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| Photo credits: Mads Perch |
𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒃𝒐’s long-spanning career featured a punk-rock beginning, with lyrics full of teenage angst and hedonism, but soon turned towards a more introspective mode, bringing themes like depression, medication, relationships and melancholy into their songs, with a sound more mature on each subsequent album.
Chaoszine had the opportunity to catch up with 𝑺𝒕𝒆𝒇𝒂𝒏 𝑶𝒍𝒔𝒅𝒂𝒍 about the new album and the role 𝑷𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒆𝒃𝒐 had in bringing important themes like sexuality to the conversation, as well as their expectations for the upcoming tour. You can read the interview below.
𝐇𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐨, 𝐡𝐨𝐰’𝐬 𝐢𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠?
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: Hello. Yeah, I’m good. Thanks.
𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜 𝐚𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐠𝐮𝐲𝐬 𝐚𝐬 𝐚 𝐛𝐚𝐧𝐝?
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: I think it’s affected everyone, you know? I suppose it’s been frustrating, obviously. I think we would have had this conversation two years ago, if it hadn’t been for the pandemic. But, you know, it’s what happened, and we will adapt. We just get on with things. Some things became harder and, strangely, some things became easier, life became simpler. And I think, perhaps, I personally welcome certain aspects of it, I’m not gonna lie to you. Because it’s been such a hectic life for so long. We had more time to really get inside each and every song, and to really explore all the possibilities and explore all the layers without any constraints.
𝐈𝐭’𝐬 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐨 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟑, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐢𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐝𝐲 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐜𝐞𝐬𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝?
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: With every record, we tried to not get bored and to get out of old, comfortable ways of working. We tried to start off approaching from a different angle. And this time, Brian came to me with that idea, saying, “Let’s try to do it backwards,” you know? And we started off with the album artwork and the song titles and kinda worked our way from there. But at the same time, this was the first time that we started an album, just the two of us, because we didn’t have a drummer. So, there were a few factors in starting this record that were a little bit different. And I think we need that. I mean, the end result might still sound very much like a Placebo record. And I think it does. There was a time in the beginning of this record that we thought, “Let’s make this whole album without a drummer.” So, we started writing with a drum machine. And some of those elements are still on there.
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| Photo credit: Gizellerenee |
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: Yeah, I think we’ve learned to embrace happy accidents. We like to use equipment and technology in the wrong order and plug things in that are not supposed to be plugged in that way. Or when the computer corrupts, you know, the sound of that. And also incorporate the imperfections. I think perfection is impossible, and also it doesn’t necessarily mean that it’s best, you know? So, some little noises and things slightly out of tune and sounds that are not supposed to be on the record, we kinda left in because they felt right. And I think, in today’s age, when technology allows you to make everything completely quantized and super clean, I think we wanted to make an album that felt very human as well.
𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦 𝐬𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐬 𝐭𝐨 𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐬𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐖𝐞’𝐯𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐠𝐨𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐡 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐯𝐞, 𝐬𝐢𝐱 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 ̶ 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧 𝐛𝐞𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐜, 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐡𝐚𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝. 𝐃𝐢𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐢𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐲 𝐰𝐚𝐲 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐥𝐛𝐮𝐦?
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: Yes, certainly, we’re human beings who are affected by what goes on around us, for sure. The end of the world has always been on the human mind. If you’re talking about turmoil and discord and violence and destruction. I mean, the human is no stranger to all of these topics. Perhaps, we’re seeing them a little bit more prescient now.
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: When we started out, in the mid-90s, there was a lot about us that didn’t fit in. As a band, we kind of didn’t really fit into what was happening, in the height of Britpop. So, yeah, at times we did feel like outsiders, ever since we were teenagers, trying to find a place to fit in, trying to find like-minded people. And I think that kind of search for belonging and a space to freely express ourselves kind of led us to Placebo. And it’s something that we’ve held on to ever since. We didn’t feel like we fit in anywhere else, so we can create our own world. I suppose, we kind of searched for that space to be able to express ourselves freely, be it the way that we present ourselves or what we sing about, or how we perform, how we act. It’s all part of our identity. And I don’t think we could have done it any other way. I think the things that you’re talking about, perhaps there is more open discussion about them now. There’s more visibility in terms of gender identity and sexuality and perhaps mental health. And I think that’s certainly a positive thing, but I’m not so sure that it’s where we want it to be. Have we advanced really, you know, as humans? I don’t know.
𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐝𝐢𝐝 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐚 𝐥𝐨𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐝𝐢𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐚 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐞𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐝 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞. 𝐘𝐨𝐮 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐥𝐨𝐨𝐤 𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐚𝐮𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐢𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜, 𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭? 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐜𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠.
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: Yeah, absolutely. It feels like we attracted like-minded people, you know? Those are our fans. And absolutely, that’s an extreme form of validation for us, which we’ll be forever grateful for. I guess I was referring to this visibility and this kind of more open discussion. You look around to a lot of governments around the world, and you’re not necessarily seeing that it’s happening on that level. I guess that’s where my question was. And there’s bands of music that have helped me in my quest to find my identity and finding like-minded people or finding strength and finding a soundtrack to me trying to come to terms with myself. And if Placebo has provided that to one person, then that’s an amazing thing.
𝐍𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐫𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐞 “𝐍𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫 𝐋𝐞𝐭 𝐌𝐞 𝐆𝐨”, 𝐰𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐝𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬?
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: I guess during the pandemic, we all got used to disappointment, right? And also not to expect things to be the way that you plan them to be. I think it was a big lesson for all of us. And, in a way, it was liberating. Obviously, it causes a lot of anxiety and a lot of grief and problems. But at the same time, we have to get used to the fact that we can’t just think that we can have everything the way that we want it. So, in terms of touring, we are going into rehearsals, and we’re gonna get this record right into tour. I really hope that we can. But until we step onto that stage and play, I’m not gonna believe it, you know. And I guess I’ve just got to a place where I have to manage my expectations.
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| Photo credit: Gizellerenee |
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: Yes. We’re already experiencing it, you know. And, in a way, it’s great because everyone wants to go out and play. And it’s a beautiful thing, because people really wanna go out and play and people really want to come to see the show. So, that’s great. I mean, the technical aspects, the logistics… we’ll work around it. I’m in England now. And to go on tour to Europe is not as easy as it used to be. So, there, we have more logistical issues, and with the leftovers of the pandemic, things aren’t the way that they were, you know, when we were last touring. But the thing is: that’s not the main focus. The main focus is trying to get out there. All the other stuff, it’s gonna be harder, but that’s what we got.
𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐞 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐦𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐜 𝐛𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬: 𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐢𝐬 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐦𝐨𝐬𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐧𝐮𝐞 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐠𝐨 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐬. 𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐟𝐞𝐞𝐥 𝐚𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭?
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: It’s certainly a different landscape to what it was when we started, you know, for sure. And I don’t know if we talked too much about technology. But what we’re living through right now is a bit of a technological revolution. It’s developing at such a kind of ever-increasing speed that I don’t think we, humans, are really able to comprehend exactly what the consequences are and the price that we will pay. But certainly, some bands today and artists have to spend almost half their time creating content in order to be even heard. And sometimes, the whole format of how does a song reach an audience, it’s like there’s so much noise out there that sometimes you have to make your song explosive sonically just so people will pay attention. We’re a million light-years away from the way that you heard a song was you bought the sheet music, you know? You took it home, and you played it on the piano: we’re so far away from that, you know? So, the role the sound or the arrangement of a song has kind of crept into the picture. I mean, I have friends who have started playing the stock market to help pay the bills, you know?
𝐒𝐨, 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐤 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐦𝐮𝐜𝐡 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰. 𝐈𝐭 𝐰𝐚𝐬 𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐭𝐚𝐥𝐤 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮. 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐚𝐧𝐲𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐞𝐥𝐬𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮’𝐝 𝐥𝐢𝐤𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐚𝐲 𝐭𝐨 𝐲𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐟𝐚𝐧𝐬 𝐨𝐮𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞?
𝐎𝐥𝐬𝐝𝐚𝐥: Just stay safe and take care of each other.
𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑻𝒆𝒙𝒕: 𝙵𝚕𝚊𝚟𝚒𝚊 𝙰𝚗𝚍𝚛𝚊𝚍𝚎, 𝟶𝟺.𝟶𝟹.𝟸𝟶𝟸𝟸.
𝑶𝒓𝒊𝒈𝒊𝒏𝒂𝒍 𝑰𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒓𝒗𝒊𝒆𝒘:
https://bit.ly/3Cp1AU4
Post by Rita
