The Soft Moon has announced his signing to Sacred Bones with details of his fourth studio album Criminal, set for release on February 2, 2018. The now Berlin-based musician has shared the album’s opening track ‘Burn’ and an accompanying lyric video. A confrontation with Luis Vasquez (The Soft Moon)’s true self through torrid bass lines and searing vocals, ‘Burn’ evokes a loss of control akin to demonic possession, chanting: "Eyes, reflecting the person that I am, and it burns". In this track Vasquez's battle with his own guilt bores deeper and deeper into a condemnation: "Fire, hell is where I'll go to live, so I burn”.

Criminal is a confessional work. Through the stark lens of shame and guilt that has followed Luis Vasquez since a violent childhood growing up within the humming ambient sprawl of ‘80s Mojave Desert, here he documents the gut-wrenching sound of going to war with himself. Battling with his own sanity, self-hatred, insecurity, self-entitlement and grappling with the risk of these things transforming him into a person he despises, Vasquez has laid his feelings bare with this: his confession and most self-reflective work to date. 

“Guilt is my biggest demon and has been following me since childhood. Everything I do strengthens the narrative that I am guilty” Vasquez reflects. “The concept of Criminal is a desperate attempt to find relief by both confessing to my wrongdoings and by blaming others for their wrongdoings that have affected me.”

Criminal marks a striking and important chapter in his self-exploration, both artistically and emotionally. As a young musician living in Oakland, Vasquez began to try and process the narrative of his difficult upbringing veiled through musical exploration. The Soft Moon is set to perform a select number of live dates this month, including Sacred Bones 10th Anniversary show in Los Angeles and Le Guess Who Festival in the Netherlands. Full tour dates to follow soon.

‘Criminal’ tracklist:

1. Burn (Lyric video)

2. Choke

3. Give Something

4. Like a Father

5. The Pain

6. It Kills

7. ILL

8. Young

9. Born Into This

10. Criminal

Earlier this month, Lauran Hibberd performed on the main stage at Bestival. Her newest song, ‘Eliza’ , belongs in an indie movie soundtrack for the little voice in your head. In the screen-less moments of our daily routines, our thoughts entertain our busy brains. Without earbuds, you might find yourself chanting “E-L-I-Z-A” and humming the chorus just like you would for the White Stripes’ ‘Hotel Yorba’.

The energetic guitar riffs, walking organ notes and steady beat complement Lauran’s voice like Zooey Deschanel in She & Him. One can easily imagine the song in a fun coming of age film like 500 Days of Summer that also boasts an impressive soundtrack. In ‘Eliza’, the lyrics explore a sense of self that comes from the choices we make. Lauran names her conscience Eliza. She wonders what others would think of the girl who lives in the back of her mind. Who is really in control? This song encourages listeners to think about how choices define our character and our relationships.

“For me, ‘Eliza’ is a soundtrack. It’s the dancing around in your room when your alone, the song you brush your teeth to in the morning. It’s coming of age, it’s fun, it’s young and it’s brash. It’s ignorantly honest, and represents my generation and the world I live in (all of its faults included). I wrote the song about the little voice we all have in the back of our minds, and I just happened to name mine ‘Eliza’.”