When the Welsh rock quintet People in Planes came upon their band name, they knew that it expressed their sound — modern yet human, with a global reach and sense of transit and adventure — and the philosophy behind the music they create. But little did they know that it would also prove to be prophetic.
Instead of rising through the often-fickle English pop music scene, People in Planes forged their own version of a British musical invasion when they caught the ear of New York-based Wind-up Records during a transatlantic musical voyage that launched their career. First, with an introductory EP and the alternative/college rock chart single “If You Talk Too Much (My Head Will Explode)” — hailed by Billboard as “a first burst of brilliance” — the band quickly caught American ears (as well as eyes with a video directed by Joaquin Phoenix). They followed with their debut album, As Far As The Eye Can See…, which Decoy praised as “a near-flawless, jaw-dropping piece of modern rock,” and toured the U.S. with such diverse acts as The Bravery, Blue October, VHS or Beta and The (International) Noise Conspiracy.
Songwriters Peter Roberts and Gareth Jones met in primary school (famously by one accidentally smashing a tennis ball into the others face) and a friendship as well as a potent creative collaboration was born. In their early teens, the pair were entranced by the first Supergrass album, I Should Coco, and resolved to forge their own path into making music by forming a band. “They were not too dissimilar to us in age, so we could really relate to what they were doing,” says Jones. “The first seeds of what we became were sown by that record,” adds Roberts.
Musical collaborations started in the wake of the Brit Pop explosion, and were fueled by the foundations of a mutual love of Neil Young, Dylan, Pink Floyd and Beck; and by a common thing to bring like minded people together when pursuing the dream of a life in music in a small town-drugs. Thus four like minded pot head kids- Gareth (piano), Peter (guitar), Kris (bass) and John (drums) formed the first incarnation of the band-‘Robots In The Sky’ releasing a psychedelic double A side single on local Cardiff label Complete Control (exclusively on red 7” vinyl), and quickly leading to a deal with majors EMI/CHRYSALIS but ultimately the demise of this first stage of the band- as following the release of their first full length as Tetra Splendour (entitled Splendid Animation), they were dropped in a corporate reshuffle.
“We felt like we were rock stars at the time, but you eventually realize that you can't trust anyone,” Jones observes. Not to be daunted, they retrenched and refined their music, and began to record with producer Sam Williams, whose credits include the group’s touchstone Supergrass album I Should Coco. Working with Williams was the first experiment for the band in entrusting their arrangements to another party, but was one which was entirely liberating, and succeeded in precipitating a work that was challenging and atmospheric to the band, whilst essentially sealing them a deal with Wind-up records in mid 2005 (following their triumphant US debut at the Mercury Lounge in New York). Williams also inspired the switch in line-up, convincing Jones to take on more of a front man roll, and introduce keyboard player Ian Russell (also old school friend of the rest) to make up the five piece that is People In Planes today. They hit the ground running in America, playing the South By Southwest and CMJ music festivals and winning over American audiences on record and radio as well as live performances and an appearance on “Late Night with Conan O’Brien” as well as “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”
The making of their second album as PIP reflects their intuition for making diverse music in its very essence as they worked with four producers in seven different studios across America, England and Wales in a quest to create something musically and sonically diverse. Initial sessions with Our Lady Peace front man Raine Maida provided the creative building blocks to lead on to sessions with Queens Of The Stoneage collaborators ‘Eleven’, Panic At The Disco producer Matt Squire and finally Doves/Massive Attack producer Dan Austin who was long term friend of the band’s from working together as Tetra Splendour and on early demos for what would become As Far As The Eye Can See. This returning to record in the UK proved to be the key to bringing together the widely varying influences they had picked up in the American sessions, and ultimately provided the setting- Pete’s bedroom- for much of the sense to be made of it all, and for a triumph in the illusive art of making rock records in a home studio environment.
The secret for achieving their goals so far can be divined in their music: grounded in classic melodiousness and songwriting craft as well as suffused with hooks, yet with a sense of musical adventurism matched by a hard-rocking drive and a gift for spectral balladry. Woven through it all are lyrics that eloquently explore the realms of emotions, relationships and human existence here in the modern age. “A scary age, and therefore an exciting age”.
