“Purgatory” by SOAK is Stephanie’s DJ Pick of the Week! SOAK is an indie singer-songwriter from Derry, Northern Ireland. Their career began in 2013, growing exponentially after their nomination for the BBC Sound of… poll in 2015. In addition, they were nominated for the Mercury Prize in 2015, awarded to the best Irish/British album yearly. So far, SOAK has released two studio albums and a dozen singles, all under Rough Trade Records.
Typically, SOAK’s music is heavily based in their personal life, and “Purgatory” is no exception. In the song, they talk about fading away to time, with a strong emphasis on life and the fear of irrelevancy. As such, SOAK’s vocals are deep and powerful, with eerie harmonies in some areas. Meanwhile, the instrumental amplifies the emotion displayed in the lyrics. Although the underlying groove remains relatively consistent throughout, the instruments erupt chaotically at times. This is most evident towards the end of the song, where the entire song becomes wild and free-form for a few seconds. Overall, the instrumental features harsh guitar tones, punchy drums, and funky bass.
SOAK released “Purgatory” as a single to preview their upcoming album, If I Never Know You Like This Again. The album releases May 20th, with options to pre-order and pre-save it here. In addition, SOAK will be on tour across Ireland and the UK later this spring. Information regarding this tour is available here. Otherwise, be sure to stay up to date with SOAK through their social media, as well as their website. Also, feel free to check out the official music video for “Purgatory” below!
Tune into 100.1 FM or lightning100.com to hear “Purgatory” by SOAK as Stephanie’s DJ Pick of the Week. Be sure to let us know your thoughts! Tweet at us with #L100DJPicks and share your take on the track.
