In today’s A-Z challenge, we find out all about Planets who take on the 26 questions!
A song that made you want to make music?
HC: This is very tough and an extremely unfair question! On this occasion, I’m going to say “School” by Supertramp. I heard it during primary school and I was having a really rough time. It just moved me as a kid and I loved how it closed.
CK: Army Dreamers by Kate Bush. I first listened to it when I was at school and it was a study in music class. I knew I loved it straight away but I couldn’t really understand at the time what it was about it that was so charming to me. Looking back, I think it was the character in the song and Bush’s voice.
Best rider you’ve had?
So it’s not necessarily a rider, but we now get free drinks at our local after doing a gig there at Christmas. They did get two hours of music for a VERY nominal fee! But joking aside, they’re a really great team and we had the best time performing our songs and Christmas covers (we even did Stop The Cavalry!).
Craziest moment you’ve had in the band?
We did a set in an old Millwall pub in New Cross, but we didn’t know the venue also sheltered homeless people in the local community. It was actually a special night and the people were really kind and generous to us. So yeah, not necessarily crazy, but it was great to see so many different people there for the music!
Deepest lyric one of your songs features?
HC: “Bayonets aimed, horsemen melee, as the infantry waits for the boy to play”. Painted Soldiers (unreleased) is about my late father playing toy soldiers, fully engaged in his imagination.
CK: “‘All of my mistakes, lead the light away, lunar light awaits, to illuminate, all the hidden signs, in my mind” taken from the ‘hidden’ chorus in SIGNS.
Easiest song you wrote?
Confession (unreleased) was written in one evening. It’s a fairly basic song harmonically, but the words came really quickly. It’s about falling in love, what it does to you and the position it puts you in when you’re unsure how the other person feels.
Favourite song in your set?
HC: I love doing SIGNS, but they’re all fun to play. TBH if Charlotte’s really feeling it and happy with the sound in the venue, that’s when the adrenaline kicks in!
CK: For me it has to be ‘look for you’. We have a lot of heavy numbers, but this song allows me to sing in a different way and an opportunity to sing in a more gentle way. It does make me emotional though so singing it feels quite risky!
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
HC: Lindsey Buckingham. For his voice, guitar playing, instinct and sheer genius – I’m sure he would have some good ideas!
CK: It would be a crazy moment to have Hayley Williams feature for us. I think younger me would absolutely freak out.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
Well for us it’s trying not to argue and looking after our relationship! We’re such perfectionists who put a lot into the work, so it can get pretty tense when we’re working on demos. Also our jobs leave us with only unsociable hours to work on songs, so it can be tough sometimes.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
HC: So shortly after graduating from Rose Bruford, Charlotte got a call up from the BBC to see if she would audition for an episode of Doctors! She ended up getting the part to play Jessie Marsden, who’s father became “indoctrinated by a toxic masculinity group led by Ray Lafferty. Jessie helps him to see that his views are misogynistic and get help!”
Jokes you have in the band?
HC: Well I come from a line of pisstakers, so I have my moments. As for Charlotte, she’s come a long way since I met her, and she’s had some absolute corkers recently! I do have my doubts if she meant or even understood the joke herself, but I let it go.
CK: I am most definitely the comic relief in this band. And yes I do know it. I just pretend that I don’t!
Key to writing a song?
The song has to be linked to experiences that have stayed with me for a long time. So really it’s about sticking to what I know and deep diving into ‘why’ something is the way it is, ‘what’ it still means and ‘how’ I could’ve been better. The challenge is then to be really creative with the material, choose phrases or words that capture the imagination, and ultimately write something that sings well for Charlotte.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
Embarrassingly, whilst we’ve been around separately in our music careers, the furthest Planets has travelled is Hoxton – shaaaame!
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
HC: It would be front row at Wembley Stadium, watching Metallica in 2007. A four count from Lars into Creeping Death and the place went nuts!
New band you’d recommend?
HC: Twin Peaks from Illinois, Chicago. I love them and whilst not necessarily ‘new’, I just think their vibe, writing and musicality is really top. Wish them every success!
Opening for this band would be ideal?
