My Music Manager meets… Plant Plants!
Plant Plants are friends, Stuart Francis and Howard Whatley. Spawned from a mutual love of film scores, weird guitar tunings & heavy beats, theirs is a sound which effortlessly combines a blend of electronica and eclectic imagery that sets them apart from contemporary comparisons.
MMM’s Dan Cook caught up with the London duo…
First question I have to ask is where did the name come from?
We went through a period of texting each other potential band names all day. Eventually one of us texted ‘plant’, and the other doubled it up. It looked good in text and that was it.
And how do you guys know each other?
We started crossing paths regularly while gigging in different bands about five years ago, ending up at the same parties and sh*t until our friend groups just kinda merged. The partying got out of hand. In 2010 we were both bandless and realized we had a lot in common so we started writing together.
What distinguishes you from other acts that are around at the moment?
There’s a solid mutual respect for each other and confidence in what we do.
You’ve played a couple of gigs in the past weeks at Madame Jo Jo’s and Hoxton Bar & Kitchen – how did they go?
Judging by the attention we’ve received since … f*****g well. They were our first two shows. All of our gear took a battering but still sounded great on those PAs.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
We’re both fans of the crunchy beats/production of the RZA and Liam Howlett. As well as a good film soundtrack like The Wicker Man (Paul Giovanni) or Moon (Clint Mansell).
What are you guys listening to at the moment?
All sorts. ///▲▲▲\\\ to ZZ top.
Reading the press release your live set-up sounds very impressive, with 90s Kaoss pads and 15+ effects pedals, particularly without the use of laptops, did it take much rehearsing to get that all sorted?
Rehearsals were a big f*****g question mark to begin with, that was the fun part. We started with this big bulk of gear and wilddled it down to the essentials. Honestly, it’s so much fun to write and perform the way we do. The process of our live show is the furthest thing from a chore.
How do you go about writing your tracks?
A track will start with a beat or a phrase. We keep it loop based, like the hip hop & electronic records we grew up listening to. We like the guitars stuck in between the beats. By the time we get the vox on, we know what the final mix should sound like and then we batter it with effects.
You worked with Jas Shaw, one half of Simian Mobile Disco on the EP, how was that?
Jas is a great guy and a pleasure to work with. The SMD studio is an outrageous collection of outboard effects, analogue synths & guitar pedals … we pretty much moved in. We record majority of our sh*t ourselves beforehand, the sessions are about pimping the sounds & putting an organic mix together. Unlike other “guitar band” producers Jas particularly knows how to mix beats -as well as guitars + vox. When we first played him the demos I think we all knew we’d enjoy working together.
What is your favourite plant?
Phlox caryophylla, common in east coast Mexico.
The self-titled EP is out on 20th June. Any plans for an album? Are you working on more tracks?
We’ll start mixing our second EP soon, which should be out towards the end of the year. As far as an album goes … there’s definitely one on the cards … but for now we’ll keep doing our sh*t and see where we’re at in a few months time.
For more information on Plant Plants please contact God Don’t Like it on alice@goddontlikeit.com or +44(0)7816516166
You can read their Press Release here!
Or check them out on:
www.myspace.com/pl4ntpl4nts
http://soundcloud.com/plantplants/shes-no-one
Interview by Dan Cook (My Music Manager)
1st June 2011
My Music Manager
