Soft Play on their name change and new music: “We can be aggressive, but we can also have a little cuddle”

nme.com:

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.

Now, we’ve re-embraced what first inspired us and people seem really happy about it”Originally written by drummer and vocalist Isaac Holman for his solo project Baby Dave, the tongue-in-cheek ‘Mirror Muscles’ was inspired by people-watching at the gym while he worked out. “I’m just fascinated by gym culture,” he told NME.Before it was properly released though, Holman showed it to Vincent who immediately told him “we’re having this for Soft Play”.“The band just has a bigger platform and it’s too good a song not to share,” explained Vincent, who helped reimagine the track by taking influence from ‘00s nu-metal artists like Limp Bizkit, Korn, Alien Ant Farm and System Of A Down alongside pop-punk icons like Avril Lavigne.“‘Mirror Muscles’ is a real homage to those ’00s bands,” explained Vincent. “I stopped trying to be this cool person that only liked Radiohead and started owning who I really was.