Interview with remarkable ambient musicians Psycho & Plastic

Image credit: Christoph Neumann with Sascha Boldt

Light on the mind with its ethereal qualities and gentle percussion, Psycho & Plastic’s latest song ‘Back And Forth’ via GiveUsYourGOLD is a tranquil listen. Despite its many layers and deeper meanings, the listener can find light in the darker embellishments. This particular track was their most challenging one to compose, hence the fitting name. Music is therapeutic art as far as this duo is concerned, and we are mesmerized by their ability to scratch beneath the surface with their minimal production. Comprised of longtime composers and collaborators Alexandre Decoupigny and Thomas Tichai a.k.a Psycho & Plastic, ‘Back And Forth’ will be featured on their upcoming LP release. We look forward to letting our minds wander deeper into the world of this remarkable duo, but until then enjoy this exclusive Q&A that we did with them.

Stream/ download: ‘Back And Forth’

Sum up your year so far in two words.

Getting there!

You previously mentioned that the song was inspired by “the delicate dance of conflicting interest in the face of severe crisis.” What conflicting interests have you encountered, and how did you overcome them?

As artists, the conflicting interests of safety and financial security versus creative and entrepreneurial risk-taking are our constant companions. We overcome them temporarily with a well-balanced mix of common sense, passion, and grandiose delusions.

The situation got even more extreme two years ago when the whole world started to visibly spiral from one crisis to the next. We all became spectators to many hard-to-watch delicate dances on a global scale.

Tell us more about how your latest/upcoming release was conceptualised?

We composed and produced our upcoming album Phantom Bliss in a flow state and only discovered the underlying concept after we had already finished the music. Phantom Bliss is music by and for quiet and introverted people, thinkers and readers, as well as doubters and dreamers. We know how lonely it gets amidst all the harsh and loud surroundings. The concept of Phantom Bliss acknowledges our human need for a mental place of refuge, a sonic safe space. It’s music for everyone who seeks comfort, without creating the illusion that everything is ok while it isn’t.

Describe a typical day in your studio space.

When we’re in the middle of production it’s a repeating cycle of critical listening, composing, creative conversation, practicing, recording, and back to critical listening. Coffee breaks are essential for all these steps.

What are the most important pieces of equipment for you?

Alexandre: Laptop with Ableton Live, Push 2, Livid DS1, Elektron Analog Heat Mk1 ,

and Beyerdynamic DT 770 Pro.

Thomas: Gibson SG electric guitar, effects pedalboard, Eurorack modular system, my small collection of vintage analog synths, tape echo, and the Lexicon MPX100.

‘Back And Forth’ is set to feature on your upcoming album, and you have said this was one of the most challenging songs to make. What factors made it feel this way?

The shape and emotional content of the track’s core musical idea kept eluding us for longer than we were used to. This meant that we needed more attempts and musical sketches to arrive at a finished version than we did with any other track on the album. Since we collaborated remotely from our studios across town it put us into a literal back and forth of versions, ideas and conversations.

Describe what an ideal day would be for you?

Let’s dream big: living in a world without war, we finish a double album of music in the morning and confirm a world tour with sold-out dates on every continent. Then we take a walk in a beautiful nature reserve and meet our partners and best friends for a coffee break and cake. Sign off on an Aphex Twin remix of our latest release, and end the day by discussing the future over dinner with Brian Eno.

Do you have a favourite memory of your career so far that you will take with you forever?

When we met Andrew Weatherall in Cologne for the first time, he greeted us with the words: “I love your work!”

Who is your musical guilty pleasure?

Alexandre: Natti Natasha & Ozuna – ‘Criminal’

Thomas: Kris Kross – Totally Krossed Out

What can we expect from you in the near future?

First up we’ll release a video for ‘Back And Forth’ by visual artists Max Füllbier and Thomas Blank, who already did exceptional work for our previous single ‘Imago’.

As our third and last single, ‘Fragile Targets’ will follow in June, with another mind-blowing video by Max Füllbier and Claire Fristot aka A-li-ce. Our album Phantom Bliss will be released on July the 8th.

We’re also working on our new live set right now, which we will premiere at ORWOhaus Festival Episode XV in Berlin on July the 15th.

‘Back And Forth’ features on the playlist CHILL_GROUND.fm