Sophie Powers is no stranger to the world of K-pop. A casual listener since 2016 and self-professed fangirl since 2020, the 22-year-old singer-songwriter has been increasingly carving out a space for herself within the genre using the hyper-pop sound that she has developed as a signature over the course of her career.

In 2025, Powers saw a breakthrough with her first K-pop collaboration and official songwriting credits released throughout the month of August. ILLIT’s “jellyous” remix featuring Powers positioned her alongside one of the fastest growing groups amongst all fifth-generation rookies, while IVE’s “GOTCHA (Baddest Eros)” was Powers’ first official credit in the genre. A year later, her name appeared as one of the lyricists behind NMIXX’s “Reality Hurts” – a fan favourite B-side from the album Blue Valentine.

Now, she is stepping into a new role within the phenomenon that is K/DA. Established in 2018, K/DA is a virtual K-pop girl group created by Riot Games for the video game League of Legends. As they return in 2026 with FIRESTARTER, the four characters, all popular amongst players, are voiced by i-dle’s SOYEON, i-dle’s MIYEON, and two new names – Mimi Webb and, of course, Sophie Powers.

You’ve spoken before about being a longtime K-pop fan, and have since become part of the industry writing for IVE and NMIXX and of course collaborating with ILLIT on “jellyous.” How does it feel to be stepping into K/DA, another immensely popular phenomenon within the genre?

Sophie Powers It feels surreal. I’m so thankful, and I can’t wait to explore even further in the genre.

What was your initial reaction to being chosen as the voice of Evelynn?

My first reaction was, “Really? Me? Are you sure?” It’s pretty funny now that I think about it.

For K/DA’s initial releases, back in 2018 and 2020, Evelynn’s character was voiced by Madison Beer. Did stepping into a role that has already been voiced by another well-known artist come with additional pressure?

The fact that Evelynn had been voiced not only by Madison Beer but also by Kim Petras and Bea Miller actually made it easier in a way. Of course there was pressure—they’re three incredibly talented artists. All I could do was my best. I’m proud of the songs, and I hope I honored the singers who played Evelynn before me.

You’re known for a distinct hyper-pop sound and an alternative style. Do you think that you’ve brought something different to the character because of this? How has your identity shaped this new version of Evelynn?

I like taking risks, playing with fire, and pushing boundaries, and that’s very much Evelynn. She’s literally a demon! I think my identity naturally influenced the character, but I didn’t have to force it. So many of her characteristics already align with my own artistry. It was easy to leave my mark on Evelynn because there’s signature me, and there’s signature Evelynn. It all made sense.

With K/DA, you’re representing a virtual character as opposed to yourself as a singer and a lyricist. How did that difference impact the way you approached being a part of the project?

It made me want to push myself even more than I would if I were just performing as myself. I’m really thankful for that. It was almost like Evelynn held me accountable. She was saying, “No, you better not mess up!”

Which of the four tracks on FIRESTARTER is your personal favourite, and why?

“Watch Me” is my personal favorite because I sound like such a diva! I’ve never released a song where I sound like that before. I’ve been overwhelmed by the love and support and genuinely shocked by the reception. It’s encouraged me to move more in that direction.

Similarly to your love of K-pop, you’ve previously discussed your interest in a variety of video games. What does joining K/DA, a group created as a part of League of Legends, mean to you with that in mind?

It means so much. My friends are streamers, I’m a huge Arcane fan, and I’m already friends with former professional League players. It’s honestly surreal. I’m super thankful and excited.

K/DA is set to perform at the League of Legends Worlds 2026 Finals Opening Ceremony. How have you been preparing for your live debut as Evelynn, especially knowing that the appearance will be so high-profile?

I’ve been rehearsing every day for the past week. I haven’t had as much time to prepare as I would have liked, but I’m going to do my best. That’s all I can do. I just can’t wait to see everyone there!

Can you share any interesting or unexpected behind-the-scenes moments from the process of creating the EP and working with SOYEON, MIYEON and Mimi Webb?

Follow my TikTok! I post pretty much everything there, including behind-the-scenes glimpses of the Riot team and the process. It’s really interesting to see.

Between your own releases, songwriting credits, and collaborations, you’ve racked up an impressive discography at just 22 years old. As your career continues to develop, are there any dream projects or goals that you’re aspiring towards?

I want to be a global pop star, obviously! I also want to get back into acting. Playing Evelynn really made me miss acting, and I hope I can do more of it in the future. I’m also looking forward to my headlining tour in Asia in December, and I can’t wait to tour more.