Bond Theme Songs

James Bond Theme SongsMusic Quiz

How well do you know the 007 theme songs?

Graham Nash

Graham NashSongwriter Interviews

Graham Nash tells the stories behind some of his famous songs and photos, and is asked about "yacht rock" for the first time.

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy Talent

Ben Kowalewicz of Billy TalentSongwriter Interviews

The frontman for one of Canada's most well-known punk rock bands talks about his Eddie Vedder encounter, Billy Talent's new album, and the importance of rock and roll.

Emilio Castillo from Tower of Power

Emilio Castillo from Tower of PowerSongwriter Interviews

Emilio talks about what it's like to write and perform with the Tower of Power horns, and why every struggling band should have a friend like Huey Lewis.

Angelo Moore of Fishbone

Angelo Moore of FishboneSongwriter Interviews

Fishbone has always enjoyed much more acclaim than popularity - Angelo might know why.