19 May 2022 - 0 Comments

This may be the first you’ve heard of post-punk four-piece Soft Bait, but it won't be the last. The Tāmaki Makaurau-based band, which includes members of Earth Tongue and Red Sky Blues, have been busy cooking up a full-length album over the past 2 years. Now, they are thrilled to unleash their fiery single Big, the first off their debut LP set to be released in the second half of 2022.

Big is a punchy and noise-laden song that delivers observations on the thrill of online shopping. Through lyrics dripping with sarcasm, vocalist Josh Hunter unpacks ideas about consumerism, power, and control, with an unhinged vocal performance to top it off. Driving guitars make this single an anthem to belt your woes of endless consumerism away.

Releasing alongside the single is a black and white super 8 music video shot by Soft Bait’s bassist Ezra Simons. The video transports you to a desolate bar straight out of a David Lynch film, where a lone drinker terrorises its occupants.

Upcoming Shows:

Thursday 23rd June – Sweet Treats Punk Night @ Whammy Bar

Friday 1st July – With Lousia Nicklin @ Wine Cellar
All tickets at Under the Radar.

Soft Bait Bio:

Soft Bait began as a project by guitarist Patrick Hickley (Red Sky Blues) in 2020 upon returning home to NZ from the UK and soon morphed into a 4-piece band joined by vocalist/guitarist Josh Hunter, bassist Ezra Simons (Earth Tongue, Red Sky Blues) and drummer Cameron Mackintosh.

The challenges of trying to start a band during a pandemic lead Soft Bait to record a full-length album with Peter Ruddell (Wax Chattels, Sulfate) straight off the bat. Recording began in July 2021.

”The drive Soft Bait has is jaw-dropping. After the endlessly rescheduled recording sessions, the finished album only feels more resolute — and to have achieved something of this calibre without having played a show really highlights their focus” - Peter Ruddell.

The nine-track album is a melting pot of gothic post-punk underpinned by powerful and personal vocals. Josh is joined alongside Tāmaki’s Lousia Nicklin for two tracks.

Look out for further announcements in the coming months.

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