SHPLANG is back with an incredibly catchy new single called ‘Understood,’ heralding the arrival of their upcoming album, “Thank You, Valued Customer,” slated for release on 12/1 via Big Stir Records. SweetSweetMusicblog recently explored the making of this album with Peter Marston.

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Be sure to catch ‘Understood’ featured on the ‘The Best Power Pop of 2023‘ Spotify playlist.

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Could you share the journey of bringing this record to life? How did all the pieces come together to create the final product?

None of the songs on the album had ever been played live by the band, so arrangements were done one instrument at a time. Start with programmed drums, then the main rhythm guitar, then bass, then second and/or third guitar parts, then keyboards, then vocals, then hand percussion (of which there is quite a bit). Live drums are done last. Then mixing, which with the sort of psych-pop we do, is every bit as much a creative enterprise and takes nearly as long!

The decision to seek opinions on your new songs is intriguing. When did you realize that external perspectives could contribute to your creative process?

No one outside of the band hears anything until the record is released. Perhaps we feel we are too easily influenced, or perhaps we have control issues. Either way, it works for us. Songs that are in the middle of our recording process often sound quite inaccessible, and though we know we can get through the thicket, I think outsiders would be quite confused and give us less than useful advice. One of the objectives of Shplang in our creative process is to paint ourselves into a corner—and often the most interesting thing about our records is how we get out!

Success can take on different meanings as time goes on. When envisioning success for this new record, what does that picture look like now?

Success for us at this point (after more than 25 years) is just having new listeners discover us and enjoy what we are doing. We like to confound people’s expectations about pop music (most broadly conceived) and bring a smile to people with our strangeness and humor. There are few things more satisfying than when someone expresses excitement about finding you amid the thousands of new music projects released on the various streaming services monthly. Big thanks to Big Stir Records for helping us find those folks.

Within this collection, do you feel that the best song you’ve ever written finds its home? If not, what distinguishes this record’s essence from your prior work?

Not sure we believe in “best” songs. Everything we do is available for anyone to enjoy. This new album is not so much something new as an integration. Our first album, “Journey to the Center of Mirth,” was extremely experimental and psychedelic. Over the next three albums, we were, I suppose, courting commercial success and lost some of the more “out there” moments. So, on this album, we are trying to be more experimental while maintaining clear pop accessibility. Thankfully, we think we’ve done that.

As an artist, the act of baring your emotions to the world is profound. Does this vulnerability come naturally to you, or is it a constant journey of finding comfort?

Our songs may bare emotions, but they aren’t necessarily ours. We write more from the perspective of imaginary characters than from our own experiences. Only “Everyone Can Change” on the new album could remotely be considered a confessional song.

Defining a song’s completion can be elusive. How do you determine when a composition has reached its final, ready-to-record form?

This is an interesting dilemma. We usually don’t consider a recording completed until we have added two or three parts that don’t work (of course, then deleting them). At that point, we know what we have is, as Goldilocks said, “just right.”

Striking a balance between experimental artistry and commercial appeal is a challenge. How do you navigate this dynamic within your music?

Do we? Hmm.

Among the compliments you’ve received, is there one that remains etched in your memory? If so, what made it particularly unforgettable?

Our favorite compliment is when people tell us our music is fun. It’s also the most common compliment we receive, which is very nice.

With the record completed and the music released, do you believe the pinnacle of enjoyment has been reached, or is this just the beginning of an exciting phase?

Already on to the next project. The enjoyment for us is in the challenge of doing something new. Someone once asked me if I ever listen to my own music. My answer was “never sober,” so that tells you something.

In the digital age, visual elements are intertwined with music. How did you approach the album’s visual aesthetics, such as album art and accompanying visuals? How do they complement the sonic experience you’ve crafted?

Bass player John Krause is a visual artist best known for his work as a designer on The Simpsons for over 25 years. He does all our artwork, and it’s great to have a professional in that role. For this album, he came up with something appropriately thematic, a sort of pastiche of supermarket marketing. Big thumbs up. Thanks, John!