The Pleasure Dome are a three-piece band formed in Bristol, UK in July 2019. Known for their high-intensity live set, they mix a lively punk sound with grunge and indie rock.
Their newest single, Your Fucking Smile, was released on April 16th, and their EP is set to come out on the 10th of May.
Photo credit: Joshua Wood
The band was kind enough to take the time to share with us the ins and outs of where they gather inspiration both musically and lyrically, the importance of the meanings behind their lyrics, and more.
O] Does the girl Bobby wrote Your Fucking Smile about, know it’s about her?
PD] I didn’t tell her but I think she does, she’s asked me about the song with her perfect smile recently.
O] You’ve said that Bernard Herrmann, who composed the score for the film Psycho, inspired you for the music of Your Fucking Smile – where else do you gather inspiration from?
PD] Everywhere really, the songs are pretty much about my life and me trying to match the mood. I’ve always loved music and poetry, which is what led me to write songs in the first place. I get inspired by a feeling, whether it’s by a moment in my life, or a line in a book or a verse in a song.
O] What can fans expect from Liminal Space?
PD] Six songs that represent the transition of the band from our first album to whatever comes next. a lot of passion, emotional turmoil and love.
O] How did you overcome the struggles you faced creating this EP?
PD] I’m not sure I did, every record has its struggles and they become what the record is, a snapshot of time.
O] Your lyrical inspiration stems from topics such as love, addiction, recovery, mental health and so much more – do you feel as though these heavy topics should be discussed more through music?
PD] I turn to music to escape, sometimes for hope, to feel, for support and I try to bring this into my songwriting.
I realised when I was writing stuff about my political views I’m preaching to the converted – it felt futile and it made me realise, for me, the most important thing I could offer as a songwriter was to write about the difficult moments in my life to help people who are looking for it.
It’s important to talk about the difficult things, though I don’t think that works for all music. I don’t want to hear Chas and Dave singing about making sure someone doesn’t kill themselves, or maybe I do… Either way, this is what I feel I’m here to do, talk about my experience to try and help.
I also wrote a song on this EP about buying someone sweets, so maybe I’m not so deep.
O]How has letting your emotions out through your music benefited you?
PD] I’m not sure it has helped per se, every time I sing a song about a tough moment live I’m right back there, feeling it. If anything it doesn’t let you heal, it leaves the wound slightly open, well that’s how it feels sometimes.
Sometimes you write and then you learn how you truly feel. I wouldn’t say it helps, though it can feel cathartic to thrash it out, but it doesn’t make it go away, that comes through self-care.
O] What are some memorable moments you share as a band?
PD] It’s always the live stuff, people queuing around the block to see us at supersonic in Paris, selling out a gig in Rotterdam, seeing our first mosh pit, our first crowd surfer, and whenever those moments repeat themselves, I live for it, seeing people losing themselves to the music, it’s so special.
Recording is stressful because you have to get it spot on and then it’s there forever. Life is a performance, an energy, I love it.
O] What does the future look like, both in the next couple of months, in the next couple of years, and further?
PD] Crikey, I’m not sure…
You can never truly take a break, but after releasing our album, our touring schedule, and then this EP within about 9 months, I’m going to have a sit-down, a think, and sip some iced soda water with fresh lime, then maybe write a song.
Listen to Your Fucking Smile here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qli5FGJ-HAU
Read more about the new single and upcoming EP here on Soundsphere:
