Pls Pls Me has today premiered their new video for the single titled ‘Water Torture’. When I first heard Pls Pls Me last year I fell in love with their style and originality. And, when I interviewed them, I fell in love with their personalities and drive. Jimi Fish and Jessie Torrisi are two artists who could easily have brilliant solo careers but, when brought together, become this original thing that demands a listen and commands an audience.
With ‘Water Torture’, this is proven a solid fact. This video has that slow burn feel that captivates you with that first look and keeps you for a second. The song gives a sonic resilience to the recently disenfranchised and isolated with the assurance that we are not alone yet we can survive isolated. ‘Water Torture’ is a song of strength. And, almost like an anthem, it drives that point to the end and makes that end of the song a new beginning. Take a listen. Take a look. Take the message.
Check out our other features with Pls Pls Me HERE.
Featured image by Jason Leavy.
About ‘Water Torture’
‘Water Torture’ is Pls Pls Me’s send-off to Donald Trump. It is a description of how the duo felt the last 4 years, just hearing his voice. “For anyone who cares about racial justice, or the rising number of COVID deaths, or who wants this country to stand for more than celebrity or ego – it felt like he was taunting us,” Jessie says. Trump’s tweets, history of sexual harassment, his claim of being a super successful businessman while declaring bankruptcy 6 times, all find their way into this song.
Though they’ve been known to inject their politics into their music before, Pls Pls Me didn’t set out to write a song about Trump. One day, Jimi heard a sound clip by Brooklyn producer Noams on instagram. Instantly lyrics popped into his hand, so he reached out to Noams, who had never intended to make a song from the instrumental, and they struck a deal. Soon after, musicians from NYC to Austin TX lent their voices for the chorus; it turns out quite a few people felt bruised ‘n battered by 4 years of a Trump presidency.
The vision further came together when their New York photographer friend Jason Leavy flew out to California and they did a shoot at Hayes Mansion, San Jose, taking pictures masked up by the eery yet entrancing light of the swimming pool at night.
“For me, this song is a purge,” Jimi says. “I love our campiness and our ability to bring queerness to such a serious topic. Right now, America feels split in so many ways. While unity would be great, there will be none until we get the negativity out.”
Music, after all, is catharsis. And we could all use some of that after 2020.
About Pls Pls Me
Pls Pls Me is a Brooklyn-based queer electro pop duo who came together on a grey New Year’s Day in 2016. While launching QUEER MF, a local showcase and party for queer music, singer/multi-instrumentalists Jimi Fish and Jessie Torrisi bonded over writing songs about sex, longing, and surviving the age of Trump.
Their love of eclectic, hip hop-inflected production and otherworldly harmonies crystalized with last year’s long-awaited debut EP, Too Late. Jammerzine called them “a slow melodic burn… that hits in all the right places.” Analogue Trash calls their modern dream-pop “very doomy, but a lot of fun.” And OVRLD says Pls Pls Me are a cross of “early XX and Everything But the Girl.” Their latest track Water Torture, which is a send-off for Trump, is a departure from their summer love anthems.
But this band has a sonic range. More than anything, Pls Pls Me is the story of a deep friendship formed over late nights at the piano while pondering the power dynamics of love and the art of being queer. Their follow-up EP, produced by indie songstress Sarah Jaffe, is due out in Summer 2021.
LINKS:
https://plsplsme.nyc
https://www.facebook.com/PlsPlsMeNYC
https://open.spotify.com/artist/2GFPThWEgRKDMICtF5Nb85?si=JMN8DTqgQOKENVw2O1tY1g
https://www.instagram.com/plspls.me
https://www.twitter.com/PlsPlsMeNYC
https://www.soundcloud.com/plsplsme
https://www.youtube.com/user/YouPleasePleaseMe
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The Swagger – Heart ‘N’ Soul
The Swagger is an original 4 piece indie-alt rock band from Hornsey North London UK originally formed in March 2011.
SOURCE: Official Bio
Written by Lee Stevens & Paul Stevens
Music recorded by The Swagger 2018
Produced by Mike Bennett & The Swagger
Engineered, Mixed & mastered by Angus Wallace at Far Heath studios, Northamptonshire UKThe music video was done by Electric Copper Films Ltd
Produced by Tina Emmett
Editing & Directed by Ben CoenLINKS:
https://theswagger.bandcamp.com
https://facebook.com/theswaggerofficial
https://facebook.com/groups/theswaggermusic
https://twitter.com/theswaggermusic
https://instagram.com/theswaggermusic
https://musicglue.com/theswaggermusic -
Paul Johnson and The About Last Nights – Missing You
Hattiesburg, Mississippi-based Power Pop / Alternative Rockers Paul Johnson and The About Last Nights have released the Official Video cover of the classic John Waite hit single “Missing You.”
