www.facebook.com/dancingonpluto
From: Grand Rapids, MI
Sounds like: Rock
1. How did you get started with music and how did you develop your sound? Who thought of the name “Dancing On Pluto” and is there any meaning behind it?
We didn’t originally start as a band. We were all really good friends who loved music before talk of a band was ever a thing. We [Chas the lead vocals and Josh [the now drummer] started out just making instrumentals on a computer for the song Picasso. That song was the one that started all of it. We got Gilbert [Guitarist] on it and it hit, all of our friends loved it. We figured they were just being nice to us. So we started showing complete strangers the sound and they all responded positively. The next song was C.V.A. that was the one that really brought us together. We got Ishmael [bassist] to pick up the bass, for the first time ever, less than a month before we recorded the song. Since then we have just kept pushing it to try new things and take away from success what we can. We always only make music that we genuinely love out of respect for our fans.
The name came from Chas. The concept, in short, is that Pluto is a planet of unexplored potential. It took until recent to even say it was a planet again. But Pluto is like our music. When you listen to our music, it is much like taking a trip to another planet. You are exploring the planet. But at the same time, you hear the song and they are jams. It makes you wanna dance, jam, tap your feet, or whatever. Thus, the name Dancing on Pluto.
2. What do you want people to take away from your music?
We want our music to be an honest representation of who we are and how we feel about the world in our own words. I want people to listen to our music in order to share in our perspective. Our music is always changing and complicated because people, including us, are always changing and complicated. We only make music and write lyrics based on our real thoughts, ideas, and real life situations. We don’t want to try and change music to relate to listeners. We want the listeners to relate to our real music. People can sense fake and we don’t want people to get the impression that we are making music for its benefits. We genuinely feel the music and regardless of how we profit from it we will make it.
3. How would you describe your sound to the average listener?
Our music is a comfortable blend of our favorite aspects of a wide range of genres. We take all these genres and have created a sound that isn’t necessarily able to be labeled as one genre or the other. If you have heard one of our songs you have only heard one dynamic of our sound. We have a lot of dynamics of sound to offer.
4. Who are three bands you’d like to tour with?
The Wrecks is a really cool band, that I feel like we would have a lot of fun touring with. Another band that we would jump at the chance to tour with is Mom Jeans. They are extremely relatable to us as people. The music is truly their own thoughts and situations. Would jump at that chance. Another really dope band would be Arms Akimbo. They make really great and interesting music. They see like super cool people as well. Would love to preform with interesting smaller bands like us as well. Would be loads of fun to jam with some cool people.
5. What are your three desert island albums that you'd never get tired of listening to?
“Awaken my love” by Childish Gambino is an instant classic, will never get tired of it. “Ugly Cherries” by PWR BTTM. Every time we go to the studio or do anything bonding as a band we listen to that album. It is inspiration to always try different things. Love that album. Last, but not nearly least, is “Best Buds” by Mom Jeans. That album is our real life put into music. Give us those three albums we’re set.
6. What’s your take on the current state of Rock?
This is an interesting question. Honestly, Rock is falling behind a lot of genres now. Really hate to admit that. Rock has always been so lyrical and heartfelt. Now there’s a lot of genres that have taken that out of the music. Even the instrumentation of Rock music has always been so heartfelt and risky. I think that, that is what we are trying to do as well. A foundation on Rock and take the risk of blending other genres to a point where it feels like something fresh and new.
7. What’s the current music scene like there in Michigan both locally and state wide?
Michigan is in a cool transition. Especially Grand Rapids. The music scene is up and coming with momentum. There are so many indie bands, groups and artists. I think that the intersection is an awesome place, locally, because they give artist a chance to prove themselves. They don’t always play it safe, they take the chance and allow local talent to prosper. Michigan is growing a scene in a lot of genres and I like that Michigan keeps genres relevant. I’m always finding Rock bands and musicians in all types of genres finding some success, it’s inspiring really.
8. What’s your take on legal/illegal music downloading?
We are really biased on this topic. Music was free from its origin. If someone wants to “illegally” download your music they obviously like your music. All of our music is available for free anyway, so that answers that. Music is something that none of us can imagine ourselves without and to think that we would block access to people is absurd. There are other ways to make money (merch, Shows, partnerships, etc.).
9. What’s next for Dancing On Pluto?
As a band we want to get preforming and showing people who we are. Put a face to the name. Be able to show a ton of more people who we are as a band. Show them our perspective. We want to do this for as long as we have something to offer to the world. We love watching people react to our music and love making music together. We want everyone to be able to jam out with us.
10. Any shoutouts?
Shoutout to the parents. Number one supporters of not only us as a band, but us as people. Always pushing us to be great. I [Ishmael] want to give a shout out to Julien Baker. The style of her songs allowed me to be able to see another level of passion and intensity in music. [Gilbert] Jack White and PWR BTTM are major inspirations. They are a major influencers on the style I play guitar and how I create. I [Chas] wanna give a huge shoutout to Chance the Rapper. I feel like he was with me in my journey of becoming the person I am and my style of creation is greatly influenced by him. [Josh] Defintely, Panic at the Disco. From The beginning they have remained consistent in making good music and that is an awesome thing for a band to do. Panic at the Disco Have continued to create music that fits into my music taste.
