California-based singer/songwriter, multi-instrumentalist and producer Justin Chamberlain is the creative mastermind behind the rising dark wave recording project SOFT VEIN. Chamberlain emerged into the national and international dark wave scenes with two singles last year — “GIVEUPTHEGHOST” and “VIOLENTIA,” which saw him quickly establish a sound that has been compared favorably to the likes of Selofan, Panther Modern, Boy Harsher, Mareux, Twin Tribes, and others.
Building upon the attention he amassed with this first two singles, as well as a string of live shows, the California-based artist will be releasing his highly-anticipated full-length debut, PRESSED IN GLASS through Arttoffact Records on October 20, 2023. Entirely written and recorded by Chamberlain, the album’s material reportedly blends a variety of influences including cold, wave, industrial, modern dark wave and EBM. Sounding urgent, visceral and dangerous, the album’s material frequently features icy and brooding vocals over minimalist drum machines, metallic percussion, menacing bass synth lines and atmospheric synths to evoke “flashing, grainy pictures of desperation lust, and even love, in the dark.”
PRESSED IN GLASS‘ second and latest single, “LEASH” is a club friendly dark wave bop that seems indebted to John Carpenter soundtracks and early Depeche Mode with the song being built around a relentless motorik-like pulse, thumping industrial-like beats serving as a icy bed for Chamberlain’s plaintive delivery. The result is a song that manages to be simultaneously brooding and uneasy yet full of yearning.
