Songs Worth Reading: Sophia Stel and PULL&BEAR find dark academia in Paris

Some people listen to a song for the first time and focus on the sonic production; others lock in to understanding the message behind the words. But regardless of how you digest music on the first listen, we all have lyrics that stay with us for years in the same way a passage from a novel might. Unlike books, though, songs aren’t tangible objects. You can buy a CD, sure, but you can’t stumble across a torn page in a record and discover the line that someone else underlined twenty years ago, or find handwritten notes in the margin explaining why a particular verse mattered. 

For PULL&BEAR’s latest event, Songs Worth Reading, the Spanish brand wanted to explore what it would look like to treat words in a song in the same way we approach words on a page. During the weekend of Fête de la Musique, while the streets of Paris were overflowing with people, street parties and roaring speakers, PULL&BEAR opted for a more reflective evening. Hosted at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, one of the city’s most unique and well-loved libraries, a small group of guests was invited to experience an intimate performance by Sophia Stel.

Usually filled with readers, tourists and students, the iconic library was closed to the public for the event, allowing guests to explore the space and actually take it in. “It felt like a dream,” Stel says. “The space in general was the highlight. It was super beautiful in there. My favourite memory was when we were in the Bibliothèque, and we got to go on the back side of where the bookshelves are and climb up this crazy staircase. It was cool to see the whole library from above.”

Since releasing her debut EP Object Permanence in 2024, the Vancouver-based singer-songwriter and producer has quickly grown a cult following among IYKYK internet kids across the world. Unlike most of her shows in clubs, the stillness of the library meant Stel could unpack her lyrics a bit. Between songs, guests got insight into the meaning behind some of her hit songs, including “All My Friends Are Models”, which she noted is an ode to her friends she worked with in a nightclub back home in Vancouver.

Following the performance, guests took home more than a memory of the night. Alongside a limited-edition tote designed with lace detailing, they received an exclusive T-shirt and a specially produced zine. Featuring unseen images of Stel, the zine also includes a printed collection of Stel’s songwriting, ready to be read just like any other book in the library. 

The Bibliothèque nationale de France also became the setting for the accompanying campaign, photographed by Maya Sprangler in her signature, grungy Stolen Besos style. The images show Stel wearing her show look and other pieces from PULL&BEAR’s latest collection, surrounded by the thousands of books in the library. “It was great,” Stel says, speaking about shooting the campaign. “I’ve shot with Maya before, and both times it’s felt really natural. I love her photos.”

Head to the gallery above to check out the full campaign.