Soft Play
Soft Play is an English punk rock duo consisting of Isaac Holman (lead vocals and drums) and Laurie Vincent (guitar, bass, and backing vocals), formed in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, in 2012.[1][2] Originally performing as Slaves, the pair achieved commercial success with four UK Top 10 albums—Are You Satisfied? (2015), Take Control (2016), Acts of Fear and Love (2018), and To Better Days (2021)—before entering a hiatus amid personal tensions between Holman and Vincent.[1] In December 2022, they announced a return under the new name Soft Play, citing that "Slaves" had become problematic and failed to reflect their identity, a decision they framed as self-initiated rather than externally imposed.[1][3] The rebranded duo released their fifth studio album, Heavy Jelly, in 2024, featuring a heavier sound and tracks like "Punk's Dead," which critiques aspects of contemporary punk culture.[4][5] Known for their raw, garage-influenced punk style and dual-instrumentalist setup, Soft Play has maintained a niche in the UK music scene through energetic live performances and unfiltered lyrical themes addressing personal struggle and societal frustration.[2][3]History
Formation and Early Years as Slaves (2012–2014)
Slaves, a punk rock duo consisting of vocalist and drummer Isaac Holman and guitarist and bassist Laurie Vincent, formed in 2012 in Royal Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England. The pair, who had been casual acquaintances during their teenage years in Kent—Holman from Tunbridge Wells and Vincent from Maidstone—initially met through involvement in another band before splintering off to create Slaves as a two-piece act after struggling to recruit additional members for their punk project.[6][7] Opting for a raw, minimalist setup, they shared songwriting responsibilities and focused on high-energy performances characterized by Holman's manic drumming and sneering vocals alongside Vincent's thumping riffs.[8] In early 2012, the band uploaded their music to the BBC Introducing platform, securing initial airplay that helped establish their presence in the UK punk scene.[9] Their earliest known live performance occurred on 7 May 2012 at the Old Blue Last in London, supporting Bass Drum of Death, marking the start of a reputation for intense, chaotic shows.[10] That same year, they released their first track, the 15-second "Girl Fight," which captured their abrasive, confrontational style.[11][12] The duo's debut EP, Sugar Coated Bitter Truth, followed on 25 March 2013 via Boss Tuneage Records, featuring seven tracks including "Ceasefire," "It's an Epidemic," "Wishing Well," "Black Rose," and "Suicide," clocking in at around 21 minutes total.[13][12] Self-produced and emphasizing short, explosive songs, the EP showcased their garage punk influences and themes of personal frustration, receiving positive underground attention. Throughout 2013 and 2014, Slaves honed their live sound through regional gigs and small tours, gradually building a cult following without major label support, though they had not yet achieved widespread breakthrough.[14]Rise to Prominence (2015–2018)
Slaves achieved significant recognition with the release of their debut studio album, Are You Satisfied?, on 1 June 2015 via Virgin EMI Records.[15] The album, featuring tracks such as "The Hunter" and "Sockets," debuted at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart and remained on the chart for 23 weeks.[16] It received a nomination for the Mercury Prize, highlighting the duo's raw punk energy and lyrical focus on social dissatisfaction, which resonated with critics and audiences.[17] Preceding the album, singles like "Feed the Mantaray" in March 2015 built anticipation through high-energy live performances, including appearances at festivals and venues that showcased Holman’s standing drum setup and Vincent’s versatile guitar work.[18] In 2016, Slaves expanded their profile with extensive touring and the release of their second album, Take Control, on 30 September.[19] Produced by Beastie Boys member Mike D, the album incorporated broader influences while maintaining the duo's high-tempo punk style, with songs addressing personal agency and critique of authority.[20] The band undertook the "Us Against The World Tour" in the United States from March to April, marking their first major North American push, followed by a UK headline tour in November and a stripped-back "Back in the Van" acoustic outing.[21][22] These efforts solidified their reputation for chaotic, engaging live shows, drawing larger crowds and media coverage.[23] By 2017, Slaves headlined the 2000trees Festival, a milestone reflecting their growing stature in the UK punk scene.[5] Their third album, Acts of Fear and Love, arrived on 17 August 2018, exploring themes of vulnerability and resilience amid continued touring.[24] Released via Virgin EMI, it featured production emphasizing emotional depth, with tracks like the title suite, and maintained the band's chart presence while attracting attention for its introspective shift from earlier aggression.[25] This period cemented Slaves' prominence through consistent output and live intensity, transitioning from local Kent origins to national festival headliners.[12]Hiatus, Personal Challenges, and Name Change (2019–2022)
