The all-new project, Big Guy & The Very Large Men, is the latest creative venture from songwriter James Droll. Best known for his work in the electronic and pop worlds, Droll has spent years writing songs performed by artists including Joy Oladokun and Noah Kahan.
With his seven-song EP, soft hands, hard times, Droll steps into deeply personal territory. The project explores the joy, vulnerability, heartbreak, and beautiful mess of embracing an authentic queer identity while growing up – and ultimately finding yourself.. in the cultural crossroads of the Bible Belt. Raised on a llama farm in Pleasantville, Ohio, Droll was immersed in a family deeply rooted in the evangelical church, an upbringing that echoes throughout these songs without ever defining them.
As compelling as the backstory is, the real magic lies in the music. While soft hands, hard times may be labeled as pop, it is Americana-adjacent at its core. The result is a collection of songs that blur genre lines with effortless confidence, pairing sharp storytelling, emotional imagery and a wit that’s as disarming as it is unforgettable.
Tender, clever, and emotionally resonant, soft hands, hard times looks fearlessly at the ghosts that shaped Droll’s past while embracing the hope, freedom, and uncertainty of the road ahead.
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