Plini: ‘My Mind Is Almost Always On The Future Or Planning Something'

- Anurag Tagat

For those whose lament about instrumental progressive/rock music is to do with the sameness of it all, Australian guitarist and composer Plini is likely the exception. Across several singles and EPs released since 2013, his latest record Sunhead (2018) is perhaps most sonically diverse. It’s just four songs, but in addition to inviting vocal harmonies from Mumbai/Los Angeles-based Devesh Dayal (guitarist in prog band Skyharbor) on “Salt + Charcoal,” Plini truly branches out on “Flâneur.” The track brings together breathy synth and piano parts from Montreal-based artist Anomalie and saxophone from British artist John Waugh (who also performs with pop-rock band The 1975). Sun head proved that Plini is not just about twinkly instrumental rock. The diversity, according to him, “was the natural result of the music I’ve been listening to.”

This month, on his second tour of India in the span of a year – courtesy of artist and event company BlueTree – fans will likely hear a slightly different Plini. Of course, it makes a difference that he’s not accompanied by Serbian guitarist-composer David Maxim Micic like last time, but it’s also because of Sunhead, which Plini says was influenced by “the excitement of my first couple of years of real international touring.”

Ahead of the tour, Plini talks about getting the hang of touring, Indian audiences and plans for the rest of 2019. Excerpts: