Toronto, ON-based alt-rock/ dream-pop band, GENTLE have unveiled their new single, “Softcore”.
With the opening line “Called you, I had a panic attack” over phase-y acoustic guitar, “Softcore” expands into an explosive arrangement of massive drums and effects-laden guitars.
Lead vocalist Oliver O’Brien explains:
“’Softcore’ recounts toxic relationships in our lives. The first verse recounts the time I called my girlfriend (at the time) for comfort while having a major panic attack to which her reply was “I’m at a party and need to go”. The song exposes our frustrations with absent partners but when we stay with them and give them more chances, it’s our fault as much as theirs.”
The band is set to release their debut EP, KAFKA FM in the coming months and will be promoting on a tour in April and May 2022, with stops in Montreal and Ontario.
Check out “Softcore” below, and find out more about GENTLE via our Five Questions With segment.
Care to introduce yourself to our readers?
Hey Canadian Beats, we’re a Toronto-based dream-pop band. We started Gentle as a side project during the pandemic and taught ourselves how to self-produce. Kurt, Gabe, and Oliver lived together and Matt would help us produce the songs over Zoom calls.
Tell us a bit about your most recent release.
Softcore was created on a laptop from start to finish. The ol’ bedroom pop label rings true here. The premise of the song won’t surprise you coming from some lanky indie boys, it’s about heartbreak. The twist is that it’s truly about holding yourself accountable for coming back to a toxic relationship, in the chorus Matt and Oliver sing: “Wish you’d leave me alone, I wish I’d stay away.”
When it comes to the global pandemic, how are you keeping yourself out in the public eye while not being able to perform?
The global pandemic is the reason we exist, I feel like now we’re actually adjusting to a post-covid music career that doesn’t consist of just making Tik Toks, self-producing, and endlessly writing. Our song Sincere Apologies hit the big time on Tik Tok when Oliver started using it in his DIY Tik Toks where he parodied Toronto landmarks, memes, and Spotify Wrapped.
Canadian Beats is all about Canadian music, so if you were able to work with ONE fellow Canadian artist, alive or dead, who would you choose?
Gentle and Glenn Gould could drop some absolute fire. Guy had drip too.
What’s your goal for 2022?
Produce an EP, tour, and eat healthily.