Playlounge: "The record will look amazing" • Interview • DIY Magazine

It’s always (usually) great news when bands reveal new material, but what’s even better is when two bands do it at the same time. That’s exactly how scuzzy noise merchants playlounge and Nai Harvest feel too, having formed plans to release a special split 12” together next month.

“Last summer, after the Art Is Hard all-dayer I was hanging out with Lew from Nai Harvest and we had the idea of doing a split,” playlounge’s Saam Watkins explains, “just because we loved each other’s bands so much. He then talked to Darren from Dog Knights, and a few days later he messaged us asking if we’d like to do an album first.”

Now that the band’s debut ‘pilot’ is out in the open, it seems like the perfect time to go back to their original plans. Featuring a brand new track from each of the bands, the 12” is also set to see the labelmates take on the responsibility of covering one another.

“The song is called ‘handclap cinema’,” Saam says, of playlounge’s cut, “and we recorded it at the same time as ‘pilot’ at Omstart Studios, with Dom James and Jonathan Coddington. The original idea for the song was written maybe two years ago but only finished shortly before the album session.

“I’ve been thinking back a lot recently to my adolescence and the song is kinda about that; about one of the more noteworthy experiences that shaped me back then. [It’s] about that point after you get over being sad about something and can again see what good it held in the first place.”

As if the musical offerings of these two bands don’t contain enough summery fun, the 12” is also set to be flower-shaped. “That was all Darren, the guy’s a genius. He knows exactly what he’s doing when it comes to releasing records.

“Releasing with Dog Knights, we know that the record will look amazing and is going to get sent out in top condition and on time. It’s just real cool to do a split with Nai. They’re one of our favourite bands and the coolest guys to know so it’s a real pleasure to do this with them.”

As for how practical the new vinyl will be, even Saam’s not all too sure… “Well, I’ve never owned or played a flower-shaped record before but, assuming you don’t water it, I bet it plays just fine.”

Taken from the new DIY Weekly, available to download for iPhone, iPad and Android or read online now. playlounge and Nai Harvest’s new 12” ‘Flower’ will be released on 4th August via Dog Knights Productions.

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