In a post-pandemic and pre-election era, The Soods search for clarity and purpose.

The Grand Rapids, Michigan collective explores those aspirations while having an existential crisis on its latest self-titled EP.

“I think we’re all at a point in our lives where we came out of this situation and we’re all trying to put the pieces back together,” said Jason Roy, frontman and co-producer for The Soods. “But at the same time, we’re trying to hang on to the big pieces that we had before.”

As part of that exploration, the collective of multi-instrumentalists Matt Ten Clay, Shane Tripp, Chris Coble, Patrick Wieland, Steven Meltzer, and Roy addresses the disappointment, longing, and regret that comes with the passage of time.

“We’re all on the same page, the same wavelength, and the same vibe. I attribute that to the idea that we’re all going through stuff on earth all the time,” said Roy about The Soods’ bedroom-pop EP, which features vivid instrumentation and contemplative lyrics.

“We hit a nice rhythm where everybody had the same premonitions or existential questions. It’s like, ‘How did I end up here?’”

A Concise and Philosophical Journey

It doesn’t take long for The Soods to start and end that philosophical journey on their self-titled EP. At 14 minutes long, the EP’s eight tracks immerse listeners in a dream-like state as they examine their own lives alongside the collective.

“This one is the most cohesive in terms of everyone doing the most stuff on this EP. It felt like if The Soods were a functioning five- or six-person band that rehearsed and got together, they’d probably sound like this,” Roy said.

“To me, The Soods is like a little art project where the titles are their own thing, the songs are their own thing, and the artwork is abstract. I like the thought process of approaching it like it’s a multi-genre project that we have to turn in at some point.”

Those multi-genre sounds instantly fill the confessional opener, “Leaves,” which blends melodic and upbeat elements of pop, rock, and folk.

Surrounded by carefree electric guitar, bass, and drums, Chris Coble sings, “I’m making like a tree and leaving / See what I did? No one cares at all / Get out one more for the season / Caved in with a cannonball.”

“‘Leaves’ was the first song I wrote in the mindset of ‘Let’s write some songs and put something together for this [EP].’ I love songs where the tune is up-tempo, but the lyrics are melancholy,” Roy said.

“There’s an Oasis song called ‘Up in the Sky’ from their first album. It’s that exact type of song where it’s an up-tempo and upbeat instrumental, but if you listen to the lyrics, it’s about longing and wanting something more than you currently have in life. [‘Leaves’] struck that same chord for me.”

Like “Leaves,” “Coughies” also strikes a chord due to its examination of letting bygones be bygones. Backed by enlightened electric guitar, bass, and drums, Matt Ten Clay sings, “Well, wouldn’t you know / That it up and passed me by / Yes, it’s true what they say / It’s all gone in the blink of an eye.”

“It’s a light-hearted look at how things pass in the blink of an eye. No amount of people telling you [about a situation] is going to make you understand it until you’re in it and then it’s gone,” Roy said.

“It’s like speaking between the lines and saying, ‘Look, this is the one shot you get, so hang onto the good stuff while you can and try to dust off as much of the bad stuff as you go along.’ You have to try and dust yourself off or you’re gonna crumble.”

Next, the collective enjoys a momentary escape from life’s troubles on “Slip on Down.” Filled with inviting electric guitar, bass, and drums, Shane Tripp sings, “Can you swim / Down with me? / And the pain you’re brandishing / Let that sink / To the floor / You don’t have to cry anymore.”

“It’s like a two-sided coin in the sense that it’s an escape, but it’s also a reminder to let your hair down every once in a while,” Roy said. “Sometimes slowing down or stopping for a minute is OK.”

After taking a breath on “Slip on Down,” The Soods return to their present-day struggles and yearn for the past on “SadNap.”

Comforted by wistful electric guitar, bass, and drums, Steven Meltzer sings, “Rainbow leaking out an old Trans Am / Steel bars holding up a soul / Barely whisper that you had a chance.”

“It feels like several character studies,” Roy said. “In my head, the lyric, ‘Rainbow leaking out an old Trans Am,’ it makes me think of someone my father’s age reliving their youth. It’s also hearing something that brings someone back to a moment or place in time.”

Finally, The Soods find fleeting moments of everyday acceptance on the brief closer, “Dreamy.”

Alongside atmospheric acoustic guitar, Shane Tripp sings, “Memories fade faster than they come to stay / Reminders of someone’s long forgotten days / Flicker and flash like a fallen star’s autograph.”

“The way technology and social media work now … life and imagery come at you so fast now, they’re gone before they even arrive—that’s where my head was at,” Roy said. “And the lyric, ‘Reminders of someone’s long forgotten days,’ that could be 25 days or 48 hours ago [for someone or something].”

The Studio and The Stage

Once they took a deep look inward, The Soods started writing songs for their self-titled EP in late 2021 and penned the last track, “Dreamy,” at the end of 2023.

“There’s usually a straggler that’s buttoned on at the end, whether it’s a new one, an old one, or an old one getting new life,” Roy said. “‘SadNap’ had been around the longest … and it felt like it hadn’t fit quite right with everything and not everything had fit right around it. We thought it was too good to gamble on someone not hearing it.”

Roy then brought 18 to 20 demos of songs in various stages to The Soods for consideration. The collective landed on eight tracks and spent six to nine months recording them at the members’ respective home studios.

“For ‘Slip on Down,’ I had that main riff and the outline of the chord progression and structures. I thought, ‘Well, where does it go from there? Maybe Shane [Tripp] will want to play bass,’” Roy said. “In the time that it took him to put the bass on it, he said, ‘This is a cool song, who’s singing this?’ And I said, ‘How about you?’, and he took the reins on that.”

Roy also worked closely with co-producer Matt Ten Clay on finalizing the tracks for the EP.

“Once I get the songs to a point where they have lyrics on them and they’re just needing drums and extra overdubs, that’s when I get all of the stems into a Google Drive folder and get those over to Matt,” he said.

In addition to working with the core members of The Soods, Roy collaborated with Paul Geoghan (bass), Matthew “Nordy” Noordhoff (backing vocals), and Jordan Stricken (slide guitar, bass, synth strings) on five of the EP’s tracks.

“All three have collaborated with us before. Nordy is one of Steven [Meltzer’s] oldest friends from high school, and we all went to the same high school. Nordy has a three-piece or four-piece band that performs under [that name]—he’s a great guitarist and singer,” Roy said.

“Paul is through Steven as well and he used to be in a band with Paul. I think it was around the time we were doing the first Elroy Meltzer album, and we said, ‘Who’s going to play bass on it?’ And Steven said, ‘My buddy Paul could play us some tracks,’ and he did stuff. I’ve known Jordan since we were kids.”

Outside of the studio, The Soods will perform songs from their EP and extensive catalog during a November 12 set at Bell’s Eccentric Cafe in Kalamazoo, Michigan. They’re sharing the stage with Friendship and Wild Pink.

After the show, the collective will resume working on new material.

“Steven [Meltzer] and I got together for the first time a few weeks ago, and I brought him five ideas. We demoed them all with finished lyrics … and we’ve been on a bit of [streak] lately in terms of doing stuff,” Roy said.

“Two tracks are also with Pat [Wieland] right now, and they started with me supplying a few guitar tracks. He’s taken a liking to them, and he’s taking them closer to the finish line. Those will be the next two things, and they’ll probably come out as singles.”

The Soods perform November 12 with Friendship and Wild Pink at Bell’s Eccentric Café in Kalamazoo, Michigan. Tickets are available through Bell Eccentric Café’s website.