Sophia is the creation of songwriter and guitarist Robin Proper-Sheppard, the mastermind behind critically adored cult act the God Machine. Formed with high-school friends Jimmy Fernandez (bass) and Ron Austin (drums), the God Machine appeared to be on the brink of a major breakthrough when Fernandez died in May 1994 from an undetected brain tumour. Proper-Sheppard and Austin decided to end the God Machine, rather than continue with a replacement member. Instead of automatically forming another outfit, Proper-Sheppard opted to focus primarily on getting his independent label, ...