pluko
Artist/producer pluko releases new single “used to”.
In collaboration with San Francisco indie-pop duo Cassette Tapes, the new single is about all of the difficult thoughts and emotions that we go through in relationships.
The Pennsylvania-native has garnered up over 50 million plays across platforms and has remixed tracks for artists like Tycho, Hayden James, Mansionair, Odesza, and more.
Along with his musical projects, pluko also created his own clothing brand and creative community Splendid Society.
“used to” is now available worldwide.
Photo credit: Lukas MK
Introduce yourself - what’s your story?
I'm from a small town in Pennsylvania. When I say small town I mean a SMALL town. Growing up here was very inspiring because you really had to get creative with how you spent your time. I was always trying to learn new things and create art, whether it be photos, movies, or music. I first discovered that I could make electronic music when I was about 13 or 14.
"used to" is your new single. What's the story behind this song?
“used to” was so fun to write. We all got together at the Capitol Records studio in Los Angeles and instantly caught a vibe. I was just playing demos that I had been working on and this one beat really stuck out to the Cassette Tape guys. It felt so effortless and so joyful. I love writing in the studio in person. Studio sessions with singers/songwriters are still a new thing to me, but I'm really starting to enjoy collaborating. For so long it has just been me, my computer and a keyboard, so it's been nice to step outside of my comfort zone and build ideas with friends.
Could you describe us the songwriting/production process? When did you start working on it?
“used to” started as a demo that I had made in my home studio. It was just some drums and this really huge 808. In August/September 2019 I was in LA and me, Cassette Tapes, and Peter Fenn all linked up in the studio to write. We really didn't have a plan, it was just that creative flow. I picked that beat out and we were all really vibing to it. Good songs should almost feel like they write themselves, and that's how it felt when we were putting this thing together. The only really "work" or "effort" that we had to put in was towards the end of wrapping up the track during mixing.
What made you want to release "used to" as a single?
The track is just such a nice vibe I think that it deserves to have some time to shine on its own before it gets accompanied by any additional tunes ;)
What do you like the most about this song?
I think I just love the overall feeling that the song gives me when I listen to it. I've probably heard it a million times, yet I still find myself opening it up and taking a listen.
What can you tell us about the artwork?
I created the artwork myself actually! I really just wanted something simple and colorful that fit the feeling of the song. The Cassette Tapes guys and I decided that a wilted flower would be fitting because it's falling apart… and the story of the song is "you don't love me like you used to" also you should totally scan that QR code! ;)
What message do you want to convey through this single?
This song is really about all of the difficult thoughts and emotions that we go through in relationships. The Cassette Tapes guys can definitely give more detail on the story since they wrote the lyrics, but that's definitely the rough idea of the lyrics.
As a producer, what equipments and softwares do you usually use?
I can pretty much get everything that I want done with just my laptop and speakers. Although I have some gear like the Prophet, the OP-1, and the Ableton Push, they're not entirely necessary for my writing process. They definitely help kickstart ideas and they're great tools for getting a more analog sound, but they're mainly just a source for inspiration for me.
What advice would you give to young producers?
My number one piece of advice that I give anyone that's messaging me about starting off or growing a fan base is that you have to truly want it. It's not something that you can just like "do” — you really have to put in the hours and put your heart and soul into it. I'm still learning more and more every day and I never want to stop learning. If you truly love writing music and creating art, you need to dedicate all of your time to it.
What's the biggest lesson you've learned since your very first release?
Patience is underrated in the music industry. I was first thrown into this music world at a young age and I wanted everything to happen right then and there. I wanted the song that I wrote last night to come out tomorrow. And this is extremely common for artists! But maybe that song isn't done… What if it could be better? There's definitely a fine line here because waiting too long is also a massive issue, but my main lesson that I've learned throughout the last 2 years of releasing music is that sometimes it's okay to be patient. Don't rush things, you will feel when the time is right.
What can you tell us about Splendid Society?
Splendid Society is a brand that I created with my two best friends growing up. It's a clothing brand and a creative community. We design and create clothing, curate photoshoots, and create visual content together. One day I would love to have Splendid Society be a record label that I could support my favorite young artists on. Honestly, I don't think that day is very far away!
As a human being, what do you want to accomplish?
I treat every day as if I have no time left on this planet. My goal in my artistic journey, as well as my human journey, is to create as much of an impact on this planet as possible. I want to positively influence as many people whether it be through my music, social interactions, whatever it may be. I want to leave as much of a footprint in the world as I possibly can. So every day when I wake up, everything that I do that day is like the most important thing in the world.
What are your thoughts on today’s current global situation? How are you holding up?
It honestly feels like we're all in a movie or something. Nobody ever thought that they would see the ENTIRE WORLD shut down. I still don't even think it's really settled in with me yet, but this is a massive deal. I'm holding up pretty well, just finishing a bunch of new music for this year. I hope that everyone else out there is being smart and staying inside and keeping to themselves. The more people that follow the guidelines, the quicker all of this will go away.
What message do you want to give to everyone around the world?
This year I want to really make some noise. I want to show everyone what I've secretly been up to this past year. I cannot wait to showcase this art that I have been perfecting. Also please stay safe during all of these weird times. Be smart and put others before you. Even if you're 21 and think that you can't get sick, you can still pass it on to someone like your grandma or grandpa, and they can get VERY sick. Much love <3
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