The Norwich band, fronted by brothers Kenny Pleasures and Jonny Silver, have run riot this year, pulling in crowds across the UK and Europe too, following the release of debut EP 'Plastic People'.
Photo: Kate Liddy | Words: Lloyd Bolton
PleasureInc. grabbed our attention this year in the build-up to the release of their debut EP 'Plastic People'. With stylised videos of the band painted in blue and baffling the people of London and their native Norwich and lore around the mysterious wrestler dummy the band take on tour with them, the band form a world to get lost in even before you hear the first jerk of music. The songs kept us hooked, darting between indie, hip-hop and post-punk influences all with an intelligence and irreverence that brings the music right up to date, finding a place alongside the comparable live forces like Faux Real and Confidence Man. After a barnstorming debut UK tour, the band headed to Europe supporting Friday Pilots Club. There they have cultivated a following that has demanded repeat return visits, including appearances at Left of the Dial in October.
Now, with a new EP due this February and a fresh UK tour on the horizon, it feels like this band just keep getting stronger and tighter as they sharpen their unique sonic identity (see new single 'Fool'). Responding here under their very serious pseudonyms (which recently had 6 Music's New Music Fix team audibly smirking on air), Kenny Pleasures and Jonny Silver take us through 2024 in PleasureInc., which wraps up with a huge hometown show at The Waterfront in Norwich on 14th December.
Talk us through your 2024 in brief.
Jonny Silver: Europe Europe Europe. Berlingo Berlingo Berlingo. This year has been a dream come true, I can't lie to you. We released our debut EP, 'Plastic People' back in April, and since then things have just been nonstop. Our first ventures round Europe came through a sold out UK/EU support tour with our American homies Friday Pilots Club in May, and we've been back to the mainland like 7 times since... we're basically Dutch now. We hung out with the certified Gs that run Left of the Dial at The Great Escape, which led to a load of Dutch and French festivals… To play across Europe and be received so well has been a major milestone for us. My ass cheeks have seen better days, but I think they understand we're putting the work in to secure ourselves a better future with a nice boujee tour bus.
Kenny Pleasures: I used to know what side of the road to drive on, but those times of certainty have passed. It's potluck these days. Fred Perry hosted a show for us in Norwich, and we spotted ourselves in the shop window in Antwerp, that was crease. Had a party in the kitchen to our debut spin on Radio 1. Tight. We also made a music video where a dog shits out an egg and Babyface pops out, slimed to the max. Pure Foolin'. What a year.
What is your Album of the Year?
KP: Geese. '3D Country'. I just think it's one of the most original 'rock' albums I've heard in such a long time. The band are tight af, the production feels classic yet modern, and Cameron Winter might just be the best singer in rock since Julian Casablancas. It hits all the notes that get me hot under the collar… hooky, concise pop songs next to wig out jams; chaotic freak outs next to lovely lil moments of americana. It has an element of world building to it as well, it makes me wanna be a cyber cowboy. 10/10, how u say, 'le bosh'.
How about Song of the Year?
JS: 'euphoria' by Kendrick Lamar. This song is a fucking monster. The flows and the lyricism are just out of this world. Knowing the context of the Kendrick/Drake beef gives it so much weight. I can't count the amount of times we've collectively recited this tune word for word in the Berlingo, bombing it on the way to a show. It gets me so hyped.
KP: Yup I second this, this is the most fun song to rap in the world. I remember it had just dropped the night of our Fred Perry showcase, and on the wonky walk home from the afterparty I slammed it 4 times in a row, iPhone speaker straight to ear drum, raw doggin'. Couldn't believe what I was hearing. Karaoke song sorted for the foreseeable future.
Your favourite live show you've seen in 2024?
JS: The Prodigy - Leeds Festival. I went into their set being a fairly neutral fan, I knew the hits obv but had never really delved very deep. But I was blown away. Idk maybe it was the 2CB, but either way it was the sickest time. It was one of those sets where you have all these revelations of how you're gonna channel that same energy in what you do.
KP: Action Bronson immediately followed by LCD Soundsystem at Down The Rabbit Hole. Unbelievable. Action Bronson's show is basically a jazz odyssey… he pretty much gets a front row ticket to watch these guys do their thing, 'n' chips in with some spicy bars where he sees fit. You can tell he fucking loves it. LCD was so much fun. Just banger after banger.
What was your personal highlight of the year?
JS: Has to be Left of the Dial for me. That festival has been one we've wanted to play since it started. Everybody always bangs on about how sick it is, but I fully get why now. They treat you so good with accommodation and dinner n that. The city itself is buzzin'. We got to play 3 sets and one of 'em was at a boat party. It was insane… pints flying everywhere, people singing, our spirit animal Stone Cold Steve Austin got crowd surfed. The cool thing about it is there's not really a headline act, like everyone there is equal and on a similar trajectory.
KP: Down The Rabbit Hole was special. Our first proper performance at a camping festival, and on the most ridiculous line up. As a band influenced by styles from all over the shop, it felt like the festival had been curated just for us. Indie, hip hop, dance psych n jazz all around. And then we got to play on a truck AS IT MOVED THROUGH THE FESTIVAL. The stage had its own little parade. Brought to you by the geniuses behind Left of the Dial obvs… who else? Also, I'm manifesting here, but our big fuck off Xmas party in Norwich is going to be a monster. It's been a while since we've played at home, and this is by farrr our biggest headliner, so no doubt it's going to be vv special. PARTY OF THE YEAR BABY.
Favourite thing someone's said about your music?
Direct quote from our boy Jake from Chappaqua Wrestling outside Rotown at LOTD: "Right, fuckin, basically, you're SSX Tricky, Tony Hawk Pro Skater, San Andreas with mullets." It's perfect.
…and the strangest?
A lady in Paris told me her child was conceived while listening to our second single 'Croissant'. I thought that was pretty sick.
What you're looking forward to in 2025…
JS: More weed.
KP: That, and our biggest headline tour to date in Feb/March. First headline shows in Europe, including a show at SkateCafe in Amsterdam which, by the way, is a show in the middle of an actual skatepark.. Word is we'll literally be performing in the middle of the halfpipe. I've never heard anything more PleasureInc. in my life. We'll also be releasing our next EP, then hoping to hide away for a bit and write the debut album… The essential snog pop sex disco brit hop collection. Better not wear ur fave trousers, shit gon' get saucy.
