Phoenix is not greatly known as a music hub on the larger world map, but there are certainly some artists who are worth checking out from the city – Audra is one that comes to mind immediately. Another artist that definitely should be explored (and seems to be just warming up with regards to his musical capacity under his new moniker is FLDPLN. The solo project of Andrew Saks (previously mastermind of seminal shoegaze act Sway – then based in California), we are pleased to premiere the new video for ‘Escalator’, showing Saks as he takes a chill walk through a modern-day shopping mall, with curious flirtations between the two other actors and flashbacks to the mall experience of yesteryear.
A short time after Sway disbanded, Andrew (who handled half of the guitar duties in the band) decided to put down the guitar and return with resolve to his first love – the saxophone – which he has played from the age of 12.
A mostly electronic project that generally defies genre pigeonholing, FLDPLN is an outlet for dreamy, blissfully textural songs featuring synthesizers, vocals and layered saxophones. Saks effectively captures blissful feelings, sharing them with spirits seeking a sense of nostalgia. Saks now creates electronic-based dreampop that is deeply influenced by 80s pop with shoegaze-like textures and ambient aesthetic, created by layered saxophones and synths.
‘Escalator’ was written, produced, recorded and mixed by Andrew Saks at his home studio in Phoenix, Arizona. This follows up his 2018 album ‘Let You Down’ and his 2021 single ‘Cashout’, released in 2021. The idea behind FLDPLN was to incorporate his love for electronic music production and early 90’s post-punk sensibilities, while allowing saxophones and synthesizers to be used to fill-in texturally, where guitars have typically been the fundamental building element of the “shoegaze” and “dream pop” sub-genres. Saxophone textures are layered, at times co-mingling with synthesizers to create a soft, warm bed of sound, the perfect backdrop for the whisper-like vocals reminiscent of Andrew’s hushed voice with Sway.
The ‘Escalator’ single is now available everywhere across online stores, such as Apple Music, and streaming platforms like Spotify. The full ‘Escalator’ LP will released on July 30 via the label Sillas Famosas, but it can already be pre-ordered digitally and on color vinyl via Bandcamp at https://fldpln.bandcamp.com/album/escalator
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