Soft Power

*Pictured: Oscar Neyland, Matthew Roche, Christopher Cameron*
*Photo by Rhea Caldwell Photography 2019*

BIO

Immersive and genre-fluid, Soft Power is a trio that is deeply embedded with all of Australia’s great traditions of jazz and indie rock whilst forging its own path sound-tracking a meditative and utopian future. Based in Naarm (Melbourne) and led by composer Matt Roche who is joined by members of The Rookies and Acolyte – Soft Power are an all-instrumental outfit of guitar, bass and drums who earnestly beat to the rhythm of their own movement they call “post-rock jazz”. With a musical aesthetic that shifts somewhat between being a jazz band in full flight and an instrumental rock band – they manage to effortlessly tease out meditative states from the most unlikely musical moments.

Since the release of “Bucolica” (Independent, 2019), “Easy Listening” (Newmarket Music, 2018) and “A Breath Is Like a Swinging Door” (Independent, 2017), Soft Power have transfixed audiences nationally with their down tempo jazz grooves, art rock vibes and meditative improvisations. Described by Happy Mag as “Mesmerising”, career highlights include album launch tours in Melbourne, Sydney, Hobart and a performance at MONA.

NEW ALBUM – “BUCOLICA”

Soft Power will release their new album “Bucolica” on September 20, 2019 (released independently online).

A sonic meditation on suburbia and childhood nostalgia, Soft Power’s third full-length album “Bucolica” explores Roche’s distinctive songwriting for guitar, bass and drums drawing on new influences of Australiana and 70’s prog-rock. It is a vibrant and accomplished vision of song-less songs that hum and murmur with simplicity and warmth. With Oscar Neyland on double bass (The Rookies) and Christopher Cameron (The Rookies, Acolyte) on drums, the duo are the perfect foil for Matt Roche’s sun-filled guitar hooks. Together, the band create a mesmerising effect that is dynamic, groovy and meditative.

Engineered, mixed and mastered by Niko Schauble at Pughouse Studios in Melbourne, Bucolica’s 10 tracks mark exciting new territory for the band. Featuring 6 new compositions and re-visiting 2 old ones from the past, the improvised aesthetic is paired with tighter arrangements, through-composed pieces and savvy post-production techniques that rewards multiple listens.

Produced by both Matt and Niko, the production acknowledges the traditions of “acoustic jazz” whilst accompanied with digital studio tweaks to enhance and amplify each tracks peak moment. With some songs accompanied by short interludes and reprises, Bucolica is very much a place that we can sit still for – if only for around 37 minutes.

SOFT POWER LIVE AT PUGHOUSE STUDIOS