Insider Gaming spoke with Canadian pop star Sophie Powers, who replaced Madison Beer as the voice of Evelynn in K/DA.
The 22-year-old recently joined the virtual League of Legends K-pop group and sings in three of the four songs on K/DA’s new Firestarter EP.
She will now perform during the opening ceremony of the LoL Worlds 2026 final alongside Mimi Webb as well as Miyeon and Soyeon from i-dle.
In this interview, Powers teased what K/DA fans can expect from the Worlds performance and addressed hate she received from Madison Beer fans.
Were you a big League of Legends or Arcane fan before you joined K/DA? We saw your Jinx cosplay you posted online.
It’s so crazy because I have been such a fan of Arcane for years.
I used to make Jinx edits. Um, I probably shouldn’t be saying that on the internet. And then I obviously was like a fan of K/DA, Villain was on my playlist for years.
I was super into Madison Beer in middle school, like, her song ‘Hurts Like Hell’ with Offset and Tyler Durden. Just her first EP was like, so important to me. And then Villain was kind of around that time and Pop/Stars.
It feels like a dream come true. I feel like I manifested it.
So how did you end up joining? Did Riot know you’re a fan and reach out?
Well, I started by writing for Valorant, actually. I was in a writing camp.
I got asked to do that because I was writing a lot of K-pop songs and I think I was getting more virality in Asia and also songwriting for other girl groups and boy groups.
So yeah, I was initially on as a writer, and then they liked the way my voice sounded, but they didn’t take any of the songs that I wrote.
But they were like, “We like your voice, you should audition for Evelynn. We want someone kind of more up-and-coming, we think that’s cool. We love that you’re a fan.”
They saw my Jinx cosplay at TwitchCon. I was like, all right, let’s do it. I auditioned, sung a million songs, I mixed in well with the other girls’ voices. So yeah, I am now Evelynn, I guess.
That’s very cool. How long ago was that audition process? And then how long was it until you found out that you had the part?
Honestly, I didn’t even think I had the part until like a month ago. Which is crazy, because I cut all the songs. But like, until you sign a contract in the entertainment industry and music…
I have been promised the world before, and it can just get ripped out from underneath your fingers like that.
So I didn’t tell anyone. I didn’t even tell my parents. I think like maybe like a week before the release, I was like, oh, yeah I’m doing some stuff for Riot. I think I’m going to be this character. And my friends are like, oh, that’s cool. But then the leaks came out.
That was like after like six months of auditions, basically, to answer your question.
And then did you know in that process that you were going to be with two of the members of i-dle? You posted images at one of their concerts, so you’re obviously a huge fan. What’s it like getting to work with them?
Well, so I didn’t. I didn’t know if they were bringing back all of the girls or if they were only bringing back like one. So I didn’t know if the i-dle girls were going to be on.
Obviously, I’m ecstatic that they are because I’ve been such a fan since that concert. Like, they’re probably my favorite girl group. So it’s like super, super surreal.
I’m trying not to be a fangirl on the Internet, but I’m not doing a good job.
Have you managed to talk to them at all yet? Or even meet them or will that not happen till the final in New York?
That probably won’t happen until New York because they’re in Korea right now. But I think they’re touring right now. And I also have to play a show in L.A. on November 7th and do some stuff here.
But I’m looking forward to meeting them. Our teams have been chatting, but it’s better artist to artist, always.
You also shared a video showing you’ve started rehearsing. Is it weird that you have to rehearse separately and then come together?
Um, yeah, I’ve been rehearsing for a while now because I’m not a dancer, but it is weird. I think it will be much easier in person. And I’m so excited for that.
Of course. Also, you mentioned you’re a huge fan of Madison Beer, so we have to touch on the hate comments you received from her fans. What was it like getting that reaction, and what is your response to them?
I’m disappointed in y’all for acting so cruel to someone. But also, I’m understanding because I also hold nostalgia. Seeing like, even a voice actor of one of my favorite characters, like hearing them get replaced, it’s not the same.
I hope that in time, they’ll accept me. I still am such a huge fan of Madison. I genuinely have loved her music for years.
I would have loved some advice from her, but I’m not here to slam her. She’s busy, and I’m busy.
