Bonsai
2018
Biography
Soft Launch often get tagged as an Irish boy band, though the label fits only loosely since just a portion of the lineup hails from Ireland and the group’s sound steers clear of the glossy, hit-driven pop that usually defines such acts. Their fresh vitality and sleek indie-rock approach—built on fuzzy guitars, airy keyboards, and a crisp rhythm section—have nevertheless positioned them as a rising act steadily building an audience across Europe.
The five members—ex-Strypes guitarist and singer Josh McClorey, vocalist Conor Price (half of the sibling act Sean & Conor, an X Factor finalist in 2017), guitarist Benedict Quinn, keyboardist Henry Pearce, and drummer Ben Limmer—first crossed paths while playing in separate projects. Their real opportunity arrived when Pearce’s touring work as a sideman for British singer-songwriter Declan McKenna earned the band a support slot in 2024. (McKenna’s European openers have often seen careers accelerate afterward; Chappell Roan, for instance, filled that role in 2018 before emerging as a major pop breakthrough that year.) After signing with Parlophone Records, the group converted their live buzz into the upbeat singles “Cartwheels” and “Piano Hands.”
The five members—ex-Strypes guitarist and singer Josh McClorey, vocalist Conor Price (half of the sibling act Sean & Conor, an X Factor finalist in 2017), guitarist Benedict Quinn, keyboardist Henry Pearce, and drummer Ben Limmer—first crossed paths while playing in separate projects. Their real opportunity arrived when Pearce’s touring work as a sideman for British singer-songwriter Declan McKenna earned the band a support slot in 2024. (McKenna’s European openers have often seen careers accelerate afterward; Chappell Roan, for instance, filled that role in 2018 before emerging as a major pop breakthrough that year.) After signing with Parlophone Records, the group converted their live buzz into the upbeat singles “Cartwheels” and “Piano Hands.”
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