The Softies

Comprising singer/songwriter/guitarists Rose Melberg and Jen Sbragia, the Softies produce hushed, close-knit compositions that flow straight from personal emotion without any detours. Their initial collaboration yielded three albums—1995’s It’s Love, 1997’s Winter Pageant, and 2000’s Holiday in Rhode Island—that offered a gentle counterpoint to the loud indie rock prevalent at the time. Following an extended hiatus spent on separate endeavors, the pair reconvened for 2024’s The Bed I Made, retaining much the same sonic character yet informed by accumulated insight.

The two first connected in early 1994, each seeking an alternative to the abrasive indie rock they had previously performed. Melberg had belonged to the recently dissolved Tiger Trap and the newly launched noise-pop outfit Go Sailor, whereas Sbragia played in Pretty Face. Operating from Portland, Oregon and relying solely on electric guitars alongside their harmonizing voices, they shaped a tender, affectionate style that enveloped their emotionally direct lyrics. Clear reference points included the Marine Girls, Linda Smith, and Tracey Thorn’s debut solo album, while their sound also aligned with Elliott Smith, whom they befriended and supported on tour. Their earliest output arrived as the four-track Loveseat single, issued by Slumberland in 1994. Shifting to K Records, they delivered two 1995 releases—another single, “He’ll Never Have to Know,” and the debut album It’s Love—both produced by Calvin Johnson and marking a refined realization of their approach. The band maintained a schedule of performances, frequently at Portland’s Magic Marker house and occasionally opening for Smith. In 1996 Slumberland released a self-titled EP drawn from earlier sessions, and the duo supplied K with the single “The Best Days.” They simultaneously prepared a follow-up full-length, releasing Winter Pageant in 1997, another restrained and reflective collection carrying forward the debut’s essence. One further album, 2000’s Holiday in Rhode Island, incorporated bass and keyboards into their framework before Melberg and Sbragia pursued separate paths; Sbragia formed All Girl Summer Band and concentrated on that project, while Melberg launched a solo career and joined additional groups including Gaze, Brave Irene, and Knife Pleats across subsequent years. Sporadic live reunions occurred, such as a 2012 Chickfactor-sponsored tour and a 2018 benefit show in Melberg’s adopted hometown of Vancouver. A more concrete reunion took shape in 2013 through social media contact; while sharing the recent losses of their mothers, they resolved to create another Softies album. After exchanging demos via email, they spent several months completing material and also embarked on a brief tour supporting Tony Molina, a longtime admirer. They secured studio time in mid-2023 at the Unknown in Anacortes, Washington—midway between Vancouver and Portland—and completed The Bed I Made, an album that could plausibly date from earlier decades yet reflects their personal histories and musical development. Father/Daughter Records issued the record in August 2024, after which the duo undertook a modest U.S. tour.