5 Questions With: PONY
The power pop duo are back with a fantastic sophomore record just in time for summer
Good morning!
Today we’re talking with Sam & Matty of Toronto-based PONY
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There’s something about summer that just makes everything…better. Maybe it’s the heat, maybe it’s not feeling literally every joint in your body (just me? Okay), or maybe it’s that it’s the time of year when everyone is out and doing things. Even if you’re out biking alone, you’ll invariably pass someone doing the same. There’s a connection there. It’s the season of good times.
Bad moods are difficult when it’s 75 & sunny. It’s hard not to smile.
At any rate, Summer is now officially here, and Toronto-based PONY are back with a Velveteen, a gorgeous summertime record and follow-up to 2021’s TV Baby. I don’t know if there is a per-minute legal limit for hooks, but if there is, Velveteen is definitely testing those limits. Those limits are pushed right from the start when the duo of Sam Bielanksi and Matty Morand drop the hammer on “Tres Jolie.” With a built-for-singing-along chorus of “I wanna kiss you. I wanna make you mine. I wanna lie to you and say that I am fine,” it’s electric.
This record is oozing with themes of love and connection but was one born in isolation. The title comes from Bielanksi’s taking to listening to the audiobook version of “The Velveteen Rabbit” as they battled insomnia. And many of the demos first came to life on their iPhone before bringing them to the studio to flesh out.
Velveteen downshifts just long enough with “French Class,” a sophisticated track about unrequited love that would be right at home on an Ivy album. In a recent interview, Bielanski describes the track as wanting to “capture the rush of desire that accompanies a new crush—that palpable sense of longing you might feel wanting someone you don’t believe you’re good enough for. This song definitely stands out on the record to me. It’s a little bit different than the others vibe-wise, and it’s far more true to my original demo; a little more subtle and a little dancier. “
With ten tracks of power pop that refuse to be ignored, Velveteen is a screamer of a record. Like a sunny summer day, it’s an absolute delight.
Put it on and try not to smile.
I recently got to catch up with Sam and Matty via email.
Our chat has been lightly edited for clarity/flow.
Can you fill in a little bit of your backstory? Walk us through what made you get started playing. Are there other bands that either of you are/were involved in?
Sam: My musical journey started when I was involved in community theater as a kid. I didn’t start writing my own songs until after I graduated from college in an attempt to be creative and make my own work. PONY is the first band I have ever been in!
Matty: I grew up in a pretty musical environment. My older brother always played guitar and was in bands, and my best friend's parents were in a Shania Twain cover band that would play locally and out of town. My friend and I would mess around in his parents' practice space, write music, or do Nirvana and Green Day covers. Aside from PONY, I make music under the name Pretty Matty and played in the bands Lychi and Self Defense Family.
A bout with insomnia fueled much of the writing for this record. By and large, that’s a condition suffered alone, while if I had to pick a theme for Velveteen, it would be love or connection. As someone that rarely gets enough sleep, I also know that it’s miserable, while this record is anything but. Can you please say more and connect those dots?
Sam: The name of the record is an homage to a time in my life when I relied on an audiobook version of The Velveteen Rabbit to sleep. A lot of the songs are inspired by love and connection, which is a theme that runs through that story as well. As we made the record, I started to see those themes come together.
Sam also does voice work. Where might readers have heard you?
Sam: My most recent voice acting endeavors are in the new generation of My Little Pony, where I primarily voice a character called Jazz Hooves!
Tech question: Several of the tracks were first demo’ed using an iPhone. Are you using any app(s) in particular?
Sam: I was using the mobile version of Garageband, and then Matty and I would bring it into Logic on the computer to rework the songs and fill in the blanks.
What’s the music scene in Toronto like? Being such a large city, is the community close-knit? Are there bands you are close with or particularly enjoy playing shows with?
Sam: For a city so large, the scene is pretty small! We love playing with bands like Triples, Fern Sully, and Piper Maru.
Matty: We haven’t played with them yet, but I also really like the band Sicayda. I think they might have changed their name recently to 100%PURE. I’m looking forward to whatever they have coming.
What’s next? More recording? Out on the road? What’s the rest of 2023 look like for you?
Sam: We’re hoping to spend the rest of 2023 playing our new songs live!
Matty: The Pretty Matty record is coming out June 14th, so there’s that! And we’re already starting to work on some new PONY stuff. We never really stop.
PONY- Velveteen, 2023
Click on the record to listen on your platform of choice.
You can connect with PONY and check out their music in the following places:
Bandcamp | Spotify | Instagram | Twitter | Tiktok |
5 Questions:
1. Describe your musical taste in one sentence.
Glittery guitar pop
2. What music played in your house(s) growing up?
Sam: Neil Young, Joni Mitchell, Mambo #5. My brother gifted me my first CD, which was Dookie. I think that definitely influenced me.
Matty: My mom had Dookie on cassette and Nirvana-both Unplugged and Nevermind—so a lot of that. The first albums I bought on my own were Backstreet Boys and Smash Mouth’s Astro Lounge. Those still hold up.
3. What are you listening to these days?
Sam: Caroline Polachek, Jenny Lewis, Bully, Steve Lacy
Matty: Charli XCX, Alvvays, Greg Mendez, Webbed Wing, Cloakroom, The Hives
4. What are your 5 Desert Island Discs?
Sam:
The Breeders-Last Splash
Rilo Kiley- Under The Blacklight
Joni Mitchell- Blue
That Dog- Retreat From The Sun
Paramore- After Laughter
Matty:
Weezer- Pinkerton
Angel Du$t- Rock The Fuck On Forever
That Dog- Retreat From The Sun
The Lemonheads-Come On Feel The Lemonheads
Charli XCX- How I’m Feeling Now
5. If you could collaborate with any artist/band, who would it be?
Charli XCX, Paramore, Rivers Cuomo, AG Cook
Thanks to PONY for stopping by, and thank you for being here,
Kevin—
“Right at home on an Ivy album”. That really got my attention! For some reason I don’t know anyone who’s ever listened to Ivy. I had Apartment Life on extremely heavy rotation in ‘97, right up there with Stereolab’s Dots and Loops and Autour de Lucie’s Immobile which are both fantastic albums. Thanks for the intro to PONY, I look forward to exploring the album (of course I already had to check out French Class and the Ivy comp is apt)
Nice to see someone from my hometown featured here - will have to check them out.