Welcome to AP&R, the place we spotlight rising artists who will quickly develop into your new favourite.
Music has at all times been a a part of artist Softee’s life. Piloted by Nina Grollman, the pop persona has been experimenting with sounds since her youth, recording and producing music and singing covers all through highschool.
Hailing from Moorhead, Minnesota, Grollman has been based mostly out of Brooklyn, New York for nearly a decade, the place alongside with being an upcoming music sensation, she can also be an actress on- and off-Broadway. Her 2020 debut album Keep On was primarily self-engineered and was a automobile for introducing her authentic DIY pop sound to the world. After signing with City Slang Records, Softee launched her label debut single “Molly” in 2022, an electrical music impressed by one among her first dates with her fiancé.
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Her newest single “Come Home” carries the ‘80s pop synth beat that has become a throughline of her work — an upbeat number that makes you want to break into dance in the middle of the street with lyrics that pierce your heart.
Ahead of her upcoming album Natural (due May 16), AP spoke to the rising pop star about her inspirations, her writing process, what it’s like writing as Softee, and extra.
What is the origin story of your persona, Softee?
The start of Softee was in 2019 and that was simply out of a want for a completely different persona. I wanted one thing else that was not simply me as a result of I had carried out completely underneath my very own identify all through the metropolis and simply by no means felt fairly proper. It felt like if I simply had a completely different identify and a persona I may do a few of the issues that I wasn’t permitting myself to do as myself. I began producing increasingly as Softee got here alongside and located that sound. I’m additionally an actress and I like form of slip into characters and do different issues. I consider myself as Softee and it’s very liberating as a result of like, these should not issues I do in actual life.
How would you describe the music you create?
I put a lot of my very own angst, pleasure, difficult emotions into a pop format that is straightforward to know, and will get caught in your head. Also, I’m very non-convoluted with my lyrical method. I’m attempting to be as easy and simple as potential most of the time. So in some methods, it is digestible angst. It’s pop music, however it’s obtained some angst. Not in the sound essentially however extra in the phrases.
What artists have helped encourage your sound?
I’m a large fan of Robyn. I’m very, very influenced by her, and what she does very well is she places her lyrics in distinction to her music. Her music “Dancing On My Own” is the good instance. It’s such a unhappy music lyrically, however the music is so excessive, and it simply needs to make you need to dance. Definitely, Beyoncé is one among my tops. I simply suppose she’s unbelievable, sonically. Another person who influenced me all through my life, is Regina Spektor. It’s not my method in any respect however I’m impressed by her music. Her melodies are simply insane and so catchy, however complicated.
What’s your course of in relation to creating your music?
My music “Red Light Green Light” was distinctive as a result of, in the previous, I’ve been rather more insular with my course of. I are likely to hold it to myself till I’m in the levels the place there must be some last touches or, I simply need somebody’s ear on it. But this album has been very completely different, collaboratively. I’ve been very open from the begin of letting individuals into the course of, and that is been very nice, truly.
When it involves your writing course of, is it troublesome when the strains between Nina and Softee blur?
I at all times begin from a place of reality. No matter what, it is at all times coming from me. Whether that’s then augmented or put by means of the lens of a form of character relies on the music and the vibe. But I at all times do begin from a place of some actually severe ideas or emotions that I’m attempting to place into phrases.
What’s subsequent for you?
I believe that I’ve a lot extra to be taught and so many extra individuals to collaborate with. It appears like simply the starting for me proper now.
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