I hope that I can do as good a job playing Evelynn as she did. I will say that. But I could really, really use the advice. Navigating this is a lot.
Have you at least as well been able to take in the positive feedback to the new music and the new songs? Because for the most part, people seem really happy with the new tracks.
Yeah, it’s actually been way more positive. I think it was just that initial announcement, obviously, was like super jarring to all of, not only her fans but fans of K/DA too.
But I feel like, or at least I hope, that the new music has kind of made up for that. I really like the songs. I mean, I posted a TikTok yesterday of me like singing Watch Me in my kitchen because it’s like genuinely stuck in my head.
Is it weird having to embody another character in a song? Like, what does it mean being sort of Evelynn to you? Is there anything that you had to channel when singing as her?
I mean, being Evelynn is everything because she is everything. She’s the moment.
In terms of what I had to channel being her, it’s just like dark feminine energy. At the end of the day, she is a shapeshifter. She will most likely eat you. So you kind of have to embody that, like succubus energy.
Even though she’s technically not a succubus, but I just always tried to make sure I had nails on and like a full beat of makeup whenever I was singing as Evelynn to kind of physically embody her.
And yeah, I’m honored. She’s such a diva. She’s such a queen. I can’t believe I get to play her.
Then is it cool seeing the animated music video? Are you watching Evelynn and making the connection that’s technically you or is it still kind of surreal?
Well, I mean, I make the connection. I think it’s more so like I, in my brain, even when I’m singing for myself as Sophie Powers, like I’m playing a character.
So it’s kind of the same thing, except it’s just this virtual face and virtual human, right? Well, she’s technically not a human actually, but you know what I mean? Like a character.
So I think, yeah, I make the connection, but it’s still weird.
Totally. You haven’t gotten to perform with everyone yet, but is it different being in a band when you’re usually a solo artist?
It’s actually not, because I have done a lot of collabs. I actually collaborated with Seraphine, who’s Lexie Liu on another song. And I’ve collaborated with girl groups, like ILLIT, I featured on a song, jellyous. That’s like, I mean like six girls on a, on a song.
So yeah, it’s not that strange given how open I am and how much I like collaborating with other artists.
You said you’ve been rehearsing for like LoL World’s final for a while now. How is that like going? These finals are usually pretty spectacular; do you have a feel for that yet, or are you just focusing on the choreography for now?
I won’t get a feel for the production, obviously, until I’m there in New York.
I’m sure it’s going to be overwhelming though, given the creative direction that was shown, that they’re trying to take the show in.
I don’t even know how they’re going to pull it off, to be honest with you. But yeah, it’s going to be crazy, and I can only imagine it right now.
Hopefully, in New York, it meets expectations. It will probably exceed them, honestly.
Obviously, Firestarter will be played during the LoL Worlds 2026 Opening Ceremony. Will any other K/DA songs be featured at the final?
Yes. I’m not allowed to say which ones, but yes, there will be other K/DA songs.
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Amazing. Would you ever consider doing like another K/DA concert or even a tour if that ever was a thing?
Yeah, I’m actually going on tour in December in Asia; I’m doing Tokyo, Seoul and Taipei. And I’m going to play a lot of the K/DA songs on that tour.
It’s like right after Worlds, so I’m super excited for that. It’s going to be fun. Hopefully people will get to like relive the songs live if they miss the chance to see them live at Worlds.
Of course you’re super busy, let’s end things with this. Is there anything else you’d like to say to K/DA fans?
Thank you so much for all the love, like genuinely, I feel like the openness of the community has far outshone any negativity, at least in my eyes.
I’m very thankful to everyone who’s streaming the songs, and you should go stream my songs if you like what you hear. I’m dropping an EP, and it’s going to be in a similar vein to the K/DA music.
What song from K/DA would you be most excited to see at the LoL Worlds opening ceremony? Let us know on the Insider Gaming Discord.
Meanwhile, LoL leakers claim a new K/DA-themed DJ Sona skin is coming. And for even more Insider Gaming delivered directly to your inbox, sign up for our newsletter.
An esports journalist for nine years with a focus on LoL Jack has written for national newspapers, interviewed major names, and driven people mad with puns. He's most proud of…
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