Simplon Up
The Soy Boys + Lee Ellis + DJ B.E.N

Hailing from the northern jewel of the Netherlands – Groningen -, The Soy Boys came together in 2019 as a cover band that wanted to stand out in a carnivorous society. As Wout Mulder (vocals), Tom Horwitz (guitar), Luuk van Keeken (bass) and David Hübner (drums) had been molding their friendship through fire-starting Hendrix’s guitar riffs, groovy Parcels’ harmonies, Mac Demarco’s heartfelt laid-backness, and limitless Radiohead explorations, their own musical identity had also been taking shape. The Soy Boys have found themselves looking for their own sentimental touch behind bold guitar solos and happy-go-lucky lyrics combined together with a tamed bassline and a supportive drumbeat. The band played their own music during gigs in the summer of 2023, such as at the Noorderzon festival and at Zwemfest in VERA. In November, The Soy Boys released the single “Everything a little bit”, a journey through the broad emotional spectrum of a Soy Boy that challenges the pejorative attitude towards the term, as the band concocts a catchy blend of soft synths and punchy drums. The Soy Boys gently flirts between indie, rock and funk and takes you on a bittersweet nostalgic journey for salad days.

Expect dreamy indie pop with shoegaze and bedroom pop vibes from Lee Ellis. Her lyrics deal with topics such as mental health and being queer.