![SOFT VEIN - Band of the Month [January]](https://koolrockradio.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/01/Soft_Vein-credit-Alejandro_Lomeli.jpg)
Our featured band /artist this month is California-based electronic/dark wave/alternative/goth artist Soft Vein.
SOFT VEIN is the solo project of musician Justin Chamberlain. He debuted in late 2022 with a pair of singles, the haunting ‘GIVEUPTHEGHOST’ and its industrial-tinged successor ‘VIOLENTIA.’ Blending influences from cold wave, industrial, as well as modern darkwave, SOFT VEIN’s sound is at times urgent, visceral and dangerous; at other times, lonesome, longing and darkly romantic. Minimalist drum machines, metallic synthetic percussion, lurking synth basslines and lush synthesizer and guitar arrangements all combine to flash grainy pictures of love and lust in a dark room.
His debut album, ‘PRESSED IN GLASS,’ came out in October 2023 via Artoffact Records. Blending influences from cold wave, industrial, and modern darkwave, the record’s throbbing synth basslines and heartbeat drum machines created a dreamy, darkly romantic feel.
On his sophomore album, ‘THROUGH BLINDS’, Soft Vein boldly pushes forward, finding common ground with his debut album while evolving and carving out a musical identity of his own. Discussing the album’s themes and sound, SOFT VEIN’s Justin Chamberlain says:
“This album is more about me as an observer of others, and sometimes even feeling like an observer in my own life. I wrote in this very ‘detached narrator’ sort of way…a lot of yearning, watching and waiting kind of stuff. That’s where the title came from. There’s influences you’d probably expect like Depeche Mode or Clan of Xymox or Nitzer Ebb, but I was also heavily influenced by The Blue Nile and Genesis and Prince. Film and video game scores too, especially Brad Fiedel’s work on the Terminator 2 soundtrack. I was revisiting a lot of things that are very nostalgic for me while making this record.”
Sonically, stays true to these themes, eschewing the icy cold landscape of the first album for heat, desire and danger.
SOFT VEIN is also hitting the road this 2025, including a European tour with labelmates ACTORS. Scroll down for the upcoming tour dates.
‘Through Blinds‘ will be out on January 17th, 2025 via Artoffact Records. Pre-order your copy here.
Follow SOFT VEIN:
Instagram, Facebook, Bandcamp, Spotify, Twitter, Youtube
FFO: Panther Modern, Boy Harsher, Mareux, Twin Tribes
See SOFT VEIN live at the following dates:
FEBRUARY
1 – Los Angeles, CA / Catch one
6 – Munster, DE / Gleiss 22
7 – Den Haag, NL / Grauzone Festival
8 – London, UK / The Garage
9 – Liege, BE / Le Garage
11- Bochum, DE / Die Tronpete
12 – Hamburg, DE / Hafenklang
13 – Berlin, DE / Frannz Club
14 – Dresden, DE / Barenzwinger
15 – Winterthur, CH / Gaswerk
16 – Munich, DE / Rote Sonne
19 – Turin, IT / Ziggy Club
20 – Marseille, FR / Le Molotov
21 – Barcelona, ES / Upload
22 – Madrid, ES / Moby Dick
23 – Valencia, ES / Toneladas
26 – Bordeaux, FR / IBOAT
27 – Paris, FR / Supersonic Records
28 – Lille, FR / La Bulle Cafe
MARCH
1 – Brussels, BE / Canal 10
APRIL
1 – San Francisco, CA / DNA Lounge
4 – Seattle, WA / The Cocodrile
5 – Portland, OR / Star Theater
6 – Spokane, WA / The Big Dipper
9 – Salt Lake City, UT / The Pearl on Main
10 – Las Vegas, NV / Swan Dive
Photo credit: Alejandro Lomeli