Plaza change tack on gorgeous, chilled out new single ‘SEE’
PLAZA change the pace on gorgeous, chilled-out new single ‘SEE’New EP ‘Wernotplaza II’ out on November 29th via CLUE Records
Photo Credit: Joe Spence
PLAZA – ‘SEE’
“Thunderous” DIY“PLAZA are making waves” Wonderland“an almost effortless combination of delicate, DIIV-like guitars and fiery grunge attitude” The Line of Best Fit
Implementing a new string to their sound can be a tricky procedure for a band, but PLAZA have nailed it on new single ‘SEE’. By no means an extreme departure from the icy tones of their self-coined ‘post indie’, it nonetheless brings in new influences and slows the pace right down. Tentative calls to Frank Ocean arrive alongside traditional key touchstones in Foals, DIIV or Wolf Alice.
It’s not a sudden change, with the evolution happening in public through live shows, as songwriter and Brad Lennard elaborates:“‘SEE’ has been in the inventory for a while now. It’s a chilled song, played on keys, so a change in style for us. You move on from your favourite band or artist and start exploring new avenues, a lot of tunes that I write now are this kind of vibe, which is a new direction – having the opportunity to write music like this with us all in a band is class.See is probably my favourite song we have written, it’s about staying true to yourself.”
It’s the second cut from upcoming sophomore EP, ‘Wernotplaza II’ EP dropping via Clue Records (Crushed Beaks, Van Houten, Avalanche Party, TRASH) on November 29th.The EP is the most open PLAZA have been to date. It’s easy for bands to write obliquely, wavering around heavy points reticent to tackle them head on – which is more than understandable, as so much artistic inspiration comes from a deeply personal well. This time around however, explosive Hartlepool post-indie quartet PLAZA refuse to compromise in expressing their truth.
Whilst this sounds disconsolate in sentiment, in listening to the tracks you can hear the release and catharsis it offers, generating an emotive layer to the spacious grunge-meets-dream-pop style the four-piece have carefully cultivated over the last few years. Spiky guitars and a sprinkling of electronics, driven forward by a skittish beat, provide the layer for Lennard’s confessional vocals.
The quartet have built up a cult live following across the UK, also drawing attention from Huw Stephens and Phil Taggart at BBC Radio 1, alongside John Kennedy at Radio X – with the likes of DIY, DORK, The Line of Best Fit, Clash and Wonderland singing their praises too. To bring this sound to life, they worked with rising producer Alex Greaves at The Nave studio in Leeds, who is also responsible for buzzy tunes from Working Men’s Club and Heavy Lungs having previously worked with Bo Ningen, Bloc Party and Bdrmm.PLAZA are Brad Lennard (Guitar/Vocals), Matty Swinbourne (Drums), Matty Nicholson (Guitar) and Will Hamilton (Bass).‘SEE’, the new single from PLAZA is out via Clue Records on October 17th ahead of new EP ‘Wernotplaza II’ on November 29th.
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Dates
November 9th, The Georgian Theatre, Stockton (with The Lottery Winners)
