Formula Indie_Interview With Softcase

Introduction of the Project 

Softcase is an Ontario-based rock band built on friendship, shared experiences, and a passion for creating music together. Emerging from their early days at The School of Rock and the band 78 North, the members have combined their diverse influences, from classic rock and indie to folk and blues, into a sound that feels both timeless and fresh. Since officially launching in 2024, they’ve hit major milestones, including multiple performances at the legendary Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Ontario, the release of their first songs, while continuing to write consistently and dream of taking their music to the next level. Softcase’s story is one of growth, resilience, and collaboration, capturing who they are, where they’ve come from, and the path they’re forging for the future. 

What is your earliest memory connected to music? 

Music has been a constant in all four of our lives for as long as we can remember. All of our earliest memories of music and the deep connection we have with it today stem from listening to music with our families. Whether it be attending our first concerts or listening to our first albums, it all relates back to memories with family. 

Tyler’s (Vocals and Guitar) oldest memory of the effect music has had on his life would’ve been his first concert, Big Music Fest in Kitchener, ON, in 2014 where he attended with his whole family. 

Caleb’s (Guitar and Bass) first memory connected to music was going through milk crates of his dad’s CDs when he was young 

Lucas’s (Guitar and Bass) earliest musical memories is singing with his parents at a very young age. Those early moments sparked the interest in performing and eventually led to singing with the band. 

Luke’s (Drums) earliest memory of music is listening to the Foo Fighters, Bruce Springsteen, and many more CD’s with his dad on car rides. 

How did your passion for creating music begin? 

Our passion for creating music comes from a mix of where we started and who raised us. A lot of that love for music was passed down by amazing parents who surrounded us with great songs, instruments, and encouragement from a young age. Three of the four members of Softcase attended the local School of Rock, which is a performance-based music program where young musicians learn by playing real songs, working with experienced instructors, and performing live on stage. It’s where we truly learned to play, and it’s also where we met and built our connection, realizing the chemistry we had when it came to writing and expressing ourselves through music.

After the School of Rock unfortunately closed, we decided to form a band, and that’s where everything really clicked. Creating 78 North which formed into Softcase helped us discover our passion for music in a new way, and being in a band strengthened our friendship even more. There’s nothing better than playing music with your friends, and that feeling is a huge part of what drives us today. 

What’s the story behind your current music project? 

Softcase formed at the beginning of 2024, following the collapse of the band 78 North, where all members originally performed together. 

78 North, originally composed of three members of Softcase (Lucas Lohrenz – Guitar/Bass, Caleb Dodd – Guitar/Bass, Luke Collins – Drums), plus two other members (Lead Vocals and Rhythm Guitar), formed in 2020. In 2021, the original rhythm guitarist decided to go his separate way, making room for a new member. This is where Tyler Schill (Rhythm Guitar) joined the band. 78 North performed as a five-piece band for two years, playing concert halls and music festivals around Southern Ontario. In December of 2023, 78 North’s lead vocalist decided to part ways with the band. 

With shows coming up, the remaining members of 78 North changed the name of the band to Softcase, and Tyler Schill stepped in as lead vocalist. Since this change, Softcase has propelled forward, releasing two songs and playing at historic concert venues across Southern Ontario. 

How would you describe your sound to someone who has never heard your music before? 

I would describe our sound as a homage to classic rock while incorporating aspects of modern music, creating a nostalgic yet fresh feel. 

Everyone in our group connects with different styles of music, and that’s a big part of what shapes our sound. We each bring our own influences, whether it’s rock, heavy music, indie, folk, or anything else. Those perspectives naturally blend together when we write. Instead of sticking to one lane, our music ends up being a mix of what inspires each of us, creating something that feels fresh and genuinely ours. 

What is one thing you’ve learned that completely changed the way you make music? 

When it comes to writing music, the biggest thing we’ve learned is allowing ourselves to create music that isn’t confined to a single genre. Writing without the constraints of fitting a specific genre allows our creativity to flourish and our songs to speak to who we are as a band. 

We always say “no idea is a bad idea”, that every idea deserves some thought to see how it would work in the writing process. This builds a level of trust between us that allows us to all contribute and opens the door to many more possibilities in terms of songwriting.

