A Decade Later, Indie-Pop Darlings Pleasantry Unveil The 'Slow Burn' That Was Worth The Wait

Bathed in gold light, Pleasantry's camaraderie shines through (Credit: Chris Sim)

While the Singaporean music scene of the early to mid-2010s was perhaps less overtly visible beyond the mainstream success of pop acts like The Sam Willows and the consistent popularity of Mandopop artists, pockets of exciting indie talent were beginning to emerge. It was within this landscape that Pleasantry released their impactful 2014 record, Synapses. In a local milieu often characterised by familiar piano pop or traditional pop-rock structures, Pleasantry’s approach elevated the very elements that propelled acclaimed acts such as Two Door Cinema Club, Wildcat! Wildcat!, and Covet to prominence. It was a refreshing twist that gave what many perceived as a stale scene a much-needed dose of adventure. The emergence of Pleasantry was not just another release but a hint of a deeper and more complex musicality simmering beneath the surface.

Pleasantry perseveres with its seminal imprint on the scene it helped build (Credit: Chris Sim)

Fast forward to the present, and the story of Singapore's local music scene has experienced a tremendous shift. Now local indie darlings, Pleasentry, step into a vibrant and dynamic environment with their highly anticipated new album, Slow Burn. Mirroring the record's title, it has been over a decade since Pleasantry gifted us with Synapses. One could say that the band's output has been a slow burn, a deliberate process of not only refining a sound that authentically captures the emotional landscapes each member has traversed in recent years, but also of deeply absorbing the myriad challenges and experiences that accompany growing up and evolving – not just as musicians, but as individuals.

Samantha Teng, framed by a window, in a moment of quiet focus (Credit: Chris Sim)

Across its 30-plus minute runtime, Samantha Teng delivers a well-crafted collection of poignant lyrics exploring themes of yearning, abandonment, and grief – though less about physical loss and more about the ache of drifting apart from friends or severed ties with former partners. Tracks like “Waxing Gibbous” paint a deeply nostalgic picture, with Samantha imploring the subject to “stay still where (they) are, and I will be longing for old dreams.” In contrast, songs like “Quiet” find Samantha recounting and even longing for past moments when her loved one “taught (her) how to swim in the deep / and ride a bicycle across the fields”, lamenting that they are “not there anymore” and she “can't talk sense into (their) heavily guarded mind.” Produced and mixed by Leonard Soosay at Snakeweed Studios in Singapore, this collaboration appears fruitful, as Samantha’s vocals, in particular, evoke the warm, golden rays of the evening sun reflecting off HDBs and onto the listener, offering a sense of calm reassurance that everything will ultimately be alright.

Pleasantry in 2025 would stimulate both old fans and new (Credit: Chris Sim)

Instrumentally, Slow Burn takes you on a musical trip akin to lighting one of those Gourmand scented candles from HOOGA, watching the wax gently melt away and infusing the room with a colourful aroma. From the intricate layers of guitarwork and delicate fingerpicking that weave through shifting time signatures and captivating grooves on the opening track, “Currents”, to the surging, propulsive tempos of “Constellation” – a song potent enough to stir even the most austere finance professionals, perhaps eliciting a momentary skip in their step as they traverse the corridors of their million-dollar condos on their way to work – the album showcases a remarkable instrumental palette. There exists a sheer variety of instrumentation on display that transcends any comparable influence, making Slow Burn a steady glow amidst the dimness of 2025.

Listen to Slow Burn by Pleasantry on Spotify. Follow Pleasantry on socials for more updates.

This contributor feature was written by Mishael Lee

Mishael Lee loves all things abrasive and heartfelt, both evident in his diverse taste in music, from Wolves In The Throne Room to Margo Guryan. When not plugged in, he's either writing about said music or deep in conversation with friends. You can find him at @mishlee___ on IG.

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