Lilith Rising
Sophia Eris reflects on her new album and creating without compromise.
By Emma Geary
For Sophia Eris, the practice of making artisn’t so much her career path but a deeply personal, daily ritual.
“I’ll never stop creating, no matter what happens,” she says.
A true Renaissance woman, Sophia Eris has been a fixture in the Minneapolis music scene for the better part of two decades. After moving to theTwin Cities in 2008, Eris started her career in radio as an intern and naturally gravitated toward working with artists, falling in love with the creative process of making music.
“I didn’t expect to become an artist,” she admitted, “but I wrote a lot and made songs just for myself. What really made me an artist was surrounding myself with artists who encouraged what I was doing, even if it was very low-key at the time.”
As Eris continued to develop her library of work, she deepened her connections within the local music community, including developing a lifelong relationship with a musician who would change everything: Lizzo. What began as a feature verse on Lizzo’s first hit in 2012, “Batches & Cookies,” evolved into DJing on Lizzo’s tour.
As anyone who’s ever hit the dance floor knows, DJing is an art—perfectly reading the evolving energy of the space and ushering the night into levels that can only be reached with the right beat and a personality to match. Naturally curious and musically inclined, Sophia had never DJ’d a live show before Lizzo’s tour, beyond taking over the aux cord at a party.
“I’m not going to lie,” she shares, “I don’t usually feel anxious or nervous in most forms of artistry, but I remember initially feeling anxious on stage because DJing is an art form where you can truly see your impact on a crowd in real time. I had to make a lot of mistakes in front of a lot of people to get to where I am now, but I’m really proud of how I’ve evolved.”
And yet, Eris always returned to her first love: writing and making music. In the following years, she built a career as a successful DJ, hosting GO 95.3’s morning show, recording as a solo artist, and collaborating with Prince on his track with 3RDEYEGIRL, “BOYTROUBLE.”
Today, Eris collaborates with local producer MAKR in their duo, MAKR AN ERIS. They’ve been working together since meeting in a shared studio space in Uptown in 2020. “I know I’m a reflection of my palette—the production, the energy. We’ll start with a conversation—how was your week, how was your day—and from there, something will spark. He’ll start tapping out a beat, and I’ll feed off that energy,”she says.
Today, Eris collaborates with local producer MAKR in their duo, MAKR AN ERIS.
They’ve already released two EP’s together, and this year, they’re releasing their first full-length album, LILITH.
The album’s title and theme focus on Lilith, the theological figure who was widely considered to be the woman who existed before Eve. She refused to be dominated by Adam and was therefore banished from the Garden of Eden, knowing she’d be demonized for it.
“I was raised Catholic, but I didn’t learn about Lilith until my mid-20s, and to me, this story felt like the beginning of the patriarchy. Lilith didn’t want power; she just didn’t want to be dominated. That resonated deeply.”
The album explores dismantling societal structures while reclaiming self-power. It speaks from Eris’s perspective as a Black woman, but it’s also a collection of songs written to anyone who feels powerless. The concept, like Eris, embodies layers of creativity, requiring a level of storytelling and world-building that could only be culminated from allowing herself the freedom to explore every curiosity and collaboration she’s generated over the past two decades.
“Creatively, it was a perfect framework,” she says, “It was a ‘trust the process’ album. There were many times we thought we were done, and then something would happen in the world, and we’d realize we needed to address it.”
While Sophia is gearing up for gigs and the promotion of LILITH across the country, she still considers Minnesota her creative home. “I became an artist here,” says Sophia, ”I’ve created in New York and LA, but Minneapolis gives me freedom. I feel it in my bones.”
When I asked her what advice she’d give to aspiring artists and young creatives, she said simply: “Know your ‘why’.”
“Ask yourself: Are you doing this for money, or would you do it even if no one was watching? The creatives who stand out are the ones who would do it regardless. They’re making something out of nothing. That authenticity is powerful, and it shows.”
Locally, she points to performers whose originality she admires, like XINA, whose theatrical, women-centered shows leave a lasting impression. “She’s incredible,” she says. “A singer, a performer, a pole dancer—Prince would have loved her.” She also names artists like SJ, Papa Mbye, and Mike Kota as voices who feel fearless in their expression. More broadly, she cites Dijon. “When I heard him, I was like, whoa,” she says. “You can tell he’s completely free in his creation.”
This year, LILITH adds something meaningful to the conversation, exploring authenticity, empowerment, and identity in a world only Sophia Eris could create. Follow along with Sophia Eris at @sophiaeris, and stream LILITH.
Emma Geary
Emma is Collective Magazine’s Editor-in-Chief and LAB’s Brand + Editorial Manager. She loves getting lost in a story and is sharing her own on her Substack, Lake Laps. Find her staring at the sun on her daily lap around Lake of the Isles.
