Sophie Emerson of The Cavves Joins Yasmin Nur for New Tour
It started with, “bitch.” That’s what The Cavves’ lead guitarist and vocalist Sophie Emerson messaged Yasmin Nur when she found out that Yasmin was looking for a new lead guitar. Both Nur and Emerson have been mainstays in the Wichita music scene for a number of years now, appearing on bills together, but never officially sharing a stage. Now, back from her year long hiatus from performing, Yasmin is ready to get back at it with a new era and a new band in tow with Sophie on lead guitar.
The new band’s first gig was on Black Friday, 2023 at Temple Live in Wichita. Alternative midwesterners took a break from family time to attend the debut of Yasmin’s new era. Anticipation filled the air but there was a palpable undercurrent of nervousness. This was rooted in the fact that Yasmin previously swore off music a year ago and never thought she’d be back. However, what made Nur’s new band different is that Yasmin and Sophie have been close friends for over ten years now. Not as collaborators, just old high school buddies. Ask them about their early days and they will exchange a knowing and guilty glance at each other and crack up laughing. This reaction makes it safe to assume that despite Sophie attending catholic school at the time, Bible study wasn’t exactly high on their to-do list.
Through all the unhinged antics of their early years of friendship, the pair found a deeper bond through music. Sophie was playing with The Cavves throughout high school, with Yasmin there to cheer her on. Yasmin recalls never seriously considering making music until several years into her friendship with Sophie. She recalls hanging out with Sophie as she was strumming a guitar one day when she was 18 as being the “aha” moment that changed everything. That decision led Yasmin to amassing a strong 12.7k followers on Spotify, with her most popular song “Flowers in My Garden” currently sitting at over 1.2 million streams. All the while, Sophie was reaching new heights with The Cavves hitting over 30k followers themselves and touring the country with their landlocked surf rock.
With The Cavves going on hiatus recently, Sophie found herself with some free time on her hands. That’s when Yasmin made the Facebook post that Sophie responded to and now they’re hitting the road together for an eleven day jaunt across the country. Sophie said the timing couldn’t be more uncanny, with her break coinciding with Yasmin’s resurgence and her desire to explore more hardcore music. That’s how the band describes Yasmin’s new music era coming out on the new album dubbed “Slaughter”. This new era was hard launched at the 11/24 Wichita show at Temple Live as the band played seven new songs and only two of Yasmin’s older records. Playing through new songs like, “Fragile”, “I’m So Scared”, “Heaven Forever” and others, the sound fit well on the midwest emo-centric lineup for the show. With Wichita rock bands Delirium and High Plains Drifter rounding out the lineup.
Forming their bond as bored Wichita high school kids and remaining friends for the 10+ years since, Sophie Emerson and Yasmin Nur’s musical partnership is starting on a firm footing. They’re able to translate that strong bond into their music and listeners can hear that come out in the music as it is played live. This Wichita show was something of a going away party for the new group, with Aiden Rogge on bass and Braden Pruitt on drums to round out the band’s rhythm section. The local scene sent them off on the right foot as they start in Denver on November 29th and end in Phoenix on December 8th (full list of dates below). They also already have another tour booked for March and April of next year supporting Jhariah which includes a stop in Los Angeles. Ready or not, Sophie and Yasmin are bringing their friendship to a city near you, and you better be there to see these midwest hooligans.
Instagram - High Plains Drifter
Review & Photos by: Mitchell Arias-Elmore
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