When LANY takes the stage, vulnerability is never far behind — and during their intimate appearance at the GRAMMY Museum on March 4, the alt-pop favorites proved that their softest era might also be their most powerful yet.
The Los Angeles–based band, led by frontman Paul Klein alongside drummer Jake Goss, returned to the museum’s famed Clive Davis Theater for a special evening celebrating their latest album Soft. The night blended a candid Q&A moderated by Lyndsey Havens with a stripped-down live performance that brought the album’s emotional core directly to fans seated just feet away.
For longtime listeners, the evening felt like a full-circle moment. As the band approaches the 10-year milestone of their debut era, Soft captures the same raw honesty about love and heartbreak that first put them on the map — something fans have been craving for years.
And judging by the crowd’s reaction inside the museum, the return to that heartfelt sound is exactly what listeners wanted.
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During the conversation portion of the night, Klein and Goss peeled back the curtain on the album’s creative process, revealing how Soft came together while the band was still touring their previous record, a beautiful blur. For LANY, the songwriting never really stops.
Klein explained that he often writes constantly — sometimes stockpiling dozens of songs — before bringing them to Goss for the final call on what makes the album.
The process is refreshingly simple. With just two members steering the project creatively, decisions happen quickly and instinctively.
Klein joked that one of the best parts of being in LANY is only having to convince one other person. But he also emphasized the trust between them, noting they wouldn’t release music unless it felt right for both of them.
Another standout moment came when Klein shared the inspiration behind Soft’s striking album artwork, which features a lamb and blood-covered hands — imagery meant to symbolize protecting vulnerability in a hardened world.
The lamb, fans learned, was real and named Gizmo. Klein momentarily stunned the audience by revealing that Gizmo had since passed away, only to quickly lighten the mood with a playful fake-out as he pretended to walk off stage before finishing the story. Safe to say, the room was fully invested.
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After fan questions — including one asking the band to name their favorite LANY song (Klein’s answer: essentially the entirety of Malibu Nights) — the night shifted into music.
Opening with the title track “Soft,” Klein immediately set the tone for the evening: warm synths, earnest vocals, and lyrics that wear their heart on their sleeve. The energy lifted with “Why,” a track that had fans singing along even within the seated setting of the museum. If anything, the performance made it clear that the Soft era channels the same yearning romance that defined LANY’s early breakout hits.
“Stuck” followed, which Goss revealed is a favorite of his daughter — a sweet detail that made the song feel even more personal. By this point, fans were fully immersed, clapping and singing along so loudly it was easy to forget the show was happening in a museum theater rather than a sold-out arena.
The fourth song brought a welcome dose of nostalgia when Klein sat at the piano for “anything 4 u” from their beloved 2018 album Malibu Nights. The stripped-down performance reminded everyone just how emotionally potent LANY’s catalog has been from the start.
From there, the band leaned into heartbreak with “‘Cause You Have To,” a standout track from a beautiful blur.
But the most anticipated moment of the night came with the final song. Before it had even been officially released, fans were already begging for “When Did You Stop Loving Me?” — and when Klein began performing it live, the audience somehow already knew the chorus by heart.
Earlier today (March 13), LANY officially released Soft 2, an expanded version of the 2025 album that adds five new tracks and deepens the emotional landscape of the project. Created once again alongside longtime collaborator Tommy King, the extended record further explores the delicate balance between vulnerability and resilience — a theme Klein says sits at the heart of this era.
The second disc opens with the reflective “I’m Doing Alright” before moving through the piano-driven romance of “Prettiest Thing I’ve Ever Seen” and the nostalgic R&B-tinged “How To Hold An Angel.” The collection culminates with the aching ballad “Finish Me,” a song that finds Klein longing for a love that truly lasts.
Among the highlights is “When Did You Stop Loving Me?,” the same track fans witnessed debut during the GRAMMY Museum performance — a moment that now feels like a preview of what was to come.
Perhaps the most special part of the evening was how personal it felt. Inside the intimate theater, the connection between band and fans was undeniable. For longtime listeners who discovered LANY in small clubs nearly a decade ago, the night felt like stepping back into those early days.
After the performance ended, Klein and Goss lingered to greet fans, take selfies, and share a few final moments together — something that felt rare in an era when many artists rush off stage. That mutual respect and appreciation between LANY and their audience was palpable all night long. And if the GRAMMY Museum show proved anything, it’s this: the band’s softest era might also be their strongest.
With Soft 2 now out and the band’s global “Soft World Tour” underway — including stops at venues like Barclays Centerand Intuit Dome — one thing is certain. LANY isn’t slowing down anytime soon. And if Klein has his way, they won’t stop making music until the story feels complete.
Listen to Soft 2 below and don’t forget to let us know which track is your fav by either leaving a reaction at the bottom of the post or by sliding into our DMs on Instagram at @celebsecrets.
