Los Angeles band Softer has just released their new single called “Cry, Laugh.” This song has a soft rock sound with layers of guitar that make it feel kind of like shoegaze music. More than just how it sounds, “Cry, Laugh” is a song about going through tough times, thinking deeply about yourself, and slowly starting to feel better again.
If you’ve heard their previous single “Beachball,” you might remember how it talked about feeling renewed like being washed clean by the ocean on the West Coast. “Cry, Laugh” follows a similar idea but takes it on a deeper level. The song describes the experience as a real trip, where you might cry and laugh a lot, learning more about your feelings.
Cry, Laugh passes a message across about Depression and how difficult it can be to deal with depression. It talks about the struggle between choosing to give up or hold on, between the past and the present. The song is a mixture of Regret, laughter and tears all tangled together in a way that heals.
“Some days seem like they’ll never end / And others feel like nothing / I wonder when the air comes back / Or if my lungs are missing.”
This tells us how some days feel endless and heavy, while others feel empty, and the singer wonders when they will feel normal again. Wondering if there would be days when you can finally breathe easily.
There’s a small moment of hope in this lyric
“I have to go out and run / It’s the only thing that makes me feel better / The hills, the grass, the sun.”
Here, nature plays a part and helps the singer feel a little relief from the heaviness inside. Running outside and embracing the cool wind makes everything feel a lot better.
The chorus reminds us to take things one step at a time:
“Just one day at a time, they say / They’re right, it can’t just go away / It’s growing larger, swallow me / Baptism in the west coast sea.”
This tells us that healing doesn’t happen all at once, and there can be times when the pain can feel bigger, almost overwhelming but the idea of a “baptism in the west coast sea” connects back to their earlier song, meaning being renewed or cleansed by the ocean.
The second verse brings in the psychedelic theme:
“Give me the poison root, I beg / I’ll eat it in one sitting / Start to remember all too much / Cry, laugh, cry, laugh, while tripping.”
This reflects how the singer turns to mushrooms (called “poison root” here) to help remember and feel things more clearly. The cycle of crying and laughing during this “trip” captures the emotional ups and downs of trying to get a clearer picture of yourself.
Softer’s sound and words are influenced by a few cool indie and alternative bands like The Breeders, Alvvays, and Sonic Youth. They blend dreamy music with genuine feelings in a way that feels real and comforting.
“Cry, Laugh” is a song for anyone who has been through difficult times and is working towards healing. It shows that healing is not simple and that sometimes you’ll cry, sometimes you’ll laugh, but both are part of the process. We are reminded that it’s okay to take it day by day, and that nature, self-reflection, and even psychedelics can be part of finding your way back.
If you like music that sounds dreamy but also talks about real struggles, give “Cry, Laugh” a listen. It’s a beautiful, honest track that’s worth your time.
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