Soft Palms, are comprised of husband and wife duo Julia Kugel (The Coathangers) and Scott Montoya (formerly of The Growlers), have announced the release of their self-titled debut album on July 31st via Everloving Records. The album was recorded at the couple’s home studio, the Centre Of Mental Arts (COMA), and the magisterial mastering job by longtime friend and collaborator Mick Boggis (Pogues, Mötorhead, 12 Monkeys, Joe Strummer, etc.) who has served as a mentor throughout Montoya’s recording career.

“My goal was to create something that sounded like a mental hug, a sonic embrace,” says Julia Kugel. “Everything can feel so wild and out of control, we really wanted to create something you could sink into and use to calm those emotions.”

Though the album’s eight songs were written in fits and starts over the course of nearly a decade, Soft Palms ultimately came together over a two-year period as an extension of Kugel and Montoya’s broader musical ventures. Together they book the Happy Sundays music festival, run the non-profit Studios for Schools, and organize the events calendar Long Beach POP-all in an effort to celebrate, promote, and produce art and music through community and positivity. In keeping with their overarching philosophy of sustainability and waste reduction, all their merch is made from salvaged and repurposed clothing. Several items in their just-launched webstore are hand-dyed using cinnamon tea, and all are hand stamped (using a homemade stamp), making each item unique and one-of-a-kind. Soft Palms captures Kugel and Montoya’s unflappable positivity and energy and serves as yet another outlet for their ongoing work to make the world a bit brighter.

Soft PALMS
SOFT PALMS
TRACK LIST

1. Baddy
2. Rainbows
3. Oh Then Then
4. Rain & Thunder
5. Pretty Dancer
6. Bone Dry
7. Somewhere
8. Not Love