The story
This project started around 2007–2008 with my good friend Ioan Nacu, the lead singer of Plastik Charm. We had very different tastes. He was into British indie rock, I was into hard rock, hip-hop, pop, and electronic. Total opposites. But we clicked and decided to build something together.
Ioan came in with a few early songs: “The Man Is Back” and “Hold My Hand,” lyrics and guitar riffs already in place. I helped with production and arrangements. Later, two more joined the band on bass and drums, turning it into a full lineup. I was officially the producer, but for live shows I became the fourth member, playing synths and backing tracks. We didn’t really know what we were doing, but we loved doing it.
“Screw it, let’s just experiment.”
Then came “Vibe.” That was the turning point. It was the first time we said, “Screw it, let’s just experiment.” We figured if it sounds bad, no one else will hear it anyway. So we went wild with synths and beats. It turned out fresh, fun, and full of energy. That decision to make music fun again changed everything. From that point on, we worked like that on every track.
We mixed 808s, 909s, real drums, and lo-fi samples. People kept asking why we didn’t use “real” drums, but the truth is, we liked the weird combo. This was way before 808s became the trendy go-to. We just thought it sounded good.
We wanted mainstream success, but didn’t want to sound like mainstream music. So we made songs in English with a heavy accent on purpose.
It was funny. It had flavor. That’s what “Plastik Charm” stood for: something synthetic, but honest. A plastic trinket that somehow still means something.
The name came from those little collectible plastic charms kids used to love. That mix of irony and nostalgia felt right. The songs were meant to feel like that too — catchy, shiny, but not perfect.
“We didn’t chase trends. We chased moments.”
We were sampling door creaks, cardboard boxes, finger squeaks on glass, anything that made us smile or feel something. We didn’t chase trends. We chased moments.
Looking back, I think that’s what made the album special. It wasn’t about doing things “right.” It was about doing them our way. We made something raw, weird, emotional, and completely ours.
