Laurie Vincent: Last News

Soft Play, formerly Slaves, have dropped ‘Everything And Nothing’ – the heartfelt latest single from their upcoming album. Check it out below.Shared today (June 4), the track follows on the previously released ‘Punk’s Dead’, ‘Mirror Muscles’ and ‘Act Violently’, and is set to feature alongside them on their upcoming fourth studio album ‘Heavy Jelly’.

Soft Play and Kate Nash have spoken to NME about their collaborative new single ‘Slushy’, and reflected on how the music industry’s “model is broken”. Listen to the song and read the full interview below.The track is set to appear on an expanded version of the Tunbridge Wells punk duo’s Number Three-charting fourth album ‘Heavy Jelly’ – the original of which arrived last summer.Titled ‘Heavier Jelly’, the project will feature six new tracks taken from the LP sessions that felt “too soft for the record, but too good to scrap”, the band’s guitarist Laurie Vincent told NME.

Soft Play have spoken to NME about being on course for their highest-charting album yet – with ‘Heavy Jelly’ currently in the top three of the midweeks alongside the likes of Eminem and Glass Animals.UK punk duo Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman released ‘Heavy Jelly’, their first record since changing their name from Slaves to Soft Play, last Friday (July 19).“It would have been a lot easier to stay as Slaves through fear of all of the potential consequences that were running through our heads – losing our fan base, losing our direction, everything we’d built up – that it was actually a really tough thing to do, but we persevered through it, and it’s paid off,” they told NME. “We’ve set an example for people coming after us that it’s never too late to change course.” As Soft Play, the duo’s popularity only grown.

Soft Play have shared a video showing the history of their friendship with Robbie Williams.The duo recently supported the star at his BST Hyde Park show at the weekend.Now, the pair have shared a video of how they became friends with Williams over the years, which you can view below.They start by revealing that Williams shared his love for the band in 2015 and declaring that vocalist and drummer Isaac Holman was his “favourite”.A post shared by SOFT PLAY (@softplayplaysoft)The pair then shared a clip of the star saying he wanted to make music like “you guys” in 2022. They said they then asked him to appear on their 2023 single ‘Punk’s Dead’, which he agreed to and appeared in the video for the track.He then invited them to perform at BST Hyde Park alongside the likes Seal, Gaz Coombes and Kate Nash.Ahead of the show the band were invited backstage to watch England’s quarter final match against Switzerland and they had a selfie with Williams and spoke to Danny Dyer who later teamed up with the star for a cover of Blur’s classic hit ‘Parklife’.Soft Play added that it was a “full circle moment” for the duo.Speaking about a potential further collaboration with Williams to NME previously, guitarist Laurie Vincent said: “It’s an ongoing conversation.

Soft Play were joined onstage by punk duo Bob Vylan at Glastonbury 2024 – watch footage below.During their stint on the Other Stage last Sunday (June 30), drummer Isaac Holman told the crowd: “We’re gonna invite some friends onto the stage,” before the band joined them for a riotous performance of ‘One More Day Won’t Hurt’.Bob Vylan have been a significant force in the trajectory of Soft Play, and were partially responsible for the duo changing their name from Slaves in 2022, following conversations between Vylan vocalist Bobby and Holman.Soft Play and Bob Vylan…..brilliant #Glastonbury2024 pic.twitter.com/gEY0tWHPIF— WarrenPeace (@WarrenPeace_75) June 30, 2024When the band announced the change two years ago, it was coupled with a statement explaining that the original name was supposed to reflect “the grind of day-to-day life,” with the acknowledgement that it didn’t “change the fact that the name Slaves is an issue”.Holman later explained he’d discussed the racial insensitivity of the band’s name with Bobby. “He basically said we were one of his favourite bands but he wouldn’t wear our merch,” explained Holman.Guitarist Laurie Vincent also said at the time: “If he felt uncomfortable about liking us, there must be others who feel the same way.”In their statement, the band wrote that they had “responded to criticism of the name from a place of fear and defensiveness,” and shared fears about losing their identity as a unit alongside the name.“It took years of therapy to see past that,” Vincent told NME. “In the end, it just became tiring.

