INTERVIEW: PLS&TY Talks U.S. Tour, Brand, Favorite Music + More

PLS&TY has been an RTT staple for some time now. Born Tommy Leas, the Good Vibes artist is a genuine guy that just wants to share his music and vision with his fans. I had the pleasure of connecting with PLS&TY at a speakeasy above a Five Guys in the heart of New York city. It was the perfect setting to reflect on his musical journey before performing his last show of his countrywide tour at a sold out Mercury Lounge.

As someone who was able to see his last show, I can personally vouch for the amount of time PLS&TY puts into his performances. With a perfectly time visual set accompanying a genre-bending but tied together set, PLS&TY’s set was something.

Step into the mind of the Palm Beach artist here to shake up the entire country. – Aaron Root

(Tour recap included below)

Tommy, how are you? How is the tour going?

I’m well! The tour has been Incredible!

What’s been your favorite part about touring?

My favorite part about touring has been the interaction with fans. Meeting and connecting with fans in every different city has been so impactful & memorable to me. One night that sticks out in particular was in Atlanta. At the end of the show, I invited the entire crowd backstage to come hang out. We had a line out the door of the green room, and we filled this tiny space with everyone who came to the show. Taking pictures with people, hearing what their favorite songs are and why, chatting with the very individuals who allow me to live my dream is by far the best part.

That’s funny you say that, because I know we talked a little bit earlier how my favorite song of yours isn’t even on your radar. What would you say is your favorite song, and what about it makes it your favorite?

That’s a really tough question. I’d say my favorite song to listen to is “Good Vibes”, as it’s a fan favorite & has changed so much for my career. My favorite song to play out live is the “Survive” Remix because of the positive crowd reaction at every show.

That’s awesome. So what’s your story? How’d you get into music production and get to where you are now?

I started taking piano lessons at a very young age, but my true passion for electronic dance music grew throughout high school. At the time I was incredibly passionate about filmmaking as well, and I was eager to combine these interests. I picked up jobs at local venues photographing and filming electronic acts that would pass through on tour. Filming these acts and working with notable dance music artists was a great introduction to the world of live performance and everything that it entails. Nonetheless, my transition into music production seemed to flow seamlessly as my obsession with this style of music continuously grew. Eventually, I had to try a hand at music production myself. Here we are today.

And at this point was music still a side thing or were you looking to be a full-time musician?

It was always a dream to pursue music full-time, but nothing that I ever imagined would transpire. Making music began as a hobby and still is.

Absolutely, so how did you make that jump?

Trial and error, practice, and persistence. These are some quintessential components to be proficient at anything in life.

I think a lot of people, and maybe even your own fans, are in a similar situation. They might be new to music production and they always love hearing advice from someone who is doing well in the industry. What other advice would you give to someone in that situation?

The most important piece of advice that I could give involves believing in oneself. Believe in yourself. Believe in what makes you unique. I promise others will too.

Yeah man definitely. If you could say anything to your fans, from PLS&TY or from Tommy, what would you say to them?

To my fans, thank you so much for listening and supporting my music. You mean everything to me and are reason why I keep going. We’re in this together.

I also believe that it’s important to share that I too am a normal kid who fell in love with dance music, attempted to produce it himself, and ultimately found success. You can do whatever you want in life. Find your passion and never stop chasing it.

That’s really cool man. Switching gears really quickly, I know you and I have talked about your brand and visuals, and how great and simple it is. Could you speak on that, and talk about maybe your plans for the future?

In terms of branding and art direction, we have desired to showcase colorful and almost futuristic visual components that keep intact a freshness and smoothness, characteristics that I find to be highlighted in the music. With PLS&TY (“please and thank you”), there is a desire to play off phrases like “mind your manners”, and an ambition to evoke hints of positivity amidst a time where there is so much negativity. Another visual element is that of simplicity, but high-profile, aligning with the “PLS&TY” acronym

My focus after touring is music. After this tour, I’m going to be working on music full-time, attempting to create & collaborate as much as possible. I have an urge to release as much music as possible, and many already completed songs are simply waiting for release dates. Stay tuned!

That’s awesome. Any last words for all of your fans?

Mind Your Manners!

INTERVIEW: PLS&TY Talks U.S. Tour, Brand, Favorite Music + More