Meet Pluto Koi | Indie Bedroom Pop Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Pluto Koi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Pluto, why did you decide to pursue a creative path?
First of all, thank you for wanting to hear about my story!

It’s hard to pinpoint a single reason why I do what I do. I just really like to create things and use art as an outlet to express myself. I’ve always loved making things. Showing them off, especially. As a kid, I drew, painted, filmed YouTube videos, got into filmmaking, directed a few short films, and at some point, landed on music as my definitive creative outlet. What drew me into it was probably how easy it was to make songs in the first place. Literally from the comfort of my own bedroom, I wrote and produced the entirety of my first EP, all by myself, without spending a single dime.

Growing up, I mostly had trouble interacting with people in social settings but I felt like sharing my artistic creations always came naturally, and it was one of the best ways I found I could express myself. Music was no different. My first time performing in front of people was during my junior year of high school. I performed 3 songs alongside a drummer friend of mine for a talent show in our back-to-school mixer event. Being a very introverted person, it’s still a mystery to me how I even agreed to perform in the place, but I don’t regret it for a second. I was immediately hooked. The anxiety, the rush, the satisfaction, the cheers, it was all extremely overwhelming but so worth it. I felt like this was an experience I’d never get tired of, and something I could potentially see myself doing as a full-time career down the line.

I wrote some original songs shortly after, some of which I did end up producing an amateurly made demo of and released on SoundCloud. Throughout highschool, I listened to a lot of Ed Sheeran, Coldplay, and 2000s R&B. Within these songs and artists laid sounds that I fell in love with. Large romantic ballads, authentic lyrics, captivating melodies. Listening to songs like these always felt like home. It was genuine and relatable, and I always felt a strong connection to the artist I was listening to. This was something that I wanted to show through in my music as well.

My first release on any major streaming platform was my first EP. Destination: Planet Koi. I poured myself into this EP and released it with zero expectations. I just wanted to put something out there, to show my friends and family, and to maybe have something fun to look back on down the road. The success this EP received was something completely unexpected. I started receiving messages from several people telling me how much my music means to them. I had never even considered the possibility of my music reaching so many people I don’t know, and seeing how my music means this much to them is definitely a huge part of why I do this as well. I only hope that my music continues to provide this sense of comfort in people.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
As an artist, I only hope to create things that are meaningful to me and to everyone else that listens to my work. Whether someone finds that meaning through the relatabillity of my lyrics, the instrumental, melodies, whatever– as long as there’s value there then I’ve done my job. I don’t really consider myself a great singer or a great lyricist. I wouldn’t even consider my guitar or music production skills to be any more than barely average, and I can’t even hit a falsetto to save my life. However, I think I’m pretty great at being myself and being genuine, and I think I have a pretty good grasp at conveying authenticity through my songs. I think that’s what sets me apart from other artists. I’d like to think it’s easy for people to find that connection through my music, to really see that it’s just me on the other end. A normal guy who experiences normal things like love and heartbreak.

Getting to where I am now was honestly a stroke of luck. I never intended to make music for the amount of listeners I have now. I’m extremely grateful for all the support I’ve received thus far, and I only want to give back by making better music.

Better is subjective, but I think I want to delve into realms that are a little bit more vulnerable for me. I’ve always written about love and heartbreak, but I’ve rarely written songs that dived into aspects of my life that I’m not too comfortable sharing. I sort of want to break that mold a little bit with this next EP I’m working on. I preach how much I strive to create this sense of relatibility in music, and I think the reason why I write about love so much is because of how relatable it is. Love is universal after all, and I think it applies to so many people. But what if I wrote about things that are more specific to my experiences? Would people still relate? I think that’s what I’m currently trying to work out.

It’s a little scary being more vulnerable for sure. But I’m ready to make this jump. I think it’s important for me as an artist to tackle themes outside of what I normally write about. I hope other people will agree.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I live in the bay area, so Korean BBQ and boba is for sure a staple. My favorite spot is an AYCE restaurant called QPOT in San Jose. I’ve been into hiking lately, and San Francisco houses some beautiful trails that overlook the bay. Other than that, walking around the city is always fun.

Make sure you like dogs though. Cause I’m taking mine with me wherever we go.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I definitely want to shout out my friends and family that have supported me up to this point. If you’re reading this, you know who you are. I initially released music online just for these people. My close friends and family. You guys supported me day in and day out, acting as the foundation that helped me grow into the artist I am today.

My girlfriend, Maddie, who happily agreed to be the center focus of all of my love songs since we started dating. You’ve always been my number one cheerleader and I hope you don’t mind that I continue writing these sappy love songs about you til the end of time.

I’ve always made music independently. By myself, in my bedroom. But just recently I met two incredible people that have showed me immense support and trust. Justin and Michael, thank you both for taking a chance on me and wanting to be a part of my music journey. No doubt we’re going to do big things.

Finally, my mom, for introducing me to music in the first place. You are the strongest woman I know, and without you, music wouldn’t even be an option.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plutokoi/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/plutokoi