Francesco Amoroso per TRISTE©

Early Days, the debut mini-album by Stuttgart-based duo The Simple Present (Cathrin on vocals and guitar and Sabine on backing vocals and keyboard) is a quietly enchanting release that feels instantly familiar to anyone who loves classic indie pop. Drawing from the jangly melancholy of Sarah Records, the DIY charm of Marine Girls and The Gentle Waves, and the melodic warmth of Swedish indie pop acts such as Sambassadeur and Alpaca Sports, the duo craft songs that are tender, unhurried, and deeply comforting. Nothing here shouts for attention. Instead, the album unfolds with a gentle emotional tension, carried by sparkling guitar lines, soft harmonies and melodies that linger long after the music fades. Tracks such as I Found Something, Summer Triangle, and Words of Encouragement highlight their gift for turning everyday observations into quietly memorable pop songs. What makes Early Days so appealing is its sincerity: it sounds like a collection of songs lovingly discovered and shared. Gentle, melodic, and full of heart, it is one of those indiepop records that sneaks up on you and refuses to let go. Across eight beautifully crafted songs, Cathrin and Sabine favour subtlety and delicacy with unassuming arrangements that create an atmosphere of warmth and quiet reflection, allowing the melodies to shine naturally. Every track is infused with charm, intelligence and emotional honesty, but what makes Early Days so special is its effortless authenticity. Cathrin’s voice, despite its perfect English diction, carries a faint but fascinating “Teutonic” quality: slightly restrained, almost as if it prefers understatement over the crystalline euphoria often associated with classic Anglophone indie pop. These songs never feel calculated; instead, they unfold with patience and grace, revealing new details with every listen.

Early Days, track-by-track (by Cathrin Haller)

I Found Something

I wrote I Found Something in early 2021 when everyone was going for a lot of walks, as there wasn’t much else to do. There’s a really nice lake near my house and I went there a lot. I think the song is about enjoying solitude and being on your own. We chose I Found Something as the first release from Early Days. It comes with a fun video starring lots of friends and family members.

I’ll Take That With Me

This song was inspired by a podcast hosted by two young politicians that I listen to regularly and that I love so much. They always seem so positive and determined to make the world a better place. This song was the first song that we recorded with our producer, Flow. I write in my living room on the guitar and I always have to be real quiet. So hearing that song in a proper arrangement with drums and bass and Flow’s beautiful guitar intro was so exciting.

Words Of Encouragement

Words Of Encouragement was inspired by a yoga book by Raquel Welch that I found in a public book case. Each chapter ends with a paragraph titled Words of Encouragement. I don’t practice yoga but I’m impressed how easy it looks when Raquel Welch does it. The song is my personal favourite on the album. I love the simplicity and airy feel of the production.

Life Of A Star

This one is Ronny’s (Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten) favourite. I’ve always been fascinated by space and science fiction. I tried really hard to make this as scientifically accurate as possible. The live version of this song is a bit less upbeat with a long fade-out.

Let’s Write A New Hit

Let’s Write A New Hit sees the introduction of F#m in my songwriting. I tend to use similar chords for every song. I try to move away from that a bit. This song is a self-referential song about songwriting. It’s difficult sometimes to find inspiration, so writing about what you’re actually doing can help.

I Love My Hair

This song is dedicated to my singing teacher Zografia. She’s the best! I’m so happy that she took me on as a student.  Singing can be intimidating. She helped me to develop my personality as an artist. The live version of this song is slightly different and a bit more “indie”. I like how the album version of the song connects to the next song, Everything At Once.

Everything At Once

The flute on this one is by the amazing Alexander Mink. The song is about competitive quizzing. I love quizzing but losing can be devastating. I’m not sure who came up with the idea to turn this into a bossa song. It just happened during a rehearsal and we all liked the outcome.

Summer Triangle

Many people told me that they like this one in particular. Summer Triangle was the first song I ever wrote. It’s really easy to play with no barre chords in it. We came up with the “This Is Love” part in the studio, as Flow suggested to add some kind of chorus. I wasn’t sure about Flow’s idea of the wave-sound outro at first, but now we all love it!

Early Days is out now via Kleine Untergrund Schallplatten and Shelflife Records. . Look HERE for more information on The Simple Present.