Paper Planes have caused great excitement of late with their audacious garage rock sound. The band’s first single, ‘Doris Day’, won them a slew of admirers, solidifying their reputation as one of the hottest musical prospects in Glasgow.
Their scuzzy, rockabilly guitars, pounding rhythm section and New Jersey-born singer Jenifer Paley’s drawled vocals had critics falling over themselves to hail their potential. Now the band are building on their burgeoning reputation with the release of double A-side ‘The Sway/Disconnected I Know’ through Lucky Number Nine/Say Dirty records.
The boys in the band- drummer Craig O’Brien, bassist Fraser McFadzean and guitarist Christopher Haddow- originally played together in another outfit, which they describe as sounding like “the complete opposite of Paper Planes.” American singer Jenifer Paley met the boys when she moved to Glasgow to study Art and when their band disintegrated, the boys decided to take a different musical direction, asking Paley if she wanted to be the singer. “I just thought I’d give it a shot, even though I had no previous musical experience” says Paley. Thus, Paper Planes were born.
The band’s songwriting process is evidently an organic one. “We’ve got free use of a rehearsal space so we can go there whenever we like” says guitarist Christopher. “We just jam together in a room and see what we come up with. If we come up with something we like then we’ll work on it and turn it into a song.” Paley says that she often comes up with lyrics on the spot while the band play. “The words come easily” she says. “They basically come simultaneously with the music.”
As anyone who has seen them on stage will know, Paper Planes are a thrilling live act, and have honed their chops gigging around Glasgow and on various high-profile support slots. Paley says she prefers playing live to recording, but bassist Fraser says the band are keen to explore possibilities in the studio as well, mentioning his admiration for Phil Spector’s production of fifties girl groups. Other influences include the Velvet Underground and The Cramps. “A lot of modern music doesn’t hold much appeal for us” says O’Brien.
Another single is tentatively scheduled for a release in May, so don’t expect Paper Planes to be out of view for long. No doubt the band’s steady ascent will take a steeper upward trajectory soon enough.
‘The Sway/Disconnected I Know’ is available on 7’’ and digital download through Lucky Number Nine/Say Dirty.
www.myspace.com/glasgowpaperplanes