Toronto Dream Pop Duo Soft Set Release New Single + Video GONE
1st SINGLE FROM NEW EP
OUT ON NOVEMBER 15th
WATCH/SHARE VIDEO HERE
Toronto dream pop duo Soft Set is back with a brand new single and video 'Gone', out now on all digital streaming platforms. Listen here.
'Gone' is the lead single and title track from Soft Set's new EP (out on November 15th) and it marks a refreshing evolution in their sound. Known for their introspective lyrics and moody instrumentals, Soft Set has often navigated darker themes in their past work. However, with their new Gone EP, they venture into more uplifting territory that showcases their growth as artists.
“The one thing that really surprised us while making the Gone EP was how much lighter and more hopeful it ended up being," says Soft Set's Nathan Athay. "It started off really dark during the demo phase, but once we began layering in harmonies, it took on a more uplifting vibe, which we weren’t expecting. It was a nice surprise for us, and it made the entire process more interesting, for sure!”
Shot in Toronto, the video for 'Gone' almost didn't happen because of a last minute no show on the day of the shoot. But thanks to some quick thinking from the band and a little help from a stranger, they were able to pull everything off in the end.
Says Nathan: "When we first planned the video for 'Gone', we had invited a friend to be in it, but they didn’t show up on the day of the shoot. I ended up walking into The Local pub on Roncesvalles, where I met Alandra McKirdy and explained the situation. Alandra graciously accepted our last-minute invitation to step in, and we are incredibly thankful for her involvement. Without her, the video might not have come together the way it did."
The origin story for Soft Set begins with James Gray and Nathan Athay meeting for the first time in high school in Barrie, Ontario. It didn’t take long in their friendship for them to realize that they had a lot in common, especially when it came to their taste in music. Drawing on influences from iconic artists that have inspired them on their musical path—The Stone Roses, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, RIDE, Slowdive, Happy Mondays, The Boo Radleys, Mercury Rev—Soft Set’s music runs the gamut from shoegaze to dream pop to 90s Brit pop all behind a hazy, layered wall of sublime sound.
Soft Set released their debut EP Love and Dancing in 2020. RIDE’s Mark Gardener mixed the EP at his studio in Oxfordshire, UK (OX4 Sound). Their critically acclaimed debut full-length Still Life, which is mixed by Shae Brossard (Arcade Fire, Godspeed You! Black Emperor) and mastered by Slowdive’s Simon Scott, was released in 2022.
'Gone' is available now on Spotify, Apple Music/iTunes, and other digital retailers and streaming services worldwide.