Bands

The Soft Moon Pays Homage to 80s Dance Films in the Video for “Become the Lies”

The Soft Moon returns with a new retro-flavored video for “Become The Lies”, off songwriter Luis Vasquez’s forthcoming fifth studio album Exister. The first from The Soft Moon in four years, Exister materialized after a massive move during lockdown. During the pandemic, Vasquez left his adopted city of Berlin and transplanted himself to the mystical Joshua Tree, California.

The track, produced by Luis Vasquez, and mixed/mastered by Maurizio Baggio, is one of The Soft Moon’s best yet. Showcasing Vasquez’s versatility in song composition and vocals, it is a stirring anthem whose melody leans heavily towards the mid-80s catalog of Depeche Mode and Tears For Fears while maintaining the band’s trademark dark post-punk sound that a decade ago paved the way for today’s Indie label scene.

In writing the song, Vasquez explains:

“I had an identity crisis after discovering dark secrets about my family’s past. This happened while I was writing the album, and it destroyed me. ‘Become The Lies‘ expresses how everything I thought I knew about my life was untrue. Lies, shame, and guilt have been a recurring theme in my music.

I explored it in Criminal, but during the writing process of Exister I became more self-aware and finally understood that I was never the liar in the story. I wanted to dance in the video to contrast with the lack of control I felt over my life in that moment. It’s my way of shaking off the bad stuff. It’s also an escape from the seriousness of this song.”

The video, directed by filmmakers Wiggy and Matt Ploeger, is a nod and homage to those “dance it out” sequences in the likes of films such as Fame, Flashdance, and Footloose. Highlighting Vasquez in silhouette, it is an exorcism of ecstatic movement.

Watch the video for “Become The Lies” below:

Pre-order Exister here. The album comes out on September 23, 2022, via Sacred Bones Records.

Vasquez began The Soft Moon as a solo project in 2009, with the intent to direct his energy into the aim of delivering a full sensory experience within the context of live performance. The band would later integrate visual elements on stage to accompany performances, specifically light shows. The Soft Moon plans to tour in Europe and North America in the autumn to promote the new album.  All dates are listed below.

The Soft Moon Tour Dates:

  • Sep 26 Hamburg, DE – U&G
  • Sep 27 Berlin, DE – So36
  • Sep 28 Leipzig, DE – UT Connewitz
  • Sep 29 Cologne, DE – Gebaude9
  • Sep 30 Poznan, PL – Próżność
  • Oct 01 Warsaw, PL – Praga Centrum
  • Oct 02 Krakow, PL – Klub Muzyczny Poczta Główna
  • Oct 03 Prague, CZ – Futurum
  • Oct 04 Munich, DE – Hansa 39
  • Oct 05 Pordenone, IT – Capitol
  • Oct 06 Rome, IT – Monk
  • Oct 07 Milan, IT – Santeria
  • Oct 08 Bologna, IT – Covo
  • Oct 10 Toulouse, FR – Le Connexion
  • Oct 11 Vigo, ES – Master Club
  • Oct 12 Lisbon, PT – LAV room 2
  • Oct 13 Madrid, ES – La Casa Encendida
  • Oct 14 Zaragoza, ES – Jardín de Invierno
  • Oct 15 Barcelona, ES – Nitsa Club (La (2) de Apolo)
  • Oct 17 Lyon, FR – Epicerie Moderne
  • Oct 18 Zurich, CH – Mascotte Club
  • Oct 19 Gent, BE – Handelsbeurs
  • Oct 20 Lille, FR – Le Grand Mix
  • Oct 21 Luxembourg, LU – Kulturfabrik
  • Oct 22 Brussels, BE – Beursschouwburg
  • Oct 24 Amsterdam, NL – Paradiso Noord
  • Oct 25 Nijmegen, NL – Doornroosje
  • Oct 26 Groningen, NL – VERA
  • Oct 27 London, UK – The Garage
  • Oct 28 Amiens, FR – La Lune des Pirates
  • Oct 29 Paris, FR – Trabendo
  • Nov 09 Philadelphia, PA – Underground Arts
  • Nov 10 Brooklyn, NY – Music Hall of Williamsburg
  • Nov 11 Washington, DC – The Howard Theatre
  • Nov 12 Richmond, VA – The Broadberry
  • Nov 13 Asheville, NC – The Grey Eagle
  • Nov 14 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade (Hell Stage)
  • Nov 16 New Orleans, LA – One Eyed Jack’s
  • Nov 17 Houston, TX – Numbers
  • Nov 18 Dallas, TX – Deep Ellum Art Co
  • Nov 19 Austin, TX – Mohawk
  • Nov 21 Phoenix, AZ – Crescent Ballroom
  • Nov 25 Los Angeles, CA – The Regent Theater
  • Nov 26 San Francisco, CA – The Independent
  • Nov 29 Portland, OR – Wonder Ballroom
  • Nov 30 Vancouver, BC – Rickshaw Theatre
  • Dec 01 Seattle, WA – Neumos
  • Dec 02 Boise, ID – The Olympic
  • Dec 03 Salt Lake City, UT – Urban Lounge
  • Dec 04 Denver, CO – The Oriental Theatre
  • Dec 06 Minneapolis, MN – Fine Line
  • Dec 07 Chicago, IL – Metro
  • Dec 08 Detroit, MI – El Club
  • Dec 09 Toronto, ON – The Opera House
  • Dec 10 Montreal, QC – S.A.T.
  • Dec 11 Boston, MA – The Sinclair

Follow The Soft Moon:

Alice Teeple

Alice Teeple is a photographer, multidisciplinary artist, and writer. She is not in Tin Machine.

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