In February 2019, Slaves announced an indefinite hiatus following the cancellation of their scheduled performances, citing a breakdown in communication between vocalist-drummer Isaac Holman and bassist-vocalist Laurie Vincent as a primary factor.[26] This decision was compounded by personal tragedies, including the death of Vincent's partner shortly after the band's final shows, which contributed to emotional strain on the duo.[27] [28] Holman experienced a severe mental health breakdown during this period, leading him to relocate to his parents' home in Kent and rendering him unable to engage in music or public activities for an extended time.[5] [29] The hiatus, initially intended as temporary, extended over three years amid these challenges, during which the members pursued individual endeavors, including solo projects and personal recovery efforts such as therapy.[30] [31] On December 9, 2022, the duo announced their return to music under the new name Soft Play, stating that "Slaves" no longer represented their personal growth or the themes in their music.[32] [33] In an accompanying statement, they apologized for any offense caused by the original name, reflecting that as "younger men" they had previously dismissed criticisms but now viewed the term differently in light of matured perspectives.[34] [35] The rebranding coincided with plans for new material and tours, marking a deliberate fresh start after reconciliation facilitated by therapy and time apart.[30][26]Reformation and Recent Activities (2023–present)
In early 2023, Soft Play, comprising Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent, resumed activities following a period of personal challenges and a rebranding from their prior name, Slaves. The duo headlined the 2000trees festival in July 2023, marking a significant return to live performances.[36] Their reunion was underscored by efforts to mend a previously strained friendship, with both members crediting therapy and mutual reconciliation for reigniting their collaboration.[5] [30] On August 21, 2023, Soft Play released the single "Punk's Dead," their first new material in years, accompanied by announcements of unannounced sets at Reading and Leeds Festivals that month.[37] [38] This track was followed by "Mirror Muscles" in early 2024, signaling a buildup to their next full-length release.[39] The band's fourth studio album, Heavy Jelly, was released on July 19, 2024, via BMG Rights Management, representing their first LP under the Soft Play moniker and after a six-year gap since their previous effort.[40] [39] It debuted at number three on the UK Albums Chart, their highest charting position to date.[41] [40] The album featured aggressive punk and nu-metal elements, with tracks like "Act Violently" previewed earlier that year.[39] In 2025, Soft Play issued an expanded edition titled Heavier Jelly on April 18, adding six bonus tracks to the original album, including the collaborative single "Slushy" with Kate Nash.[42] [43] The duo has maintained an active touring schedule, including headline shows in Australia from January to February 2025, appearances at North American events like Riot Fest in September 2025, and festival performances such as Reading 2025, where they brought out Kate Nash onstage and led a "free Palestine" chant.[44] [45] [46] During the Reading set, they also teased material from an upcoming new album.[47] Further dates are scheduled into 2026, including Rockaway Beach Festival and arena shows in the UK and Ireland.[48]Musical Style and Influences
Core Elements of Style
Soft Play operates as a two-piece punk rock band, with Isaac Holman handling lead vocals and drums while Laurie Vincent provides backing vocals alongside guitar and bass duties, creating a stripped-down, intense sonic framework that emphasizes raw energy over layered production.[49] This duo configuration, consistent since their formation in 2012, relies on Holman's propulsive drumming and Vincent's versatile riffing to drive tracks, often eschewing traditional bass lines in favor of guitar-distorted low-end aggression that amplifies the music's confrontational immediacy.[50] The result is a high-energy style rooted in hardcore punk's ferocity, post-punk's angularity, and metal's heaviness, characterized by short, explosive songs averaging under three minutes that prioritize velocity and distortion over melodic complexity.[49][51] Vocally, Holman's delivery stands out for its sandpaper-like rasp and shouted urgency, often layered with gang-vocal shouts that evoke '77-era British punk's communal aggression, while incorporating bluesy garage inflections for added grit and swagger.[52][50] Instrumentally, the band's sound features jagged, riff-heavy guitar work influenced by garage punk traditions, with occasional incorporations like mandolin for textural contrast in slower moments, though these remain subordinate to the dominant punk-metal hybrid drive.[53] Their production maintains a lo-fi edge even in studio recordings, favoring analog warmth and live-wire dynamics that capture the chaos of their performances, where amplified stacks and relentless tempo push audiences toward mosh-pit frenzy.[54] This elemental approach underscores a commitment to punk's DIY ethos, yielding music that is abrasive and unpolished yet rhythmically syncopated for danceable punch.[55] Lyrically, while not strictly a "core element" of musical style, the content integrates with the sound through themes of personal strife, societal critique, and absurd humor, delivered in Holman’s rapid-fire, half-spoken cadences that mirror the instrumentation's urgency and lend tracks a satirical bite without diluting their visceral impact.[52][56] Overall, Soft Play's style distills punk's rebellious core into a potent, duo-driven assault that balances brutality with fleeting melodic hooks, ensuring accessibility amid the onslaught.[57]Key Influences