Soft Play – FKA Slaves – have shared their brutal new single ‘Act Violently’ and announced the new album ‘Heavy Jelly’.The new track follows the previously released ‘Punk’s Dead‘ and ‘Mirror Muscles‘, and takes cues from nu-metal with its taut heaviness and the clean punch of its production. It also includes elements of Brit punk.According to a press release, the song was inspired by Isaac Holman and Laurie Vincent almost getting hit by an e-scooter as they stepped out of album sessions at The Libertines’ Albion Rooms studio in Margate.“The whole walk back to the studio, we were discussing our contempt for e-scooter drivers.

Soft Play have spoken to NME about their nu-metal inspired single ‘Mirror Muscles’ and what fans can expect from their first album in six years – as well as their decision to ditch the name ‘Slaves’ name and the chances of another collab with Robbie Williams.The punk duo kickstarted a new chapter of their career back in August with snooty comeback track ‘Punk’s Dead’ and last week, they followed it up with the ferocious ‘Mirror Muscles’.“We’ve just really embraced what we were about when we first started this band,” said guitarist Laurie Vincent. “On the last two records (2016’s ‘Take Control’ and 2018’s ‘Acts Of Fear And Love’) we had veered off course accidentally trying to be something we weren’t.

Jedward have been spotted at this year’s edition of Reading & Leeds, catching up with Soft Play and campaigning against climate change.The Irish duo – brothers John and Edward Grimes – are most famous for their appearance on talent show X Factor back in 2009, where they donned the group name Jedward and caught the nation’s eye with their signature bleach-blonde quiffs.Now, 14 years after they first came into the spotlight, the siblings have been spotted at Leeds festival, where they raised awareness for climate change, held a performance and caught up with some famous faces.“I just think climate is important,” Edward said while taking part in some environmental discussions at the festival site (via BBC). “Sometimes people feel like they don’t know everything about everything but it’s about just educating yourself and moving forward.”Identical twin brother John agreed, adding: “All you’ve got to do is be a tryer.”According to reports, dozens of punters queued up to meet the singing duo, after the brothers performed on the Climate Live: Bus Stage.

Soft Play have returned with their ferocious new single ‘Punk’s Dead’ and announced that they will be performing sets at Reading & Leeds 2023.Back in December 2022, the duo comprising Laurie Vincent and Isaac Holman – who were formerly known as Slaves – confirmed their long-awaited return to music and announced their new name.‘Punk’s Dead’ sees the pair addressing the discourse around the decision to update their name as they channel faux-outrage on the rambunctious new track.It also features a cast of family and friends in the bridge along with an unlikely guest feature from Robbie Williams, who sings: “I love you but I disagree / this is bullshit / and I just wanted you to know / snowflake, snowflake / cherries on the woke cake / but I’ll still see you at your show.”Speaking to Jack Saunders on BBC Radio 1, Soft Play said that Williams was a fan of the band and wanted to collaborate in some way.Listen to ‘Punk’s Dead’ below.Alongside the new single announcement, Soft Play have confirmed that they will also be joining the bill at Reading & Leeds festival this year, following their recent return to the live circuit with a show at Tunbridge Wells Forum and headline slot at 2000 Trees Festival.The duo will be performing on the Festival Republic Stage at Reading on August 26 and Leeds on August 27. They will also be supporting The Prodigy on tour this autumn.Around the release of their debut album ‘Are You Satisfied?’ in 2015, the band drew criticism for its name as some described it as racially insensitive.

Slaves drummer Isaac Holman has announced details of his debut solo album, which will be released under the name Baby Dave.‘Monkey Brain’ will be self-released on April 22, and features instrumental and production contributions from Blur and Gorillaz frontman Damon Albarn as well new single ’29’.It follows the project’s first single ‘Too Shy For Tennis’, which was released last summer and was also assisted by Albarn.’29’ was written when Holman challenged himself to compose a track during an uneventful coach journey. You can hear the lo-fi electronic track, along with an appropriately bus-themed video below.“There really isn’t much of a story behind this tune, but that’s kind of the whole point,” Holman said.

Laurie Vincent has penned an emotional tribute to his longtime girlfriend, Emma Jane Mulholland, who has died aged 32.