A band dedicated to sharing stories that are both relatable and engaging, Plastic Barricades are ready to take you on a sonic journey with their smooth rhythms and enchanting vocals. 

Inspired by artists such as Death Cab for Cutie, The Shins, Foo Fighters and Oasis, the multi-national duo made up of vocalist/guitarist Dan Kert and percussionist/production expert Paul Love have built quite a collection of songs while amassing a decent international following since their 2014 debut. 

Now gearing up for the release of their sophomore album Self-Theories, Plastic Barricades are once more ready to explore the world around them and share their experience through music.

Self describing the upcoming release as “an album about despair and hope, anxiety and optimism, lack of self-esteem and active search for it…and reinventing ourselves for the sake of a brighter future,” the band have spent the last year curating the album to best represent their sound as a duo and to resonate with listeners.

But while they are busy preparing for their release, Kert was gracious enough to chat with us about how his year has been going up until this point and what his hopes are for the future of Plastic Barricades and the music industry as a whole are as we continue to navigate this uncharted year. 

You can read our full Quarantine Questionnaire with Kert below, and be sure to check out the band’s upcoming album Self-Theories, out November 23rd.

Second Society Report: How are you holding up during this insane year that is 2020? Hopefully your friends and families are staying safe and healthy!

Dan Kert: It has definitely been the strangest year that I can remember. Thankfully, all our friends and families are being very cautious and try to minimize risks. We entertain them by sending them secret links to our new songs so they can memorize all the lyrics by the time the album is out.

SSR: Did you have any big releases or tours that were put on hold because of the pandemic? How has that affected the band?

DK: We were planning to tour in preparation for the new album release sometime this year, but that was put on an indefinite hold. As for the album itself – we thought we should soldier on and make sure it is out in 2020 to have at least something nice happening this year. We try to stay optimistic and always look for the silver lining, that’s the only way to go.

SSR: How have you been spending your newfound “downtime” while the world has been essentially shut down?

DK: To be honest, my personal day-to-day hasn’t changed that much except for the total absence of gigs and no trips abroad. Miss travelling and gigging a lot, but trying to find solace in new recordings and songwriting. A lot of songwriting. Thankfully the studio is right here, at my fingertips. Finishing “Self-Theories” was our biggest mission this year and now when it is finally done and dusted I am already itching to get started on the next record. It is an all-encompassing and never-ending process.

SSR: Have you picked up any new hobbies while quarantining that you’d like to share?

DK: I have been developing a daily meditation habit, that really helped me through a lot of tough times this year. Nothing fancy, just 15 minutes a day with a certain well-known app. Highly recommended for every single human-being! Imagine how much calmer the world would have been! I also try to stay on a very strict reading schedule and just read everything I ever wanted to read, both fiction and non-fiction, classic and modern. Good thing I don’t have to go to the library to get new books.

SSR: Have you worked on any new releases during this time? Any that are already out or that we can get a sneak peak of?

DK: Our sophomore album “Self-Theories” will be out on the 23rd of November Three singles “One for the Road”, “Optimist” and “Tunnel” have truly DIY music videos. “Tunnel” was filmed using a digital microscope, “Optimist” had a cast of 300+ in a fish tank and “One for the Road” used vintage road trip footage from the 50-s. These are all available to watch on YouTube, go and have a laugh.

SSR: If already out- what was the inspiration for the release? Have you written any songs specifically about the state of the world right now?

DK: Album focuses on a fascinating psychological concept of self-theories, that is universally applicable to all humans, regardless of the times we live in. What are self-theories? 

Many choices that may eventually lead to life-defining decisions are fuelled by our internal „self-theories“. We create and nurture stereotypes about ourselves from an early age, and these stereotypes shape our thoughts, feelings and behaviour for the rest of our lives. However, we are not what we think we are, we are what we do. We are our actions!

SSR: How has it been being an artist in a time when you cannot tour? How have you been working to promote your music and expand your reach?

DK: We have to adapt to these new conditions for sure, and it will take some time for the music industry to bounce back from this pandemic. However, I hope many musicians will discover the joy of remote collaborations, online teaching, more studio recording and, most importantly, learning new skills and exploring their own voices. We’ve been trying to be even more productive in the studio and much more active on social media, reassuring our fans that we are always here if you need us. It’s been nice chatting to people from all around the world.

SSR: Do you have any words of advice for fans that are feeling particularly bummed out about the live music world coming to a halt?

DK: This is temporary and gigs will definitely come back with a bang. Patience is our best friend at the moment. Meanwhile, keep discovering new music, the more underground, the better! Think of yourselves as explorers and adventurers! Who will be the first to fall in love with a tiny band, that will become a worldwide sensation in the next 5 years? Support your local artists by buying their t-shirts and vinyl and whatever else they are selling. Send them a message with some kind words – they really need it now.

SSR: When the world returns to a safer spot and we are able to (hopefully) attend live shows again- say in 2021- what do you hope to achieve?

DK: We promise to gig as much as we can and get our music to places we’ve never been before. 

SSR: Is there anything you wish your fans would know about you or about the current state of the music world?

DK: I think they know it all! I just want to ask for a favour: dear all, please be kind to each other, we are all in the same boat!

You can stream Plastic Barricade’s latest single “Tunnel” out now, and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for November 23rd when their album Self-Theories drops. 

And stay up to date on all things related to their upcoming release and the band by following their social media accounts, linked below.

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