| Soft Power | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by | ||||
| Released | 15 November 2024 | |||
| Genre | Electronic, alt rock, pop | |||
| Label | Buttrfly Records, section1 | |||
| Producer | Amelia Murray | |||
| Fazerdaze chronology | ||||
| ||||
| Singles from Soft Power | ||||
| ||||
Soft Power is the sophomore studio album by New Zealand musical project Fazerdaze. The album was released on 15 November 2024 via Buttrfly Records in New Zealand and Australia. It was also released worldwide by Section1, a subsidiary label of Partisan Records.[1]
The album follows the project's 2017 debut album, Morningside and its 2022 second EP, Break!. As with the project's previous releases, Amelia Murray wrote, recorded and produced the album mostly by herself. Murray was assisted by engineers Simon Gooding on mixing and Emily Wheatcroft-Snape on recording the drum parts.[2]
Background and recording
editFollowing a five-year hiatus from the music industry, Murray returned in late 2022 with her second EP as Fazedaze, titled Break!.[2] She recorded the EP as a separate project while she was working on Soft Power.
Songs
edit"Bigger" is a synth-infused alt-rock song that explores themes of personal growth, in that it reflects Murray's journey into womanhood and the pressures of navigating her life as a musician.[3] Murray experimented with an "anti-chorus" approach, where the synthesizers dominate and the vocal melody shifts to a spoken part.[3][4]
"Cherry Pie" is noted as a reflection of Murray's decade-long journey of self-discovery. According to Murray, the song's origins dates back to her first trip to Los Angeles, United States in the 2010s.[2]
Promotion and release
editIn September 2023, Fazerdaze released the lead single, "Bigger" ahead of her late 2023 tour in Australia, the UK, and Europe.[3] Murray announced the release of Soft Power on 10 September 2024, and released the second single "Cherry Pie" concurrently.[5] The single became Fazerdaze's first No. 1 hit single in New Zealand.[6][7] Fazerdaze followed up with the third single "A Thousand Years" in October 2024. On 15 November 2024, Fazerdaze released Soft Power simultaneously with its fourth single, "So Easy" accompanied by a music video uploaded to YouTube.[8]
Fazerdaze began touring North America in November 2024 with the Australian rock band Pond, who are touring to support their album Stung!.[1][9][10] The tour was scheduled to end the following month in December 2024.
Critical reception
edit| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| Rolling Stone Australia |   [11] |
Soft Power received critical acclaim upon release.[12][13][14][15]
Track listing
editAll tracks are written by Amelia Murray
| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Soft Power" | 3:38 |
| 2. | "So Easy" | 3:28 |
| 3. | "Bigger" | 3:18 |
| 4. | "Dancing Years" | 3:44 |
| 5. | "In Blue" | 3:38 |
| 6. | "A Thousand Years" | 3:32 |
| 7. | "Purple_02" | 2:13 |
| 8. | "Distorted Dreams" | 3:29 |
| 9. | "Cherry Pie" | 4:09 |
| 10. | "Sleeper" | 1:58 |
| 11. | "City Glitter" | 3:49 |
| Total length: | 36:56 | |
Personnel
editAccording to Rolling Stone Australia and Apple Music album credits.[2][16]
- Amelia Murray – vocals, instrumentations, producer, recording engineer
- Simon Gooding – mixing engineer
- Emily Wheatcroft-Snape – recording engineer
References
edit- ^ a b Pedder, Alan (2024-09-10). "Fazerdaze previews new album 'Soft Power' with lead single "Cherry Pie"". The Needle Drop. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ a b c d Lochrie, Conor (2024-09-09). "Fazerdaze Announces Long-Awaited Second Album 'Soft Power'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ a b c Lochrie, Conor (2023-09-14). "Fazerdaze Explores the Pressures of Being a Musician on 'Bigger'". Rolling Stone Australia. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ Kendall, Arun (2023-09-13). "Track: Everything is 'Bigger' for Fazerdaze as she releases ethereal new single ahead of Australian and European tour". Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "Fazerdaze Announces Forthcoming Sophomore Album Soft Power, And New Single 'Cherry Pie' | NZ Music Commission". Retrieved 2024-09-11.
- ^ "The Official New Zealand Music Chart". THE OFFICIAL NZ MUSIC CHART. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ "NZ Charts". www.instagram.com. 20 September 2024. Retrieved 2024-10-23.
- ^ Wilson, Brian (2024-11-14). "Fazerdaze Drops Music Video For Final Single "So Easy" From Sophomore Album "Soft Power" - groovest". Retrieved 2024-11-23.
- ^ Pearls, Bill (28 May 2024). "Pond announce tour with Fazerdaze, share "So Lo"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ Pearis, Bill (10 September 2024). "Fazerdaze announces first album in 7 years, touring with Pond: listen to "Cherry Pie"". Brooklyn Vegan. Retrieved 2024-09-12.
- ^ https://au.rollingstone.com/music/music-album-reviews/fazerdaze-soft-power-album-review-68921/
- ^ "Fazerdaze 'Soft Power': Album Review". Rolling Stone Australia. 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ Kendall, Arun (2024-11-14). "Album Review: Fazerdaze wields her 'Soft Power' with aplomb in a majestic new album". Backseat Mafia. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ jaredeichmann (2024-11-14). "Album Review: Fazerdaze – Soft Power". The Indy Review. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ Pywell, Matty. "Fazerdaze, "Soft Power"". FLOOD. Retrieved 2024-11-17.
- ^ Murray, Amelia. "Soft Power". Fazerdaze. Retrieved 2024-09-11.