Soft Skies Inc ride a wave of bittersweet noise-pop nostalgia with ‘Sooner or Later’

Philadelphia duo Ryan and Martin Rex return with a blissful new single of gentle melodic heaviness on Tuesday, September 17 

NOW PLAYING: Listen to ‘Sooner Or Later’ on Spotify

‘Sooner or Later’ is Soft Skies Inc’s first new music in six years   

PHILADELPHIA, PA [September 17, 2024] – In this modern world of chaos and tension, we get lost sometimes. But music helps us find a way back to our zone of comfort. 

For Soft Skies Inc, the Philadelphia-based identical-twin duo and longtime musical confidants Ryan and Martin Rex, their shared sonic compass draws a straight line from the classic alternative of their youth to the modern alternative and dream-pop of today. Both sides of this sonic bliss are on kaleidoscopic display in their vibrant new single “Sooner or Later,” set for streaming release on Tuesday, September 17. 

That day, perhaps not coincidentally, throws it back to the New Music Tuesday scene we all grew up with, when we’d race to our favorite record stores and acquire and absorb everything that felt exciting. It’s also the Brothers Rex’ birthday, making this track, with its aural Easter eggs for Joy Division and The Cure and tonal DNA – which traces my bloody valentine, early R.E.M., New Order, The Smiths, and Spiritualized – all the more mindful of those wistful and joyful memories.  

“‘Sooner or Later’ is filled with bittersweet nostalgia for a time in one’s life that was innocent and free,” says Ryan. “I think no matter your circumstances, most can point to a period, usually younger years, where the world feels open, limitless, profound – before ‘real life gets in’. The song both lyrically and sonically reminisces about this time and laments the fact that we all get mangled – even under the best of conditions – and that sooner or later this is inevitable. And that somewhere deep down, we all know it’s inevitable.” 

That said, “Sooner or Later” is ultimately a song of hope, riding those tender waves of nostalgia, understanding that a loss of innocence comes with age but that we emerge from the other side with newfound perspective and awareness.  

It also serves as Soft Skies Inc’s first new music in six years, following a string of 2018 singles that continued the twins’ musical kinship that began in Boston’s fertile ‘90s-era music scene through space rock luminaries Lockgroove. A handful of separate projects followed for both Ryan and Martin, including the latter in Boston desert rock slingers Ghost Box Orchestra, but Soft Skies Inc allows the pair to both look back and power forward.  

“While we started working under the moniker of Soft Skies Inc to sort of take the shackles off – so to speak – from our past projects like Lockgroove and ‘write whatever we want’,” Ryan adds, “this song may be the closest of all the new songs to the ‘SSI sound.’ I think it also has a great vibe and catchiness and a good sunny ‘autumn’ feel so perfect for a September release.

“Sooner or Later” was recorded with Chris McLaughlin at Deep Space Studios and mastered by Rich Morales at Super Fine Audio. A true collaboration, Ryan Rex provides main vocals, guitars, bass, and keyboards, while Martin Rex supplies drums, percussion, backup vocals, and keyboards. The track was produced by the brothers alongside McLaughlin.

And while “Sooner or Later” canvasses a heavy softness, gliding with ease through corridors of melodic noise-pop, it emerges as just one shade in the Soft Skies Inc musical spectrum. 

“While we don’t want to limit ourselves and our fans will hear a range of styles from Soft Skies Inc,” Ryan adds, “I think this is the type of song we want to be writing and the type of song we’ve always wanted to write, even given our more noisy and experimental past. Nothing better than a song that moves, a great driving song with hooks, layers, surprises – melancholy but hopeful at the same time. Hopefully we achieved that.” 

And of course, the ability for the brothers to work together, share a collective vision, and shape a new sonic identity is one that has been a lifetime in the making. 

“Our musical bond has been strong since we were 15,” Ryan says. “What has changed is our situations over the years. We went from being in a five-piece grinding it out in clubs, writing concept albums,to  a recording project with a purity of vision and singular focus, just the two of us.  In terms of our bond we are in almost telepathic lockstep with what we want to do and the aesthetic we’re going for in each single.” 

That means a string of new music and visuals is set for release later this year and into 2025, including a proper music video for 2017 debut single and Soft Skies Inc standout “Your Small Army,” as well as a stream of new singles to christen the new year. And where “Sooner or Later” is tonally and thematically nostalgic, the forthcoming songs in the Soft Skies arsenal touch on a range of styles. 

What follows from there – an EP, possibly an album, maybe some live shows – is to be determined; because as of now, Martin and Ryan are rising high on this new wave of material that makes them feel as connected as ever. "And the hope is that the listener relates to a shared passion for the music that shaped us-especially at a time when we need all the inspiration we can get."

“The best thing about creating music under the Soft Skies Inc moniker is, for sure, creating music with my twin brother and everything that surrounds that,” Ryan concludes. “The creative process is incredibly intense but it can be so rewarding to do something of real value that will live on. We really hope people connect with the songs and get something out of them.” 

Just like we used to when we were younger.

‘Sooner Or Later’ single artwork:

Soft Skies Inc is:

Ryan Rex: Main vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards

Martin Rex: Drums, percussion, backup vocal, keyboards

‘Sooner Or Later’ production credits:

Recorded with Chris McLaughlin at Deep Space Studios, NYC

Produced by Ryan and Martin Rex with Chris McLaughlin

Mastered by Rich Morales at Super Fine Audio, NYC

Soft Skies Inc short bio:

Soft Skies Inc is the new recording project from twin writing team Ryan and Martin Rex. With each single, the twins seek to feed your head or elevate your day. The Soft Skies Inc sound is noisy, poppy, psychedelic, melodic, driving—exploring texture and mood and space and time. New single “Sooner or Later” is set for September 2024 release, with more new music and visuals to quickly follow. 

Media praise for Soft Skies Inc: 

“‘The Kickaround’ [is] a noisy guitar-pop jam that grinds like the night and shines like the morning.” _Vanyaland

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