The project of Toronto-based independent artist Mark Di Giovanni, Plastic Handgun has been creating music for over 10 years, shifting from experimental electronic to more structured rock. After a string of EPs and digital releases, the 2015 LP Involuntary Memories marked this turning point, blending genres and layering sounds to create a hypnotic whole. The follow-up album, Gatekeepers, is his first work in 5 years and continues his foray into art rock with an apocalyptic tinge.
For those that don’t know about Plastic Handgun please give us some background information.
I’m an independent artist from Toronto who’s been making music for 10-15 years now. I’m influenced by a lot musically so I like to engage with different genres and keep things moving in new directions.
We hear that you have a new single coming out this Friday. Tell us a little about it.
Yes, my next single is “Curtain Call” from the Gatekeepers LP. I wrote this just before the lockdowns began here, but it’s turned out to be a pretty accurate take on my day-to-day life right now. Just sort of going with the flow in a daze and feeling discomfort about what’s next.
There’s also a sophomore album coming out soon. Any details.
My second album Gatekeepers will be out on June 26. I started the blueprint for this back in 2015, but life interrupted those plans for quite a while. I think that gap in time was ultimately a benefit because the themes I wanted to cover just became more loaded. And it also became my de facto breakup album.
You’ve veered more into a rock sound from experimental electronic. How did this come about?
Guitar was the second instrument I learned how to play so I think it was natural that I’d come back to it. When I began working on my debut album, there were certain sounds I could only attain with a guitar, so it just became a domino effect after that. I also felt the need to break out of niche genres, so a typical rock setup helped with that.
Who are some of your musical influences?
Always a tough one to answer, so here’s 3 that feel relevant to me right now: Four Tet, Ariel Pink and Panda Bear
How are you keeping busy in the time of Corona Virus?
It’s been challenging trying to maintain a routine, but I’m spending a lot of time working on new music, so that’s kind of a blessing in disguise. Other than that, I’ve been catching up with movies/TV and video games, cooking more often and exercising.
We’ve always been interested in how musicians keep their creative juices flowing. Any hobbies/interests that you’d like to share?
Aside from music, film (and TV) is my other big passion in life, so I often bounce back and forth between the two. I recently re-watched all of High Maintenance and it was kind of revelatory. Maybe it’s because of the current circumstances, but the beautiful humanist stories hit a lot harder this time around. I’m also into the artistic side of video games, most notably from this year would be Kentucky Route Zero. I’m always on the lookout from experiences like that.
We’d like to thank Plastic handgun for taking the the time to answer some of our questions.
