IYE Music Interviews Plastic Heart
New and electrifying alternative rock band Plastic Heart from Greater Manchester, have just released their highly anticipated new single, Tension!
We sent the band some questions, check out what they had to say below.
Origins and formation:
How did the band come together, and what were the initial influences that shaped your sound?
The band initially came together through lead singer Naomi and lead
guitarist Zak, who met at BIMM Manchester music college in 2021. Both were in their own
bands – Zak in Manchester band New Revolution and Naomi in a covers band Sidelines in
her home town of Huddersfield. They bonded through first year, building a close
relationship and were keen to set up a band together to create their own sound.
Band name:
Can you share the story behind the name “Plastic Heart”? What does it symbolize for the band?
We were searching for a name, and our manager, Sam at Stylish Riot, was
listening to a lot of Libertines at the time. He suggested a few song names from them,
Babyshambles and Dirty Pretty Things but we liked the name Plastic Heart and it stuck. At
the same time, ‘Plastic Heart’ in a figurative sense, could imply emotional resilience or the
idea that someone’s emotions are not genuine, which reflects a lot of our songs’ lyrical
content.
Musical style: How would you describe your musical style, and what artists or genres have influenced your sound?
Coming from Manchester we have been heavily influenced by the strong Indie
scene and so we primarily describe ourselves as an alt/indie rock band. However, we were
all listening to different musical styles as we grew up, from Blues, Pop, Nu-Metal,
Alternative and Experimental rock, which we try to incorporate into our music to create our
own unique sound.
Musical influences: What bands or artists have inspired Plastic Heart’s sound, particularly on “Tension”?
We’re hugely influenced by Paramore, Nothing but Thieves and Wolf
Alice, with Naomi taking extra influence from the likes of Amy Winehouse and Lzzy Hale of
Halestorm.
Song writing: What is your songwriting process like? Do you collaborate on lyrics and music, or does it happen individually?
When writing songs, Zak and/or Matt start by developing a melody/chord
progression whilst in rehearsal, or they might bring an idea they’ve been working on in their
spare time. We then brainstorm and come up with ideas of the direction we want the song
to go in, usually testing a few different paths before deciding on a clear direction. Then bass
and drums will be added, and Naomi will compose the lyrics and melodies whilst the rest of
the band nails down the songs structure and overall sound. We never usually plan what the
lyrical content will be. Naomi usually just gets a feel for the song and writes something that
reflects the vibe.
Meaning and inspiration: What inspired you to write “Tension,” and what does the song mean to you personally?
‘Tension’ was inspired by a situation we’re sure everyone can
relate to. The song aims to explore the intense connection between two people drawn
together in the heat of the moment and tries to capture the thrill of a passionate encounter.
Musical elements: Can you talk about the musical elements that contribute to the overall tension and atmosphere of the song?
The song starts on an ethereal level, as any encounter with someone who
you’re attracted to might. Through the use of reverb, delay, and harmonies building
throughout the track, this accentuates the building of sexual tension in a passionate
encounter. The track builds in energy until the chorus, which, through the use of heavier
distortion, represents the couple succumbing to temptation.
Recording process: What was the recording process like for “Tension,” and were there any challenges or surprises along the way?
For ‘Tension’ we used a producer that we’d not used before, Andy
Gannon, who has worked with several big names. We had 2 days booked out, the second
devoted to laying down the vocals. This was great for Naomi who has only previously had a
couple of hours to do so in other recording sessions and which gave her the opportunity to explore alternative melodies and backing vocals. Both days ran very smoothly, and it was
great to experience a new way of working.
Live shows: What can fans expect from a Plastic Heart live show? Are there any unique elements or surprises you incorporate into your performances?
As with all bands, we have the most fun when performing live on stage as it is
often the culmination of weeks spent in the rehearsal room and writing new material so
being able to share that with others is important to us. Energy on stage is vital and the band
members love to interact with each other on stage. We try to remember that everyone in
the room has things going on in their lives, good and bad. Ultimately, the one thing they
have in common is that they are at the show to have a great time and its down to the band
to give them the best experience possible.
Fan connection: How important is fan interaction to you? Do you have any favorite fan experiences or memories?
We want our gigs to be a fun, friendly and welcoming experience for our
fans. We love to get the crowd involved and build up as much energy as possible, from
playing an occasional familiar cover to engaging with the audience between tracks. We love
chatting with people who have come to the show so if you make it down please come and
say hi!
Future plans: What are your plans for the future? Are there any upcoming projects, tours, or collaborations that you’re excited about?
We’re so excited about the release of our single “Tension” which so far is
doing brilliantly and we hope for this to go further and reach even more people! We’re
already aiming to get our next single released within the upcoming months. Our aim for
2025 is to play some major festivals such as Ynot and Kendal Calling, as well as play more
support slots in and around the Manchester area, whilst pushing our music as far as we can
and expanding our fan base along the way.
Music industry: What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a band navigating the music industry? How do you stay motivated and overcome obstacles?
Our manager, Sam, has been a great support navigating through the music
industry. We are one of hundreds of small bands in the area and we have been fortunate to
play some amazing venues in our first year including a headliner in Manchester Academy 3.
We faced a couple of unexpected line-up changes recently, however we fortunately found
new and engaged members very quickly. We used this pause as an opportunity to re-
evaluate our sound and to incorporate new aspects from the influence the different
musicians have brought to our music. To stay motivated, we put 100% of our effort into our
music and growing our brand and repertoire, whilst also having as much fun with it as we
can. Our weekly rehearsals are always a good laugh. We think it’s key to have a great
connection within the band whether it’s in or out of the rehearsal space.
You Can catch Plastic Heart at 33 Oldham Street on November 7th. Tickets Here
Listen to Plastic Heart