Live Footage: Sophia Habib Performs “Lifeline” with Cloud Orchestra

Sophia Habib is a rising, Rotterdam-based singer/songwriter, classically trained musician and producer, whose work draws from her love of ’00s pop, R&B and her classical training throughout her life and at the prestigious Rotterdam Conservatory of Music. While her sound is features a maturity and sophistication that seemingly belies her youth, her work tackles themes that touch on relatable, everyday life experiences with a lived-in, heart-worn-on-sleeve earnestness.

Following the release of her full-length debut, last year’s Fragile, Habib recently shared three live tracks, featuring the rising Rotterdam-based artist performing with her backing band and Cloud Orchestra. Two of the songs are off the album — “Lifeline” and “We Can’t Work This Out,” while the third song is a new song “Thank You.” Performing alongside Cloud Orchestra allows the Rotterdam-base artist’s love of classical music — and her classical background — to shine brightly. “To work with an orchestra was a dream I just had to fulfill,” Habib says in press notes. “I called Anton de Bruin and asked if he wanted to do another collaboration with Cloud Orchestra. And that’s how it started!”

The live version of “Lifeline” pairs a stunningly cinematic string arrangement with a slick, hook driven production featuring wobbling, retro-futuristic synth arpeggios, skittering trap-like beats and Habib’s soulful, pop star-like delivery, expressing yearning, confusion, and then self-awareness, followed by defiant pride. “Lifeline” captures a narrator, who initially is desperately and stupidly in love with someone, who may not be worthy of them. And by the end of the song, its narrator recognizes their own self-worth and self-love. If the song sounds like women you know, there’s a good reason: the song is written from the perspective of a very modern woman, discovering her own worth and power — even if it’s in an indirect fashion.

“‘Lifeline’ speaks of desperately wanting someone to love you, even though you know they’re no good for you, but ultimately realising that you don’t need the approval of anyone to be loved,” Habib explains.

Directed by Eloi Genrich and Rebecca Weltner and filmed by Maric Dam, the video for “Lifeline” was shot in a beautiful, hauntingly minimalist location, allowing the focus to be on Habib, the other performers and the music — without lights, explosions and other distractions. The video’s cinematography features warm, golden hues gently blended with shadows, which helps add a subtle emotional cue to the song’s narrative.