Brooklyn-based indie foursome Plastic Picnic continue to share their deep reflections on the intricacies of life with their latest single “After You.”

The single is the first off their sophomore EP, Vistalite, out July 19th. The song beautifully blends together celestial, retro-pop synth themes with introspective lyrical writing. Crafted with the help of Sub Pop staple and producer Trevor Spencer (Father John Misty, Fleet Foxes), “After You” sets the tone for what fans can expect from the band’s upcoming project.

“After You” begins with an exhilarating and dreamy synth intro that immediately catapults listeners into a sonorous blanket of warm and inviting guitar riffs, steady bass lines, and tenacious percussion. Lead singer Emile Panerio’s emotive voice leads listeners on a journey through complex feelings, allowing us to embrace the quartet’s developed soundscapes.

Compared to songs found on their 2017 self-titled debut EP, there’s an exponential leap not only in sonic direction, but also in lyrical exploration of more mature ideas. According to the band, “‘After You’ alternates between hope and crippling fear of change. It’s a song about seeing the road you’re on while also looking out at the paths or exits spread before you. It embraces the exhilaration of leaning into the unknown and asking yourself if you should take that leap.”

The band shared that “After You” grew out of a series of demos that they recorded in their bedrooms: “We were inspired by a friend’s home studio and wanted to try a similar method ourselves.”

“Rather than composing live together in our practice space, we recorded at home as we wrote, adding one instrument at a time. This let everyone focus more on each other’s parts and give each new piece space to breathe,” said Panerio. “It also gave us time to test out multiple ideas and directions before recreating the song in a full-band setting…There were a lot of ideas that didn’t make the final cut, but even if they didn’t stick, the song is stronger for having tried them out.”

Plastic Picnic will release Vistalite on July 19th. The EP vinyl is available for preorder now and includes the vinyl exclusive “Golden Days.”

After You