Mike McGrath-Bryan speaks with Pleasure Beach singer Alan Haslam about their journey so far, big singles, and their upcoming Cyprus Avenue show on March 2nd.
Belfast dream-pop/indie outfit Pleasure Beach spent the majority of last year building from the late-2015 release of debut extended-player ‘Dreamer to the Dawn’, surfing a wave of momentum from anthemic debut single ‘Go’, a near-inescapable proposition for fans of independent music in Ireland that year. Vocalist Alan Haslam takes some time to reflect, at the outset of a conversation about his band’s upcoming debut Irish headline tour. “We recorded that record at a really exciting time for the band, right at the start when the initial industry and audience buzz was ramping up. Those songs are still very close to our hearts, and we’ve kept them in our live set for almost every show we’ve played since. Listening back now, eighteen months or so after they were recorded, I can hear how much more confident we are playing them these days. The high notes are certainly easier to hit than they were!”
‘Go’ was possibly one of the strongest starts a band could ask for, surely, a shimmering, hazy slice of big guitar-pop – and it occurred, far from any sort of big, mad stroke of inspiration, from a fairly innocuous jamming session that predated the band’s existence. “It was a great way to burst out of the traps, that’s for sure. It was the only song we have that was written and recorded before we put the band together, just Lisa and I in the studio recording for fun. Back then we never could’ve foreseen it’d be released at all, let alone go on to be something of a hit record. It was great to see it blossom, and it’s amazing seeing audiences singing it back to us when we play it live. That’s really the best thing you could hope for as a songwriter and I’ll never get tired of that. We all still love that song.”
What was the subsequent process of finishing up and recording the songs for the ‘Dreamer to the Dawn’ E.P. like? “When we record we do it fast. Mainly down to financial constraints – studio time is expensive – but it also helps to capture the essence of a song without getting bogged down in sonic minutiae. When you only have three days to track three densely-produced songs there’s an urgency and adrenaline buzz to the process that can manifest itself in the record, and I think that comes across in that E.P. Not saying I wouldn’t take six months at Joshua Tree for our next record, but it is a kind of masochistic fun working to a tight schedule like that.”
The reaction to the extended-player has largely been positive, with the band getting straight to work by touring and capitalising on the attention they’ve received. “We’ve had a really warm welcome into the arms of the music scene, particularly in Ireland. Over the last year we’ve played to audiences that none of us would’ve dared dream about until now. It’s been really great, and we’ve met some incredible people along the way. To know that your music has made even a tiny impression on the lives of strangers, live or on record, sort of validates that reckless life decision you’ve made to become an artist. It’s a good feeling.”
The band are heading into their maiden headline excursion around the island, and it’s a thought that’s not without trepidation for Haslam and crew. “My primary thought is “will the van break down?” In fact, there’s no question. It will break down. But that’s happened loads of times and we’ve never missed a show! Aside from that we really can’t wait. Irish audiences are by far and away our favourite to play for and extra receptive to new material, of which we’ll be playing a lot.”
Pleasure Beach are playing Cyprus Avenue on March 2nd, having debuted in the Crane over the Jazz weekend for a Jameson/Hot Press Bow St. Sessions show. Haslam gathers his thoughts on the event. “That was a lovely show. We were incredibly well looked after by the Jameson/ Hot Press folks, and it was a treat to hang out with the Wyvern Lingo guys and Amaron & Magic, the beatboxers. Prodigiously talented one and all, and we got to collaborate on a couple of covers too. which was brilliant craic. The Cork audience were great, and gave us a really enthusiastic reception. We can’t wait to come back.”
Said new material was premiered there also, which is quite the departure from shoegazey, Krauty touches and into straightforward pop. “I think our songwriting and arrangements have got a little more concise over the last year or so, and we’re leaning a lot heavier on synths and electronics these days too. I guess that’s what gives the new material more of a pop aesthetic. Fear not though! The big guitar songs are still in there, and a lot of our brand new stuff is bigger, more guitar-y and a whole lot more shoegazey than ever before!”
It’s looking like a big year for the band after this tour, with a full-length in the offing. “We have a few releases lined up, all heading towards an album towards the end of the year. We’ll be on the road, in the studio and crouched over ancient laptops in our bedrooms writing a whole load more material for you to wrap your ears around. Many adventures await.”
Mike McGrath-Bryan 