Soft Palms Turn Up the Static With “Radio” — And It’s Exactly the Kind of Rebel Noise We Need Right Now

By someone who’s definitely turned the volume up just to drown the world out.

If you’ve been feeling like the airwaves are more noise than news these days — Soft Palms get it. And they’re not just saying it, they’re singing it. Their brand-new single “Radio” just dropped exclusively on YouTube, and it’s the kind of anti-anthem that makes you want to rip the antenna off your car, cut the cable, and scream-sing in a crowded supermarket. In a good way.

Soft Palms is the brainchild (and heartchild, let’s be real) of Julia Kugel (of The Coathangers and Julia Julia fame) and her husband Scott Montoya (formerly of The Growlers). They’re no strangers to the scene — they’ve been shaping the sound of alternative music for decades. But “Radio”? It feels like the duo reaching a new frequency. One where rebellion is melodic, paranoia is poetic, and the static speaks louder than the signal.

The track is the first taste of their upcoming album IN ECHO, out later this year on Everloving Records (yep, same label as Jack Johnson and The Growlers). But “Radio” isn’t all sunshine and campfires — it’s more like getting a mixtape from the resistance. The message is clear: media is a minefield, everyone’s talking but no one’s listening, and we’re all just trying to make sense of the noise.

The video — all surveillance cams, shadowy projections, and Orwellian vibes — feels like a late-night fever dream where your smart speaker starts judging your life choices. Directed with a clear DIY edge and a sharp eye for symbolism, it plays like performance art for a world caught in an echo chamber. And that’s no accident. The track and video were both created at the couple’s home studio in Long Beach, COMA (Centre of Mental Arts), and you can feel that hands-on, home-brewed authenticity in every frame and every note.

Let’s pause to appreciate the wild fact that this is Julia and Scott’s 352nd track across 46 combined releases — and only now are they aiming for the Grammys. Talk about the long game. And they’re not being subtle about it either: they’ve got their eyes on Record of the Year, Song of the Year, Best Alt Performance, Best Music Video, and even Best New Artist (hey, technicalities matter). You can’t help but root for them — especially because it’s not just about them.

When they’re not making fierce music with Soft Palms, they’re actively building the music world they want to see. From running the community-based Happy Sundays Fest in Long Beach (save the date: August 23–24, 2025), to launching Studios for Schools, a nonprofit bringing recording gear into classrooms, to curating THEMOUTH.tv, an entirely AI-free music video platform — they’re proving that DIY doesn’t mean doing it small.

They’re creating space, not just sound.

So here’s your assignment: Go to YouTube. Watch “Radio”. Let it mess with your head a little. Maybe scream into a pillow. Or your car stereo. Then ride that wave of catharsis all the way to IN ECHO later this year.

Because Soft Palms aren’t just making music — they’re cutting through the noise with a signal of their own. And finally, the dial’s landing on something worth listening to.

Static never sounded so sharp. Stream “Radio” now on YouTube.

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