New Music: Soft Set – Gone

Soft Set are a Toronto-based dreampop outfit comprising James Gray and Nathan Athay. They’re gearing up for the release of their new EP by treating us to an early listen to the title track.

For me, the best songs that emanate from the dreampop and shoegaze genres often encapsulate a mix of desire and desolation. Gone does that in spades, finding itself between the mellow musing of Still Corners and the dark abstractions of Slowdive. Find yourself a quiet space, put this on repeat, and lose yourself for a few moments – you’ll not regret it.

Speaking about the upcoming EP, Athay discloses, “The one thing that really surprised us while making Gone was how much lighter and more hopeful it ended up being.”

“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!”

Adds Nathan about the video, which they shot in Toronto, “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 Gone EP comes out on the 15th of November, while the title track can be streamed on Soundcloud or Spotify and downloaded on Bandcamp. For the latest EP news, check out Soft Set on Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.

Header Photo by Jen Squires