HC: I think we’d love to open for Confidence Man atm, but I don’t want to steal Charlotte’s answer! With the slow lane we’re swimming in, we’re definitely not expecting to get that call any time soon. They work really hard as a duo on every aspect of their music, image, brand etc.. They also put everything into their live shows. So yeah, for me I think they’d be amazing to open for.
CK: He did steal my answer! I just know they’d be so much fun to be around! I think this is quite unexpected from us as we are making music in a very different genre, but their music is authentic to them and that’s what matters to us. We love to dance as well!
Place you’d most like to tour?
HC: Putting aside ‘homecoming’ style gigs in our hometowns of Birmingham and the South East for all of our family and friends, we’d LOVE to tour North and South America; it’s where the majority of our listeners are from and we’re fascinated and inspired by all the history and vastness of what there is to see. We’d love to do all the historical venues like the Whisky a Go Go, the Fillmore, even Red Rock, but truthfully we just love performing and will take any gig going!
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
HC: God absolutely no idea! How about “a song without meaning, is a ship without sails”? Not sure if it’s already been said (I’m sure it has been).
In many ways it’s true because the only way an idea can be moored (so to speak) is to find purpose and meaning for it in the writing. Without personal connection, I think you’re swimming up’creek without a paddle.
Reason for the title of your recent/forthcoming release?
“Winner” is our first release for 2025 and a sort of tribute to people who put their ambition, even talent, to one side for the wellbeing of their family and others. The words are inspired by my own intuition and regrets for not pursuing music more aggressively. I know I lack a lot of self-belief, so the song is aimed to motivate the listener, because it’s never too late to turn things around, even start again.
See us live at?
Yes, definitely do! Dates to be announced as and when on our socials. We’ve applied to several summer music festivals, so fingers crossed, we get lucky and get some sort of tour to close the year out with!
The old days of music were better than the current, do you agree?
This is a tough one! I think the answer lies in the context, the environment you’re living in and accepting the landscape has changed for young people. For example, although punk music isn’t necessarily harmonically sophisticated, the aggression, authenticity and energy of that subculture shook the world and changed music forever. It also inspired another generation of composers, writers and artists. And for me, I think in many ways, whilst we’ve had the ‘Western renaissance’, it’s time music re-connected with its environment and was a bit more brave to talk about the more knottier subjects. That’s when you get genuine fan engagement, even a movement. No doubt it will stimulate newer ways of doing things. Putting that to one side, I think there’s incredible music coming from film and tv. I watched the Phantom Thread not long ago and the score is still in my mind now. But to answer your question, yes, I think popular music has become a little too safe, even predictable.
Unusual merchandise?
HC: Well Charlotte handmade some rucksack patches with SIGNS and Planets written on them. As naff as they sound, I must admit, they’re pretty damn good! If you want one please reach out and she’ll make one! Won’t you Charlotte?
CK: I have so many ideas for merch! I designed the Planets logo from just a drawing and have plans to transfer it to T-shirts, stickers, bags, prints etc when there is enough demand!
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
We’d love to arrange one of our songs to be played by a small chamber orchestra. We’re really into Baroque music, so quietly in the background I’m preparing the score to get this over the line! We’ll probably start with hearing it in musescore before making any formal enquiries! It might be terrible…
What do your fans mean to you?
They’re everything to us, particularly 6/7 months into Planets. I remember when we went live across our socials and had zero followers and the occasional like! So for us we’ve come a long way and we both couldn’t be more grateful for people’s support and investment in us.
But we don’t want charity, this whole thing is on us to win the fan over and give people music they want to listen to, so they keep coming back and telling their friends. We have to earn it.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
HC: I broke my little finger at football and in a panic, I thought I’d never play guitar again! It took over a year to heal, but I powered through.
CK: He barely sprained it!
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
HC: Mine..
CK: His!
Zoo animal that next describes the personality of your band?
HC: We always want to have strength and sensitivity in our music, so that’s why I’m choosing a silverback gorilla. Powerful, understated and calmly majestic in its environment. Totally underestimated in the game and has several gears to what it’s capable of.
CK: A wolf. The music rings louder at night somehow?