Soft Set's story began when James Gray and Nathan Athay first met in high school in Barrie, Ontario. Bonded by a shared love of music, their creative partnership has evolved over the years through various joint and individual projects before ultimately deciding on Soft Set as their creative focus. The result is a project that captures the essence of shoegaze, dream pop and 90s Brit pop, wrapped in a hazy, layered wall of sound. Drawing inspiration from iconic artists such as The Stone Roses, The Smiths, My Bloody Valentine, RIDE, Slowdive, Happy Mondays, The Boo Radleys and Mercury Rev, Soft Set has carved out a unique sonic identity.
This and all website photos by Jen Squires
Soft Set's debut EP, Love and Dancing (2020), was mixed by RIDE's Mark Gardener at OX4 Sound in Oxfordshire, UK. Their critically acclaimed debut full-length Still Life (2022) includes the single "More More More" featuring Mark Crozer, touring bassist for The Jesus and Mary Chain. The album was mixed by Shae Brossard (Bahamas, The Dears) and mastered by Slowdive's Simon Scott.
In November 2024, Soft Set released their latest EP, Gone, showcasing the duo's studio craftsmanship while marking a new chapter as a six-piece band for live performances. Nathan and James have recruited James Callan of Prepare My Glider fame on keys, Jason Eagan on bass, Ian Jackson on guitar and Matthew Rubba on drums to bring their lush soundscapes to life on stage and in future recordings.
The band is currently seeking opportunities to support larger acts in winter/spring 2025. For booking and all other inquiries, please reach out to softsetmusic@gmail.com.