What tools, instruments, or software are essential in your creative process? 

The main tools essential to our creative process are our instruments. As all musicians know, instruments are an extension of yourself, and you grow attached to certain ones. Each of us has our go-to instrument that gives us the comfort to express ourselves musically. Tyler (Vocals and Guitar) has grown attached to Gibson guitars going through a VOX AC30 amp. Caleb (Guitar and Bass) mostly plays a Gibson Les Paul along with a Fender Stratocaster through a Marshall Amp stack. Lucas (Guitar and Bass) plays a Fender Stratocaster and a PRS into a BOSS amp head and cabinet. Both Caleb and Lucas play Fender Jazz Bass’ into a Fender Bass Amp. Luke (Drums) plays a DW Kit and Sabian cymbals. 

Along with our instruments our recording process as of right now is running an Universal Audio Apollo interface into Avid Pro Tools. We have found this gives us the most creative direction and allows us to produce a sound that is truly unique to us. 

Which indie artist or song are you loving right now? 

One of the unique things about all of us in the band is that we all listen to very different music. This definitely shapes our songwriting process as we tend to blend different genres into our sound. 

Tyler’s (Vocals and Guitar) go-to band right now is The Jailbirds, a Southern Ontario rock band that is bringing back the classic sound of true rock and roll. 

Caleb’s (Guitar and Bass) really into Turnstile currently. He is also listening to a Kingston, Ontario based band WhyGo, who we’ve played with live before. 

Lucas (Guitar and Bass) has been really into Goose and Jamiroquai, both have been on heavy rotation for him for quite a while. 

Luke (Drums) is a massive folk and country music fan. He is currently listening to the likes of Amble, Kingfishr, and Treaty Oak Revival. 

How have your personal experiences influenced your music and artistic vision? 

Our personal experiences have shaped our music and artistic vision in a big way. We’ve grown up together, starting as teenagers just learning our instruments and now we are all around the age of 20 who understand ourselves and each other so much more. That shared journey has influenced everything from the themes we write about to the way we approach our sound. Going through changes, challenges, and milestones as friends has given our music a real sense of honesty and growth. As we continue to evolve, we want our songs to reflect who we’re becoming, both individually and as a group that’s learned to create, communicate, and dream together.

Our different backgrounds and musical tastes also play a big role in shaping who we are as artists. Each of us brings our own influences, lessons, and perspectives to the table, and combining all of that has helped us create a sound that feels unique to Softcase. As we’ve gotten older, we’ve learned how to blend those ideas more naturally, respecting each person’s voice while still pushing each other to try new things. That balance between individuality and collaboration has become a huge part of our artistic vision, and it’s something we hope listeners can hear as we continue to grow. 

What emotions or messages do you hope listeners take from your work? 

We hope listeners find our music relatable above anything else. A lot of what we write about both in our lyrics and the emotions behind them comes from experiences that many people our age go through. Growing up, figuring out who you are, dealing with change, friendships, mistakes, and all the messy, confusing feelings that come with that stage of life… those are the things that shape our songs. 

We want our songs to meet people wherever they are. If someone connects with a lyric, a mood, or just the overall feeling of a track, that’s what matters to us. We’re not trying to overstate anything, we just hope the music lands in a way that feels real. Whether it helps someone through a moment, gives them something to think about, or simply becomes a track they enjoy having on repeat, we just want the emotion we put into it to translate naturally. 

What’s the most important lesson music has taught you so far? 

Music has taught us that, just like life, there are always ups and downs. Some days we feel unstoppable, and other days motivation dips or things don’t go the way we hoped. We’ve had great shows that leave us buzzing for days, and we’ve had rough ones where things don’t click the way we want them to. We’ve written songs that come together effortlessly, and others that take weeks or even months to figure out. But through all of it, the most important lesson has been to keep showing up. 

Music has also taught us a lot about patience, resilience, and growth. There are times when things get frustrating or don’t come together the way we hoped, but there are also moments that remind us exactly why we love doing this; finishing a song we’re proud of, locking in during a rehearsal, or feeling the energy from a crowd. What matters most is that we keep showing up, stay committed, and push ourselves to get better. That shared drive is something we’re really grateful for, and it’s a lesson we carry with us. 