Soft Play's musical influences primarily stem from punk and hardcore traditions, blended with elements of nu-metal and heavy rock. Guitarist and bassist Laurie Vincent has described the band's early inspirations as including the art-punk collective Crass, which shaped their confrontational ethos, though he notes that their sound evolved to incorporate broader heavy influences lost during periods of commercial adaptation.[5] Vincent has also acknowledged a personal affinity for nu-metal bands such as Korn, Limp Bizkit, Linkin Park, and System of a Down, which informed the aggressive riffing and drop-D tuning evident in their recent work, particularly on the album Heavy Jelly (2024); he previously downplayed these due to their stigma within punk communities but now embraces them as integral to the duo's "heavier" return to form.[5][58] Vocalist and drummer Isaac Holman and Vincent have emphasized rediscovering their "hardcore and punk rock influence" for Heavy Jelly, prioritizing authenticity over genre conformity after earlier attempts to align with indie expectations for broader appeal, such as radio play.[26] This includes indirect nods to hip-hop-infused punk like the Beastie Boys, whose energetic style resonated with the band's high-tempo, party-political energy on albums like Take Control (2016).[59] Unexpectedly eclectic touches appear as well, with Vincent citing childhood admiration for pop artist Robbie Williams—reflected in satirical elements on tracks like "Punk's Dead" (2023)—alongside rock acts like Fleetwood Mac and Bullet for My Valentine, highlighting a tension between raw aggression and melodic accessibility.[5] These diverse sources underscore Soft Play's rejection of punk purism in favor of a visceral, multifaceted sound rooted in personal experience rather than rigid adherence to subcultural norms.Band Members
Current Members
Soft Play is an English punk rock duo comprising Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent, who have remained the band's only members since its inception.[45][5] Isaac Holman performs lead vocals and drums, contributing to the band's high-energy, rhythm-driven sound.[45][5] Born in 1991, Holman co-founded the group and has been central to its creative output, including songwriting and performances.[31] Laurie Vincent handles guitar, bass, keyboards, and backing vocals, providing the melodic and textural support that defines the duo's raw punk aesthetic.[5][60] Also born in 1991, Vincent shares songwriting duties with Holman and has emphasized the band's collaborative dynamic in recent interviews, noting their repaired friendship as key to ongoing activity.[5][61]Discography
Studio Albums
Are You Satisfied?, the debut studio album by Soft Play (then known as Slaves), was released on 1 June 2015 through Virgin EMI Records.[15] It peaked at number 8 on the UK Albums Chart.[62] The follow-up, Take Control, arrived on 30 September 2016, also via Virgin EMI, and entered the UK top 10.[63] Acts of Fear and Love, their third album under the Slaves moniker, was issued on 17 August 2018 by Virgin EMI/AMF Records and similarly charted in the UK top 10.[64][63] The band's fourth studio album, Heavy Jelly, released as Soft Play on 19 July 2024 through BMG Rights Management, marked their highest UK chart position at number 3.[40][65]Extended Plays and Singles
The band, operating as Slaves until 2022, released their debut extended play Sugar Coated Bitter Truth in 2013, an 11-track effort featuring the short track "Girl Fight" that garnered early fan attention.[12] This was followed by a 2015 HMV-exclusive EP, limited in distribution and tied to retail promotion.[66] In July 2019, they issued The Velvet Ditch, a four-track EP reflecting dual band perspectives amid personal and creative shifts, released via Distiller Records.[67] Under the Soft Play name, no full extended plays have been released as of October 2025, though singles have driven recent output tied to their 2024 album Heavy Jelly.[68] Selected singles include the debut "Where's Your Car Debbie?" in 2013, an early indicator of their raw punk energy.[69] Post-name change, "Punk's Dead" arrived in 2023 as a standalone single signaling reformation.[70] In 2024, lead singles from Heavy Jelly comprised "Mirror Muscles" (March), "Act Violently" (June), and "Everything and Nothing" (September), each peaking in UK indie charts and emphasizing high-tempo riffs.[68] A collaborative single, "Slushy" featuring Kate Nash, followed in 2025.[68]| Extended Play | Release Year | Label | Tracks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sugar Coated Bitter Truth | 2013 | Boss Tuneage | 11 |
| HMV Exclusive EP | 2015 | HMV (promo) | Unspecified (promo) |
| The Velvet Ditch | 2019 | Distiller Records | 4 |