“Plastic Faces” is the second single from STUNTDRIVER’s untitled concept album due out early 2020. The song is a banging new wave post-rock inquiry on disguise, age and mask (what we hide, what we don’t, why we hide and how we hide.) When this project debuted as an immersive performance art music installation in the summer of 2018, this song was performed inside “The Plastic Station” with the band, actors and as many audience members as possible packed inside with the invitation to find a stranger and get uncomfortable. Even in the music venue versions the band appropriately dons Diva Knievel-style suits, masks their faces in gold/black paint and human plastic wrapping among other antics occur without abandon.
One thing to understand about STUNTDRIVER (STDR) is its absolute roots in performance art and theatrics so it can’t be dismissed that the live content that comes with this genre-bending adventure rock is integral to the full understanding of the project…some have even said STDR is akin to Peter Gabriel’s presence in Genesis or the sonic antics of Causey Way or Devo or the brash bravado of Lady Gaga or BONES UK.
However - the music always comes first, says Kym Priess, creator and leader of STDR.
As the mixing for this track started to finalize, Priess realized how truly influenced she was by Madonna growing up and 80s pop in general. One of her favorite songs “Let the Music Play” might even be evident in parts of the track but Priess’ main influences of post-punk, electro, avant-garde, art rock, metal, glam and industrial prevail.
The idea behind “Plastic Faces” (and STDR in general) examines how we put up masks and don't let people see us fully as we are --- flaws, imperfections, demons and all. The bridge of the song ("the guards are down on the eve of.....ultimate disguise”) addresses the ritual of Halloween specifically (but any costumed event is parallel.) On this night, people play characters (or really just exaggerated versions of themselves ie clowns) and for the most part, interact with others with wild abandon. Social inhibitions seem to disappear under this undercover veil along with judgement and the pressures of societal conditioning. That very vulnerability and openness is what allows us to accept ourselves as a whole evolving, flawed being and moreover, experience joy and play. How may we integrate this into our daily lives?
Are we escaping OR running to ourselves? Fugitives to our imperfect selves. But that’s a whole other song ( it’s called ‘Fugitive’ actually, it’ll be on the album ;)
The video was shot, produced & performed by SD creator, Kym Priess, alone in her garage with a red backdrop, two mannequins, a wig, a stuntsuit and a ton of plastic.
Here it is :
youtu.be/HCzLGsVPtMA
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released December 6, 2019
Written by Kym Priess
Engineered, Mixed & Co-Produced by John Avila & Anton Söder
Mastered by Gavin Lurssen
Vocals - Kym Priess
Programming - Anton Söder
Live Drums - Jimmy Lucido
Bass - John Avila, Kym Priess
Guitars - Kym Priess, Anton Söder, Ryan James
Synths - Kym Priess, Anton Söder
Accordion - Kym Priess
Photo - Self-portrait
c. 2019 STUNTDRIVER / Kym Priess