After the Swiss collective Soft Loft recently announced their new EP Modern Roses (Out April 25 via [PIAS] Recordings) and already shared the first singles “Leave The Light On“ and “Can“, the indie-something-something band returns with a slinky, psychedelic mantra of a tune titled “Paper Plane”.
Based on a true story, vocalist Jorina Stamm sneaked out of an Indigo Sparke show at Supersonic in Paris, feeling the flu coming on. She took a pill to quell the nausea and ended up alone at the bar, folding a paper plane from instructions printed on the backside of a flyer. Recounting what happened, Jorina says, “It was a funny situation—kind of awkward and beautiful at the same time. I was so consumed with getting this plane right that it didn’t even occur to me that the guy who came up wanted to flirt with me. So, when he asked me what I was doing, I told him about the paper plane, and I was being serious because that was the truth. But I think he thought I was blowing him off. In retrospect, I could see the whole situation playing out differently, you know, with the plane being our little bridge. It would be like a scene in some DIY rom-com or a Wes Anderson film—humans being awkward, but still somehow making it work.”
With a vintage drum machine backbeat, a bass line thicker than the sound of a Z28 Camaro engine, swirling guitars, synths, and who knows what else—all doused in warm spring reverb—and that breezy, quivering voice—the vibe is deep. And you sort of feel like you’re flying. What if paper planes were the new roses, and if you wanted to get with somebody you had to fold a sheet of paper and make it airborne?
In 2023 Soft Loft self-released an EP titled In Case You Get Lonely, followed by a full-length album called The Party and the Mess, both produced by Grammy-nominated producer Gianluca Buccellati (Lana Del Rey, Arlo Parks). Without any promotional efforts, a couple of songs landed on rotation on Seattle’s KEXP, and the album hit the North American College Radio Charts (NACC 200), where it remained for a total of six weeks. Within a very short time, the band began playing their own shows in London, Paris and Berlin, among other places, as well as at high-caliber festivals such as The Great Escape, Reeperbahn Festival, MS Dockville, Maifeld Derby and the Montreux Jazz Festival.
This new collection of caramel-sticky songs turns its lens on affection, exploring the small gestures we make to collapse the distance between us, even if just for a tiny bit. It also delves into all the gorgeous ways in which we fail – the loneliness, the longing, the miscommunication, the prison of self, leaving somebody and being left behind. It’s all here, delivered in deep, vibey, psychedelically tinged oscillations between the melancholy and the ecstatic.
The material was written in the band’s secret hideaway – a cozy house with what Jorina describes as a magical garden, located in Barico, Ticino. The recording session took place on the periphery of the German City Dresden, in a defunct hotel. This time, it was just the band and their trusted sound engineer. For days on end, they experimented with arrangements and sound design. Most importantly, they sought an ever-deeper connection with each other, which explains why the vibe here is so unique and dense. These songs are like a late-night conversation between trusted friends. Ultimately, Modern Roses is a document of a band arriving—speaking in a singular musical voice and addressing things that matter but often remain unsaid. Things that turn to medicine, balm, and meaningful connection when spoken aloud. If life feels cold right now and you need a blanket, turn up the volume. When asked about the title, singer Jorina Stamm explains, “It’s a phrase taken from our song ‘Paper Plane,’ which goes, ‘modern roses are paper planes.’ Because in 2024, you could be a bit more creative. Like, imagine folding a paper plane for somebody and handing it to them to tell them that you like them.”
Thoughts Words Action 