Pleasure Heads and 10 Questions with TotalNtertainment.
Pleasure Heads rally for a return to reality-rooted connection on their conscious new single Cosmopolis, we got to chat with front man Euan.
1. Thanks for your time, for those of our readers who don’t know Pleasure Heads could you give us a quick history ?
We formed in 2016, Ross and I having met in high school and bonded over punk rock and underage drinking. Our first proper gigs in Glasgow gathered some attention from the local scene, and since that initial warm reception, we’ve been going from strength to strength. Over the last two years, we recruited Alan and Lewis into the band to make up one of the most formidable rhythm sections I’ve ever come across. So far, gigs have taken us from Inverness to London (with plenty of other spots in between) and we’ve consistently been putting out music since our conception.
2. And you’ve just put out your new single “Cosmopolis” inspired by Euan’s dislike of technology? What brought about that dislike ?
To be honest, I’ve always been something of a Luddite, never completely caught up with the latest tech. However, my disdain has been further fuelled by the obvious effect it is having on wider society. We’re far too reliant on our phones to the point that the smartphone is an extension of the body, and it’s only really in its infancy. The thought of how integrated it will become truly scares me.
3. If you could banish one element of technology never to be seen again what would it be and why ?
I’ve not seen one in ages, so hopefully this comes true, but I have to say the hoverboard. Why? Because it doesn’t hover! It has two wheels that are in constant contact with the ground and for someone to call that hovering is blatant false advertising. On a side note: I once saw a father and son going down the street, the dad was dribbling a football to himself because the kid was on one of those bloody boards. That image makes me really sad, and further proves how pointless the things are.
4. So would it be fair to say your thoughts on COVID tracking apps, cashless societies and microchipping aren’t high on your list of favourite future possible technologies ?
You’re quite right there. Obviously I do see the utility in something like a COVID tracking app if it means that infection rates can be reduced so I don’t have much of a problem with that. We basically are heading toward a cashless society, especially now when people are looking to avoid as much contact with each other as possible. But this could have disastrous implications for those that are still reliant on cash if they’re not helped to move with the times. And speaking of the microchip, I think that it’s the natural evolution of the smartphone. Like I was saying earlier, for many the phone and the body are now one, so it’s not too much a stretch to say that in the future, the excess material will be stripped away and the box will be plugged straight into the noggin. All of the internet inside your head, a swirling vortex of information, misinformation; facts, counter-facts; empirical data and opinionated bias. That’s another eerie thought.
5. On the plus side though, do you think the lockdown has brought families and friends closer together which surely can only be a good thing ?
With most people off work and with little else to be distracted by, it seems only natural that close ones are enjoying each other’s company more than usual. Obviously video calling services like Zoom have had a huge impact on connecting people, especially early on in lockdown when measures were stricter. It shows that technology has its uses, and its probably made most eager to see not the two dimensional image of their friends or family, but the real deal.
6. What about social media ? Again the last few months have shown its good and bad points, where do you stand on its importance in modern society ?
Again I feel a lot of good has come as the result of social media, being able to see injustices carried out on the other side of the planet to name just one of them. Nevertheless, my main gripe with Facebook, Instagram and the rest is the way that the platforms distort and manipulate reality. Twitter, for example, as excellent a conduit for ideas as it is, creates echo chambers where very few opposing views have the chance to overlap or be confronted head on. Additionally, everyone lives the perfect life online, always smiling, sometimes unrealistically beautiful; the story might not ring true in real life but the pixelated facade shows no weakness. This can warp people’s perception of what is attainable and even what is worthwhile chasing. Influencers are a particular tumour that perpetuate this lie and I think the Internet would be a better place if their presence was eradicated.
7. If you’ve learned one thing about the human race over the past four months what has it been ?
The last few months have shown me that ultimately humans have the capacity for showing great measures of compassion and solidarity in times of fear and upheaval. There have been many people who have knowingly disobeyed safety measures though I feel a lot of these individuals act in one fashion purely because their government has told them to act in another. Stubbornness and resilience are two sides of the same coin, and everyone has grouped together against this invisible adversary, albeit in counterproductive ways.
8. And what about the music scene in Falkirk what’s that like and how has it been affected by the lockdown ?
There a few cafes in Falkirk that host acoustic open mics, so I can imagine that they’ve been suffering over the last few months, but apart from that the town doesn’t have much of a live scene. I would blame that mainly on the lack of small and medium sized venues; without a central hub, it’s near enough impossible for local bands to share a stage and build a home following. Falkirk isn’t without it’s great bands though, The Nickajack Men and Ghostwriter are well worth a listen.
9. Just for fun: if we were to go cashless in the future, what would you use for currency instead of an app ?
Well if cash and virtual credit were out of the picture, I think humour would make for a good basis of an economy. Everyone would be rewarded for their quick wit and intelligence, and those sheltered stiff shirts would finally realise what it’s like to be at the bottom of the pile. Puns would finally be encouraged, patter merchants would be the 1%, and I can already picture the signs outside of corner shops: WE NO LONGER ACCEPT KNOCK KNOCK JOKES AS LEGAL TENDER.
10. Finally, just to finish, thanks for your time, what does the future hold in store for the band ? Any new music lined-up ?
As soon as it is sensible to do so, we’ll be back to playing gigs up and down the country, as many as we can handle. It would be good to get back down south and visit some cities we’ve not had the pleasure seeing yet. North of the border, we’re organising a pretty special show, our biggest to date and a culmination of everything we’ve been working on from day one. We’re extremely excited to announce it, but that’s all I can say for now. And of course, there will be plenty of new music on the way this year and beyond.
Cosmopolis is out now across all DSPs and you can keep up to date with them here: https://www.facebook.com/PlsrHds/
