SOFT SET – “7 ON UP”
A SPILL EXCLUSIVE MUSIC PREMIERE
Today we have the pleasure of presenting our readers with some homegrown talent from Toronto. Laced with fantastic melodies and dreamery, indie rock duo Soft Set will be releasing their debut 7β vinyl on August 14, with A-side ‘Never Die’ and b-side β7 on Upβ. Today we present the world premiere of the latter track.
Mixed in Oxford, UK by Ride frontman and celebrated producer Mark Gardener in his recently-launched world-class OX4 Sound Studio, These two tracks can be found on Soft Setβs forthcoming debut EPΒ ‘Love and Dancing’. This is highly recommended material for fans of Ride, Slowdive, Pia Fraus and Dead Leaf Echo.
βLike our debut single βNever Dieβ, which was released last month, we really wanted this album to have a theme thatβs relatable to everyone and we feel that our second single titled β7 on Upβ does just that. We wanted the audience to think about adolescent summer nights and that longing for a first kiss, dance, or letter from their crush saying that they feel the same way as you do about them. Itβs what eveyone wanted back then right? Both James and I are really proud of this track and itβs actually the first track of the album as we felt that the song really sets the tone for the rest of the EP,β says Nathan Athay.
Soft Set is a songwriting and music collaboration between James GrayΒ andΒ Nathan Athay, two life-long friends who became musical collaborators years after growing up together in Barrie and then Toronto, Ontario.
Laced with dayglo dream-inspired sonic glee of 90s indie rock royalty such as shoegaze icons Ride, Soft Set’s brand of melodic pop-rock is earnest and natural. Cloaked in the finest realm of nostalgic reverie, this debut single ‘Never Die’ is equally stunning and infectious.
“Before we started this project, we agreed to never intentionally try to sound like anyone but ourselves. We really wanted to take an honest approach in the process and never discounted any ideas that we presented to each other. We gave everything a chance to see what worked and what didnβt and took it from there,” saysΒ James Gray.
“I think what makes this album so special is that itβs very relatable. The lyrics are about feelings and settings that everyone experienced in one form, or another and we feel each song is consistent with that”.
Not long after meeting during high school, they quickly realized that they had much in common, especially when it came to their taste in music. Nathan started playing drums in a local shoegaze, space rock band and James wasnβt far behind, learning guitar and writing songs of his own. Soon after, James became the bandβs backup guitar player, filling in whenever the main guitar player couldnβt make a show.
Although that band lasted only a few years, James and Nathan continued to work separately on other projects, as well as working together whenever they could. Things really amped up in 2006 when James and Nathan were part of a Toronto indie rock band, recording their debut album atΒ E5 Studios Downtown. James and Nathan learned a lot about recording and production through this process, inspiring them to continue to push themselves musically, eventually creating what is now Soft Set.
Guided by Mark Gardener / OX4 Sound and drawing on influences from iconic artists that have inspired them on their musical path β The Stone Roses, Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, RIDE, Slowdive, Happy Mondays, Boo Radleys, Mercury Rev β itβs no surprise that Soft Setβs debut EP is a body of work that is sure to appeal to a broad audience.
“This debut is incredibly special for both of us as weβre showcasing everything weβve learned from the other projects weβve been in in the last 20 years. Weβre extremely proud of this body of work and we hope people enjoy the music as much as we did making it,” saysΒ Nathan Athay.
The limited edition 7″ vinyl run of the βNever Die / 7 On Upβ is out on August 14 and can be pre-ordered directly from the artist at https://softset.bandcamp.com/album/never-die-single. The full ‘Love and Dancing’ EP will be released on September 4.
Credits
Written, Produced and Performed by Soft Set at E5 Studios Downtown (Toronto)
Mixed at OX4 Sound Studios by Mark Gardener in Oxford, UK
Mastered by Harris Newman at Grey Market Mastering, Montreal QC
Also check out the video for the bandβs debut single βNever Dieβ, created and edited by Heidi Athay.
Soft Set
[Single]
(OX4 Sound)
Release Date: August 14, 2020
ArtistΒ Links
Photo Credits: Heidi Athay
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