Following the Release of their Debut EP Today: ‘A Summer’s Day Can Break Your Heart’ The Plasmas speak to Music Promotions.
What’s the story behind your debut EP A SUMMER’S DAY CAN BREAK YOUR HEART’
Having only released singles in the past, we wanted to create a full body of work that represents the foundations of our sound and shows people what we’re really about. We just wanted to put something out that really felt like us. We’re really close as a group and I think that comes through in the music, which has allowed us to reflect on topics like mental health, relationships and sexuality so openly.
Do the lead Singles set the tone for the rest of the EP?
I think so, I mean there’s no major curveballs or anything. The EP tracks are maybe a little darker and less of a summer feel but the sound is pretty consistent throughout, it flows really well I think.
How long did you spend writing and recording it?
The songs came about over the pandemic, all written over the course of about two years. Lockdown was a productive time for us, a lot of the time we’ll co-write songs but since we couldn’t meet we were forced to write individually and that pushed us out of our comfort zone a bit. In each track, pretty much every aspect of the arrangement was written by the person who wrote the song initially, from guitar parts to synth lines and even the drums, which is a testament to how much creativity flows through this band. We spent a full week recording the EP with Guy Galactic who we’d worked with previously and who has been an integral part of the PLASMAS sound. It was an amazing experience, I loved just being in a band for a week.
Are you working on a full album or will there be another EP first?
I think an album’s a little further down the line, but honestly we have so many songs sitting there that we could easily record one, it’s just cost that’s the issue. With an album you’re maybe wanting a bit more hype around you so that it really pays off and helps take that next step, so I think we have a bit more building to do. It makes it really difficult choosing five or six tracks for an EP though when there’s so much good stuff we’re sitting on, it’s a great problem to have but it can be frustrating! We’ve recorded a new single which will hopefully be out early next year, and then we’ll start focusing on the second EP.
How do you decide which songs will be the lead singles?
It was difficult for the EP because I think that all five would’ve made great singles. Some songs just lend themselves to it though, like “What You Do To Me” just couldn’t not be a single. We decided to go down the poppier route and choose the brighter ones on the EP, the ones with super catchy choruses that would get stuck in your head.
Have you written songs that you’ve left behind that didn’t fit the sound of the music that’s you wish you had used?
Maybe not that we wish we’d used, but there’s definitely been songs that we’ve loved for ages and just got bored of them by the time recording sessions came around. It’s a shame because at one point we really thought they were great but as soon as you stop feeling it it’s time to let it go, better songs are always on their way.
Who inspires you as songwriters?
I can’t speak for the rest of the guys but I’m a big Beatles fan, they will always be a massive influence on me, and the simple but effective songwriting from the pop-punk and Brit-pop I listened to growing up has definitely shaped the way I write melodies. We all keep our finger on the pulse when it comes to contemporary music and are finding new artists coming up so I feel like our influences stem more from what’s happening in music currently, one of us will find a new band or sound and we’re just like, “we need to write something like this!”. I get obsessed with a specific style for ages and then it just fades out, but there’s usually a few songs kicking about from that. “See It Through” came about from being obsessed with writing a song that soundtrack a 90s teen romcom, for example.
Touring plans?
We have a headline show in Dundee on November 18th and that’s going to be our last gig of the year. Nothing’s set in stone yet but we’re planning a headline Scottish tour for Spring next year!
Music recommendations?
There’s some great music coming from Dundee at the moment, artists like Gossiper, Theo Bleak and Parliamo (just outside Dundee) are all amazing, we’re so proud to be part of such a vibrant local scene. I’ve been loving Sunsleeper at the moment, a great American band putting a bit of a heavier twist on dream-pop/indie.
What have been some of your highlights so far?
Supporting JAWS was a huge moment for us, they’re one of the reasons we started the band in the first place so to be on the same bill as them felt surreal. On our last headline tour we sold out a hometown show for the first time and we packed out Sneaky Pete’s in Edinburgh which we really didn’t expect so that tour was definitely a highlight, I think it showed us how far we’ve actually come as a band. You can get in your own head sometimes thinking you could be doing more or be further down the line, but that showed us that people are really getting behind us, it was a great feeling.
Final messages?
Just a big thanks to anyone who’s supported us so far, it means a lot that there’s people on the journey with us and hopefully there is much more to come in the future.
