The Softies

Although The Softies became a band in 1994, our story begins about a year before, in Santa Rosa, CA at a party where Jen Sbragia’s band, Pretty Face, was playing. Jen, a fan of Rose Melberg’s soon to be defunct band, Tiger Trap, introduced herself. The two had an instant chemistry and interest in one another. Upon returning to Sacramento, Rose received a copy of Jen’s fanzine with a letter. The two remained in contact and romanticized the idea of someday playing together. When Tiger Trap came to an end in January 1994, Jen ambitiously phoned Rose to ask her to play together as they had discussed. Rose agreed and soon after Jen was in her car on her way to Sacramento. Within a day, The Softies was formed and the pair recorded two songs, which would become their first release, Loveseat, a 7” single released on Slumberland Records.



One month later, Rose moved to Portland, OR and The Softies went on their first tour down the coast. Around the same time, Rose was starting to play with Go Sailor. When Rose and Jen finished their tour, they traveled up to Rose’s “home away from home”, Olympia, WA to begin work on their next single with Calvin Johnson in his Dub Narcotic Studio. The product of this homecoming was The Softies’ first single, He’ll Never Have to Know (IPU 56).



After a second trip to Olympia with Go Sailor to work on their first single (later released on Pat Maley’s YOYO label) Rose decided that she and Jen should work on their next record there as well. The unfortunate result of this decision was two nights of frustration and many takes. This recording was eventually released as both a 10” and CD on Slumberland. After the release, The Softies embarked on their first US tour in a Geo Metro hatchback.



Upon arriving home, it was time to begin work on their first full length. It’s Love (KLP 43) was recorded in Sacramento in the house that Rose grew up in. After another year of touring and taking time apart to work on individual art projects, the duo recorded the jazz- chord influenced and critically praised follow up full-length, Winter Pageant (KLP 61). This was to be their last album for three years.



During this time Rose was wed to Mint Records’ owner Bill Baker and relocated to Summerland, B.C. She began to play drums in the Vancouver, B.C. based Gaze who recorded two LPs, Mitsumeru (KLP 80) in 1998 and Shake the Pounce (KLP 87) in 1999. She also recorded her first solo work in eight years, Portola, for NY’s Double Agent label. Meanwhile, down in Portland, Jen had started to play with the All Girl Summer Fun Band.



Despite these other commitments, early in 2000, the two began work on their most mature and instrumentally diverse record, Holiday in Rhode Island (KLP 119). Recorded hours from Rose’s Summerland home on Galliano Island in one of the most scenic pockets of British Columbia this record continues the tradition of musical progression for the Softies.



November, 2000

Softies