Laroi started the project with just his voice and an acoustic guitar. Collaborator Charles Newman
(The Magnetic Fields, The Bones of J.R. Jones) then took his simple recordings and re-arranged them
for a string quartet, bringing these pop compositions into the classical realm.
Featuring cellist Garo Yellin (Sturgill Simpson, David Byrne), violinist Claudia Chopek (Father John
Misty, Moby), and violist Gillian Gallagher (Mark O'Connor, Gabriel Kahane).
With backing vocals from Lorraine Lelis (Mahogany, Aarktica, Portal), the male-female exchanges
become a harmonic push and pull that accentuate the theme of trying to find love in London's late 90s
club scene.
"The Only Way Out Is Down," is being released worldwide on June 30th.
"FACT 200." That's the Factory Records catalog number for New Order's 1987 compilation, Substance. That collection brought together the band's 12" singles to that point, including their associated B-sides. It's a stone classic with some of the most influential songs ever recorded in modern rock.
-Cool Dad Music, February 2016
The self effacing title of Soft News’ debut album, Used Melodies, belies its true nature as an innovative cover album of reimagined 80s pop songs. Each song, from Billy Idol’s “Dancing With Myself,” to “Love Touch” by Rod Stewart is completely stripped of the decade’s trademark glitter and bombast. In contrast, the sound that pervades Used Melodies is intimate, exposed, and soothing. The collection of songs that Soft News covers on Used Melodies weren’t so much diamonds in the rough as diamonds covered in rhinestones, glitter, and neon-colored feathers. Laroi tenderly stripped them of their shimmer and glue to reveal the true gems sparkling beneath.
