Throughout this interview, you can’t fail to notice that warm, friendly and passionate energy that Platonick Dive emit. They truly believe in the best of humanity and can’t stand for any abuse of one’s freedoms, as they tell us, they use their music to speak up against misogyny, homophobia and racism. It’s perhaps the complexity of human existence that extends into the elaborate, multi-layered and often chaotic compositions by this Italian trio.

While the band have released two albums and two very good soundtrack covers (heads up for Twin Peaks and Stranger Things fans) since 2013, it’s been their latest string of singles that have turned the heads of a much wider audience. ‘Waxfall’ and ‘Maple’ certainly caught our ears and we even had the pleasure of premiering the former. While they’ve quite literally dove into a world of ‘80s synths and many other genres, Platonick Dive have remained true to their initial intent - music as therapy. Possibly for themselves at first, but now they’re able to reach other people, whether standing in a crowd at one of their energetic live shows or at the end of a pair of headphones. Currently beginning their tour in Russia, Platonick Dive will be sharing their third album, Social Habits, very, very soon.

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TMR: The story goes that Platonick Dive was formed as a form of therapy for yourselves, so have you found that creating music has been a cathartic experience?

Yeah, absolutely! We have built our career around the notion that music is therapy and an essential part of our lives and evolution. A form of self-therapy and a motivation to help others in the same way through our music. When we are playing, wherever we are (rehearsal room, studio recording, live stages) is always a cathartic experience. It helps (and not only to us but fans too) to abstract from what happening around in the world, and feel and share real pure feelings.

TMR: What was each band member doing before Platonick Dive came into being?

We were into music from the childhood. Gabriele and Marco started to play together when they were teenagers and quickly became great friends and musical co-workers. Jonathan, the older of the trio, played in a few metal bands before joining Platonick Dive.

TMR: You’ve released two albums since 2013, but I’ve noticed that it’s your latest string of singles that gained the most listens. What do you think it is about this new music that’s winning over fans?

Probably this new step in our music has a strong mix of different styles; you can hear our post-rock & shoegaze origins, lots of electronics and a big influence from today's pop music. This mixture is definitely more showy and gains new appeal.

TMR: Of your three newest tracks, ‘Waxfall’, ‘Habit’ and ‘Maple’, which one is your favourite? And why is that?

Every track is our favorite, because every track has got his meaning. ‘Waxfall’ is the natural bridge from our old to our new sounds. ‘Habit’ is one of the symbol tracks of the new album for his gentle energy and the soaked-in reverb atmosphere. ‘Maple’ is one of the most strange and innovative tracks, both for the music and for the lyrics. We use different musical gears compared to our usual instruments: 80’s synths and arpeggiators, upbeat drums and vocals to sing about the brutality of being misogynist, homophobic and racist nowadays.



TMR: Back in February, we premiered ‘Waxfall’, noting its elaborate and oftentimes chaotic instrumentation. Would you say that you’re drawn to the chaos that music can create?

Sometimes we like to draw in studio the same ‘good chaos’ that we always create on stage. When you’re completely absorbed into music, you can’t recognize every sound and you lose your senses because of the good vibes.

TMR: How about during a live show? What could a first time audience member expect to witness at a Platonick Dive gig?

From the first album (Therapeutic Portrait, 2013) we had a great impact during live shows. We love to put everything on stage: our hearts, our souls, our bodies, our feelings. Therapy is everywhere, especially on stage. We sweat a lot and we always give our best :)

TMR: Looking back, your fascination with retro and sci-fi culture is apparent in the covers of Twin Peaks and Stranger Things theme songs. Why did you want to put your mark on these iconic soundtracks?

Oh well, firstly because we are huge fans of Twin Peaks and Stranger Things TV series. We were always fascinated by 90’s culture and imaginary, the Pacific Northwest landscapes and obviously David Lynch’s filmography. Recently, we dived into 80’s synthesizers and early electronics. This is why we were really impressed by Stranger Things’ composers and their use of arpeggiators and analog synths.



TMR: What other passions are shared by the band?

As Italians, we love to cook tasty food, drink good wine and fresh beer. Our sport passions are NBA basketball and genuine football. We also love taking relaxing walks in the forest and go to the seaside for a refreshing swim.

TMR: As well as spacey, ‘80s synths, we can also hear hints of floor-filling dance, indie-rock and pop-punk. Has this been inspired by the music you listen to?

It’s very difficult to indicate our music inspirations, because we listen tons of music every day. You know, our sound is a strong mix of different styles and this is the reason why we can be inspired at the same time by an old 70’s rock’n’roll song or maybe by the latest trap hit song. It doesn’t matter, the main important thing is feeling the good vibe and be able to send a real message.

TMR: Lastly, what plans does Platonick Dive have for the rest of 2018?

We’d like to spread more our therapeutic message with the fresh new album, widen our horizons and gain new audience. Social Habits is going to be released in a few days. We are starting the tour in Moscow and St. Petersburg and then back to Italy for spring and summer shows. We will tour Europe in Autumn, so keep your eyes peeled!



-Hannah Thacker