Paul Johnson & The About Last Nights may be from Mississippi, but this isn’t your traditional “southern rock. Singer/Songwriter Paul Johnson and Drummer Zack Lewis had a vision in mind, which was to play songs people want to sing, a kind of “Power Pop”, with the emphasis on “Power.” They unified on the principle of a “song first, honest music” mentality. High-energy rock n’ roll that draws from their influences like Cheap Trick and the Foo Fighters and at times the band recalls the performances of Weezer and Sloan in full-on rock mode, but never neglecting the art of the power ballad. This is a band with a purpose, which is to make great music and have fun doing it and their live show prove that with reviews like:
“Potent AC/DC-ish riffage kept aloft by crisp Tom Petty-ish harmonies, a passel of radio-ready rock songs built to appeal to everyone from fans of Pyromania-era Def Leppard, the anthemic paces of Smashing Pumpkins as well as the music that erupts from Active Rock radio today .”
— Mik Davis,The Chronical“Passion, the new music, and Live show are an example of that! I look forward to seeing/hearing people’s reaction to this great music from this great Rock n’ Roll band!”
– Kevin Mckay, WKSM.COM, 99ROCK“Really, it’s adolescence. Being young, bored and hopeful that one day things will be whatever we make it, but right now is all that matters. Looking back as adults, we sometimes see that maybe those were the best times of our lives. Getting through those years feels like an eternity, but in the grand scheme of things, it is only a moment.”
– Paul JohnsonTheir Debut Album\EP Give Up The Ghost is on the way. Their new single and music video “Burn It Down” will be released March 2017. Recorded in Atlanta, Georgia at RCRD Recording Studios and engineered by Dan Dixon (Pls Pls, The dropSonic) with 1st engineer Patrick McConkey, and produced by Tuk Smith of The Biters. The band’s debut video and first single, “Burn It Down” was directed by Rahim aka “Video Rahim”, with videographers Chance White, Matthew Hurley 2nd, and Ashley Simpson as Producer. Special effects makeup and creature by Shane Morton from Silver Scream FX Lab.
LINKS:
http://www.pauljohnsonmusic.com
https://www.facebook.com/pauljohnsonandtheaboutlastnights
https://twitter.com/pauljohnsonsolo
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC3tvdcn5j6zn3r9A-tOm_rg
https://www.instagram.com/theaboutlastnights -
Goldnwolf – Lone Wolf
Goldnwolf was created in a city that keeps you indoors and breeds creativity. Seattle, Washington. Home to fresh coffee, sarcasm and a desire to step away from the norm to create a unique path that one may call their own. Inspired by all different aspects of life and sound, the group brings an emotionally anthemic vibe to each song with an undeniable aggression that carries its message even through their most upbeat avenues.
The band was formed in 2016, when Austin Robert (formally of Girl on Fire), Nicholas Wiggins (formally of Aiden) and Jake Jones (formally of New Years Day) wanted to start a fresh outfit that could bring life to a new generation of music. Not only to appeal to their broad spectrum of already devoted listeners but to release something from their own creativity that resides where there are no wrong answers. By removing all limitations one would find while attempting to fit into one of many boxes of genres, Goldnwolf decided early on to break the mold and go with what they felt, creating a completely unique sound of their own.
All of the members bring a broad musical sense and experience to the table in order to form a well thought out musical blend ranging from rock, blues, electronic, and pop. Their willingness to learn and grow has been part of their philosophy since the beginning, never second guessing where the next sound may take them. The group had accidentally stumbled on its recipe to give each song its own personality by removing any fear of mistakes. Being in the moment and allowing the music to carry the listener to its destination is how each song finds its place. Like a small piece to an incredibly beautiful, yet unsolvable puzzle.
Having released their first single, “Lone Wolf” that was mixed by Jean-Marie Horvat (Justin Timberlake, Michael Jackson, The Weeknd etc.) and mastered by Dave Kutch (Bruno Mars, Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, Whitney Houston etc.) on April 20th, 2017 and the music video soon after, Goldnwolf was ready to debut via live performance. On May 13, 2017, at the Columbia City Theater in Seattle, Washington, working with local craft beer giant, Elysian Brewery the group did just that. Promoting themselves and their show every way they can from guerrilla tactics on the street, creating a heavy online presence on various social network platforms, to an appearance on Seattle’s alternative radio station, 107.7 THE END’s podcast “So You’re in Seattle” with Gregr. The group performed their debut headline set in front of a sold out crowd at the one hundred-year-old theater, featuring their recent release along side a whole other hours worth of material. Smiles ruled while folks in the audience sang along to songs they were hearing for the first time, not to mention the groups acoustic cover of John Lennon’s, “Imagine”.
The Wolf is often symbolic of creativity, intuition, compassion, intelligence, and loyalty, while gold has been associated with the Devine principles, wisdom and both good and evil. Influenced by their love for their own truths, their music speaks to awareness, acceptance and enjoying life with everyone around us. Even during their heaviest moments, the group is able to maintain a light heart after throwing the listener into the fire. These are artists that are forever driven, passionate, and focused on their ultimate goal of a graceful and endless potential.
SOURCE: Official Bio
LINKS:
https://www.goldnwolf.com
https://www.facebook.com/goldnwolf
https://twitter.com/goldnwolf