What is a dream venue or festival you would love to perform at?

I think where we are currently at, our dream festival or the one we’d love the opportunity to play at in the near future is Departure Festival and or NXNE in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Departure Festival, formerly known as Canadian Music Week, is a major multi-venue music festival and industry event that showcases emerging artists from across the country and gives them a chance to perform in front of fans, industry professionals, and booking agents. NXNE (North by Northeast) is another iconic Toronto festival focused on new and upcoming acts, turning the city into a giant multi-stage music crawl where artists can connect with new audiences and grow their presence. Both festivals celebrate rising talent, and getting the chance to play either one would be a huge step for us. 

As for dream venues, we were lucky enough to perform at one of ours this year, The Horseshoe Tavern in Toronto, Ontario, not just once, but twice. Growing up, it was a place we always dreamed of playing, especially knowing that legends like the Foo Fighters, The Rolling Stones, and so many others have performed on that stage. Looking ahead, some of our dream venues include major Toronto spots such as History, The Danforth Music Hall, and other iconic rooms that have helped shape the city’s music scene. 

If you could collaborate with any artist, past or present, who would it be and why? 

As mentioned throughout, we all listen to different styles of music, so each of us has a different answer when it comes to dream collaborations. Our influences range from indie, rock, folk, blues, and beyond, so the artists we look up to are all over the map. That variety is a big part of what shapes our sound, and it also means our dream collabs reflect our own musical identities. Whether it’s working with someone who inspired us growing up or an artist pushing boundaries today, each choice says something unique about who we are as musicians. 

Tyler’s (Vocals and Guitar) dream would be to play with many of the inspirational rock bands spanning from the 60s-80s. In terms of recent bands, playing alongside Greta Van Fleet would be a dream come true. 

Caleb’s (Guitar and Bass) dream collab with any artist, past or present, would be with Chris Cornell or John Frusciante. 

Lucas’ (Guitar and Bass) dream collab with any artist, past or present, would be with The Strokes. 

Luke (Drums) would love the opportunity to be in songwriting rooms with people such as Alex Turner from the Arctic Monkey’s, Zach Bryan, and The Luminers.

Where can our listeners follow and support your music? (Website, Spotify, IG, links) 

Listeners can follow and support us across all major platforms. You can find Softcase on Spotify and Apple Music, where all of our releases are available to stream. We’re also active on social media, follow @softcase.official on Instagram and TikTok for updates, behind-the-scenes content, and show announcements. Our music videos and live sessions can be found on YouTube under Softcase. For everything in one place, including links, news, and upcoming shows, visit our official website at www.softcaseofficial.com. 

Looking toward the future, what’s your dream for the next chapter of your musical Journey? 

Looking toward the future, our dream for the next chapter of our musical journey is to take Softcase on the road, even if it starts with a small local or regional tour. Whether we’re opening for another band or headlining intimate venues, getting the chance to share our music city to city would be a massive milestone for us. To build toward that, we’re committing to releasing music consistently, with plans to drop a new song almost every month next year and release a full album in 2026. Our hope is that this steady growth, combined with our live shows and the support of our listeners, helps us reach a point where touring becomes a real and sustainable part of what we do. Little by little, we’re working to turn that dream into our reality. 

What do you hope listeners will discover about you along the way? 

We hope listeners can discover the friendship and bond that sit at the center of everything we do. Our music is shaped by years of growing together, learning from each other, and building a connection that goes far beyond just being in a band. When people listen to our songs or see us live, we want them to feel that energy, the way we support each other, push each other creatively, and genuinely have fun playing together. We also hope listeners pick up on the honesty in our writing, the mix of influences each of us brings, and the excitement we have for where we’re heading. More than anything, we want people to feel how much we care for each other and how that genuine connection fuels the music we make. 

One more thing from us: 

We want to thank the people who make this journey possible so far. Our families, who rarely miss a show and support us in ways we can’t even put into words, who have done more for us than we could ever give back. Our friends, who come out, listen, and cheer us on, mean the world. To the teachers and mentors who helped us grow as musicians, to everyone who has worked on our releases, and to all the local supporters who have shown us encouragement along the way we are truly grateful.

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