People in Planes are mainly concerned with living to see another day.
‘As Far As The Eye Can See’ and ‘Beyond The Horizon’ are available in stores now.
www.peopleinplanes.com.
Mayday
People In Planes Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
There must be another way
This is not a game
We will play it anyway
Stare into my screen
It gives me what I need
I'm chomping at the bit
to get my drill feed
I need your stranglehold
Just squeeze until I go cold
Help me! Help me!
You know me better than I knew myself
Mayday! Mayday!
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
You know me better than I knew myself
Getting nothing done
I'm getting nothing done
Failing all my friends
And I'm failing everyone
I love your stranglehold
I need your stranglehold
Just squeeze until I go cold
Help me! Help me!
You know me better than I knew myself
Mayday! Mayday!
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
Help me! Help me!
You know me better than I knew myself
Mayday! Mayday!
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
How long
How long was I sleeping?
How long
How long was I sleeping?
How long
How long was I sleeping?
How long
How long was I sleeping?
Help me! Help me!
You know me better than I knew myself
Mayday! Mayday!
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
Help me! Help me!
You know me better than I knew myself
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
The lyrics of People In Planes' "Mayday" suggest a sense of desperation and hopelessness, with the singer expressing a need for help from someone they trust. The line "There must be another way" indicates a feeling of being stuck or trapped in a situation, perhaps one that involves addiction or dependence. The line "I'm chomping at the bit to get my drill feed" could be interpreted as a reference to substance abuse or other forms of self-harm.
The chorus of "Mayday" is particularly powerful, with the singer pleading for assistance from those who know them best: "Help me! Help me! / You know me better than I knew myself / Mayday! Mayday! / Send angels, I'm a danger to myself." These lines suggest a sense of desperation and a fear of self-destruction, and the singer seems to be asking for intervention before it's too late. The final lines, "How long / How long was I sleeping?" could be interpreted as a metaphorical question about how long the singer has been in this state of distress, or as a literal question about how much time has passed while they've been unconscious or under the influence.
Overall, "Mayday" is a powerful and emotive song that explores themes of addiction, dependence, and the need for help. The lyrics suggest that the singer is struggling with something that is eating them up from the inside, and that they are in urgent need of assistance from those they trust.
Line by Line Meaning
There's another way
The situation at hand should have alternative solutions.
There must be another way
It is necessary to find an alternative solution.
This is not a game
The situation is a serious matter that should not be taken lightly.
We will play it anyway
Despite knowing that the situation is not a game, we must still face it.
Stare into my screen
The artist relies heavily on technology to fulfill their needs.
It gives me what I need
Technology provides a solution to the singer's problem.
I'm chomping at the bit to get my drill feed
The singer is eagerly anticipating the fulfillment of their needs through technology.
I love your stranglehold
The artist is willing to be controlled by someone/something to satisfy their needs.
I need your stranglehold
The artist is desperate for control in their life and sees surrendering control to someone/something as the only way to satisfy their needs.
Just squeeze until I go cold
The artist is willing to risk their life for the temporary fulfillment of their needs.
Help me! Help me!
The singer is currently in a state of distress and requires immediate assistance.
You know me better than I knew myself
The artist is aware that others understand their situation better than they themselves do.
Mayday! Mayday!
The situation is urgent and requires immediate assistance.
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
The singer is aware that they are a threat to themselves and requires assistance from others to avoid harming themselves.
Getting nothing done
The singer is unable to achieve their goals.
I'm getting nothing done
The artist is currently unproductive.
Failing all my friends
The artist's unproductiveness is also putting their relationships with others at risk.
And I'm failing everyone
The singer is aware that their state of unproductiveness is not only affecting their relationships with others but also their ability to help them.
How long was I sleeping?
The singer is finally beginning to realize their situation and is ready to confront it.
Help me! Help me!
The artist is still in a state of distress and requires immediate assistance.
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
The artist is aware that their current state of distress requires help from others.
You know me better than I knew myself
The artist is willing to rely on the expertise of others to find a solution to their problem.
Send angels, I'm a danger to myself
The singer is aware that they require assistance from others in order to avoid harming themselves.
Contributed by Jayden I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.