Track-by-Track: PLEXXAGLASS Goes in Depth on ‘WHERE IS YOUR GOD, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?’

PLEXXAGLASS is dropping a bombshell today. Yes, today marks the official release of WHERE IS YOUR GOD, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?, the debut full-length record from the enchanting singer, songwriter, and producer. Dark, haunting, and most definitely alluring, PLEXXAGLASS teamed up with a team of talented producers, such as Kevin Billingslea and Linkin Park’s Mike Shinoda for the new, eight-song effort, defined by its strong female aesthetic, and unique soundscape. The album deals with some heavy issues, chronicling trauma, the challenges of mental illness, and also provides a rallying cry for all those on the gender and sexual spectrums. PLEXXAGLASS has referred to the record as their own, personal memoir, an account of the last six years of their life, both as a person and as an artist.

With an album like WHERE IS YOUR GOD, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?, there was obviously a lot of thought and care put into the writing and recording of not just each song, but every note, every sound, and every word. We recently connected with PLEXXAGLASS for a track-by-track rundown of each song on the album in which they offer us all of the details and backstories behind this fabulous debut offering.

1. “Lilith”

“‘Lilith’ was written about three years ago in the parking garage of my North Hollywood apartment complex. It came to me directly after I had been in Maine to record ‘Tall,’ ‘DYD,’ and ‘Pinch Me.’ This was amidst the fallout of the 2016 presidential election, emotions were running super high in regards to what might become of reproductive rights. I actually didn’t even have it halfway finished (or named) before Mike Shinoda came into the picture! I tried a bunch of treatments over the years and none of them felt right, but after Mike said he wanted to produce it, I finished it in about 15 to 20 minutes. ‘Lilith’ felt like the right conduit through which to deliver this message of bodily autonomy.”

2. “Tall”

“This song was a necessity for reckoning with the trauma that was, and is, still very much alive in my body. I think any trauma survivor can relate to the sensation that their experience is a living, breathing succubus. Writing this song was a step towards my healing.”

3. “Aloft”

“I will always have a soft spot for this song, which originally released on Hours North’s freshman record, Substance (2017). Thomas Signoretti and I co-wrote this song remotely after a chance Instagram connection. Without this song, I may never have met my producer Kevin Billingslea, who produced the band’s record. I flew out to Maine for the first time to record this song, and had such a great experience working with Kevin in the Halo Studios that I asked if he’d like to work on my project. The rest is history!”

Artwork for the album ‘WHERE IS YOUR GOD, KNOWING WHAT YOU KNOW NOW?’ by PLEXXAGLASS

4. “Lament En Route”

“It felt appropriate to follow up ‘Aloft’ with ‘Lament en Route,’ as it is the true order of creation. ‘Lament’ comes from a place of deep anguish with, for lack of a better word, shady individuals in my life. This song was a declaration of breaking free from manipulation that attempted to tear me down in the early stages of this project. The lead vocals on this track were done in a single take, on the first pass.”

5. “DYD”

“I love a good stomp-y vibe, and I had been wanting to write something a little more danceable for years. I was so pleased when this song came out of me so effortlessly. The actual lyrical context of this song came from a shedding of that which no longer served me: friends, family, a workplace… I was really going through a huge transition. When I finally was ready to put this song out, I had newly come out as non-binary, and this song will forever hold that additional context for me. I think it was even subconsciously my whole point of this song all along… ‘don’t you dare look back now.’”

6. “Liar”

“My sophomore single went ultra-vulnerable. ‘Liar’ was written shortly after my bipolar II diagnosis… maybe even before? It’s meant as a love letter and a comfort to those who suffer with depression or any form of mental illness.”

7. “pinch me.”

“I wrote ‘pinch me.’ directly after the Vegas shooting. By the time it was released, there had already been many more mass shootings in the States. The gun samples used as percussion are practical, Kevin went into the empty fields behind the studio and recorded gun sounds for this song. It’s definitely up there as one of my personal favourites we’ve ever released and one of the most fun to record, despite it being a more fringe favourite amongst the listenership.”

8. “Stayin Alive”

“I have been holding on to this eerie reimagining of The Bee Gees’ ‘Stayin Alive’ for actual years. If I see anyone else blow up with a similar cover, I’m going to assume they ripped me off (just kidding, but really…)

“I’m really into covers that totally flip the source material on its head, and I felt like, what better way to do that than with a classic disco era bop? In fact, when I sat down to arrange this cover, I realized that the lyrics actually lend themselves to a more melancholy sound almost naturally. It’s, at its core, anti-capitalist; a song for the struggle to stay alive in a society that makes it difficult to do so.

“I was so excited to work with good pal, Liz Wiegard, aka KnifeGirl on this track. I knew she’d be perfect for laying the groundwork on this. I consider this to be a really polished demo, hence the ‘bonus track’ classification. I hope there’s some music supervisors out there who dig it.”