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The Discussion

Guitar World

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October 2025

Kylesa guitarist Laura Pleasants strips back her tones to great effect with her streamlined solo project

- GREGORY ADAMS

The Discussion

IF YOU FIRST came around to Laura Pleasants' guitar playing through the maximalist, effects-soaked sludging she brought to Kylesa - the cult metal quartet she co-founded in Savannah, Georgia, in the early '00sthe sound of her current solo project, the Discussion, might come as a surprise.

On her debut album, All the Pretty Flowers, the now Los Angeles-based musician pulled herself away from a swampy drop-G aesthetic to explore a more harmonically approachable standard tuning. While stripping away her muddiest tendencies, she discovered a skeletal guitar style inspired by Siouxsie and the Banshees/Magazine guitarist John McGeoch and minimal wave music.

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