PREMIERE | Softie, 'Somersault'

Oakland-based Softie breaks through boulders and bummers of 2025 with passage ways toward higher states of ecstatic new light; press photo courtesy of the artists.

Over the course of the past month, a variety of mp3 files were shared back and forth between networks of artist across the Bay Area landscape. The sounds were an assortment of mind-glowing super sharp radio tones. It was like the emergence of the greatest thing to never arrive from the golden glamor garage warriors that were cashing in on the Blink hype, the power punk trios that were trying playing their hand in a longshot for the big leagues. The tracks were like a long lost shelved CD-R of WAV masters from a derelict DAT recorder that offered electric spit shine guitars that wailed in glorious harmonics like praises to an esoteric assembly of pagan deities.

These were the song sketches, works in progress and more from Oakland-based visionary Nicholas Coleman recorded alongside the singles "Gauzy", "Don't Look Down", and amid a barrage of collaborations amongst friends and fellow creatives. And while those mythic recordings, as of the writing of this feature. currently remain unreleased. While they might very well be part of yet to be disclosed larger project, those big bright tones can be heard within the raging of roar of the new single "Kiss Kiss Kiss". Like the magnificent experimentations of ten thousand feet waves of dissonance with expressive intention found on the beloved debut Strong Hold; Coleman shakes up the conventions of infinite possibilities again with the monumental Somersault via Cherub Dream Records. Featuring a strong collaborative showing from longtime friends from fellow beloved acts such as Buddy Junior, Christina's Trip, Figure Eight, Fitting, H. Salt, My Pet Fossil, engineering/mixing by Brad Lincoln, and mastering by Curt Walls; the next level of the Softie vision is realized in full at Deathbed Studios in a recording that shakes the rafters of heaven in lantern shatters of celestial sunlight.

The release of the lead single “Kiss Kiss Kiss” was akin to experiencing “When You Sleep” for the first time. The Mascis / Shields / etcetera comparisons could go on ad nauseam, that ultimately is Nicholas joined by an army of some of today’s most ambitious, and inspired underground, and above all dedicated DIY talents. Stretching even beyond Coleman’s own extensive resume of bands, collaborations that stretch down the 80, 580, 205, interstates of influential lore; Somersault’s towering collaborative contributions make it not just a formidable titan in its own creative right but indicates a collective movement towards higher states of joy.

“2 Tired 2 Sleep” is a jaw dropping conundrum of creative assemblage, even in our current era of shoegaze as style omnipresence and ubiquity. Softie smolders down an amalgamation of all your classic destitute NME-cover gracing darlings into what sounds like a chorus of chord gliding tremolo guitars worshipping the slow burning, ray beams of the sun. Those unbreakable fortresses of electric opulence only continues to move upward in stride on "Don't Look Down". Together the band creates a vertical sense of locomotion that wildly ascends toward the collections of clouds like a living, breathing, skyrocketing skyscraper that raises upward like a treetop during a growth spurt.

The single “Gauzy” gets an update that indicates Coleman’s own increased attention to negotiating the dimensions of audio definition, in hand with working alongside fellow artists to rein in their commitment to otherworldly arts of distortion that wildly writhes like lavish leviathans wrecking havoc at sea during a tempestuous downpour. The penultimate ocean wavy track washes into the cooling estuary of “Listless”, where the chop of shipwrecking waters is met with the tranquil trickle of brooks that stream into a wildlife refuge of the senses, spirit, and mind. Even at under five minutes, it’s a song you never want to end and desire to float to in perpetuity toward more peaceful places of consciousness.

Somersault not only is the Softie record we have been awaiting since Strong Hold, but it also stands out as one of 2025’s top releases. This EP stands as a testament to the generation/regeneration of joy that can feel like a vestige of a faint sense of jubilation from either another time, or even just a beautiful fleeting dream. Should you listen to nothing else this year, experience this carefully assembled aura, offering the actualization of an exhilaration that has all but disappeared at a moment in time when disillusionment and despair are the common trade currency.

Quite possibly the best band in the Bay — Softie; press photo courtesy of the artists via Instagram.

Nicholas Coleman took the time to share an array of thoughts in the following in-depth exchange over a wide range of topics:

Notes on breaking beyond the normal trappings of slow core, shoegaze/new-gaze, dream wave, and perfect garage power punk pop.

I believe there’s no escape it’s a trap for a reason. It feels like any band with affected guitars gets labeled as shoegaze. My time is better spent playing guitar and focusing on school rather than obsessing over which genre boxes are currently trendy or acceptable. I try not to get caught up in genre debates because I’ve found that worrying about fitting into a category only stifles the music-making process.

Softie is heavy on bringing in full force the big as the silver screen sized sentiments. Meditations on the way emotion is transmuted into orchestrations of sound.

Mostly, I’ve aimed to capture a range of transformative experiences, using music as a way to process them. I strive to write from different perspectives, exploring the contrast between assumed interpretations and the emotions of others who shared those moments. My hope is that the result feels immersive.

Songs like "Kiss Kiss Kiss" are turbo charged with an unbridled sense of exhilaration that feels almost all but non-existent in our chaotic realities. The kind of joy that feels almost a vestige of a hyper-inflated, and unreliable memory. Curious on further insights on the challenges of channeling joy in era of anxiety and instability.

Channeling joy in an era of anxiety and instability presents unique challenges, as the weight of global crises, personal stressors, and an uncertain future can overshadow moments of happiness. The constant barrage of distressing news and social fragmentation can create an environment where joy feels fleeting or even indulgent. However, joy in these times becomes not just an emotional experience but a form of quiet resistance an assertion of humanity and hope despite the chaos.

One challenge is the guilt or cognitive dissonance that can accompany joy. Many people feel conflicted about experiencing happiness when others are suffering or when systemic issues remain unresolved. Social media amplifies this tension, as exposure to suffering and injustice is immediate and relentless. Another difficulty is the erosion of deep, sustained attention joy often requires presence, yet modern anxiety cultivates a distracted, hyper-vigilant state that makes it hard to truly engage with uplifting experiences.

Cover art for Somersault appears courtesy of Nyles Rosenbaum.

The Softie philosophy in 2025.

Authenticity feels like a battleground, while some will continuously embrace hyper-curation and performative surface interactions as a form of truth, I hope to reject all of that and remove whatever pressure there is to consistently define oneself.

Wisdom on surviving the madness of the turbulent 2020s.

It’s hard to predict what the latter half of the 2020s will bring, but if the past few years have taught us anything, it’s that resilience is built through connection. The world has felt increasingly unstable politically, socially, and environmentally, and navigating that chaos alone can be overwhelming. My hope is that we move toward normalizing community support, not just in times of crisis but as a foundation for daily life.

Survival in this era isn’t just about endurance, it’s about collective care. Whether it’s through mutual aid networks, creative collaboration, or simply checking in on each other, prioritizing relationships over individualism is crucial. The madness of the times can make it easy to shut down or isolate, but finding (or creating) spaces where people uplift and support one another is key. Holding onto joy, despite everything, is an act of defiance. If we can cultivate that joy together through art, music, storytelling, or just being present for one another we might not just survive the turbulence of the 2020s; we might find ways to thrive within it.

A few quick items of inspiration and who is doing the most, that has yet to receive their flowers.

I’ve been feeling inspired by the entire Bay Area scene, not just the bands, but the entire ecosystem of people who make it all happen. The zine-makers who document underground music with care and passion, the bookers and venues that take risks on new sounds and foster a sense of community, the recording engineers/labels who help shape raw ideas into something tangible, and the videographers who capture fleeting moments and give them a lasting presence. It’s a network of creatives working tirelessly, often without recognition, to keep independent music alive and evolving. Their work ensures that music isn’t just heard but experienced, archived, and remembered. These are the people who deserve more credit, more praise, and more opportunities to keep shaping the culture in ways that feel real.

Somersault arrives May 9 via Cherub Dream Records.