Obscura marks Plaster's fifth full-length studio album, excluding collaborative, live and split albums. Written between 2019 and 2022, Obscura is the result of very deep research by Gianclaudio Hashem Moniri both in the world of composition and sound design. The fifteen tracks that make up the album are divided into two parts, A and 𝝮.
According to Gianclaudio, the concept of the compositions is based on the female world, on its darker and brighter side, on its power and delicacy, but also refers to the death of Mahsa Amini in Iran and the subsequent Iranian protests. The tracks are filled with elements of protest messages, words of hope, stories of femicide, snippets, and homages to Gianclaudio's imaginary female world.
The sound is clearly a step forward in Plaster's production, we can hear a lot of new entries, like poetry, distorted guitars, vocals used as lead instrument, but on the other hand, Obscura brings back memories of early works. There is a lot of passion and cohesion between the tracks and this is not an album that is aimed at quick listens or streaming skips.
We have had the pleasure of interviewing him and this has been the result.
How did your last project come about?
The process of writing Obscura started two and half years ago. At the beginning I never expected to write a new album, but at the end everything came out very naturally.
What do you want to transmit in this work? What is the concept behind it?
The concept is based on the feminine world and the various aspects which made it special, but part of the album and especially the live performance, which is in preparation, is dedicated to the death of Mahsa Amini and the protesters in Iran. I do honestly want to keep the flame alive on this courageous women that are fighting for their rights.
How do you feel that your music influences or impacts its listeners?
I believe I can make them in a state of creating images in their minds and abstract them from reality.
What projects are you working on right now? What can you tell us about your last job?
At the moment I'm working on the live performance for Obscura, especially on the video part. Over my music career i’ve always collaborated with visual artists for the live visuals, but i felt that is arrived the moment to take care of this part myself. I have to say that it is very challenging, but stimulating at the same time.
Pre Order Links
ARTIST Links
https://www.instagram.com/plaster_music/
https://soundcloud.com/plaster
https://plastersound.blogspot.com/
https://www.facebook.com/plastersound/
https://plastersound.bandcamp.com/
Label
https://textvra.bandcamp.com/
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