Plastic Flowers
{{Short description|Greek songwriter}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}}
{{Infobox artist
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Plastic Flowers
| image = Plasticflowerslive.jpg
| alt =
| caption = Plastic Flowers live in Berlin, 2014
| birth_name = Georgios Samaras
| style = Dream pop, electronic, experimental
| birth_date =
| birth_place = Thessaloniki, Greece
| education = Aristotle University of Thessaloniki (BA)
King's College London (MA, PhD)
| known_for =
| notable_works = {{ubl|Evergreen (2014)|Heavenly (2016)|Absent Forever (2017)}}
| website = {{URL|gsamaras.io}}
}}
Georgios Samaras, better known as Plastic Flowers, is a Greek songwriter and academic at King's College London,{{Cite web |title=Dr Georgios Samaras |url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/georgios-samaras |access-date=2022-12-16 |website=www.kcl.ac.uk |language=en-GB}} who has released three full-length studio albums: Evergreen in 2014,{{Cite web|url=http://chasseurmagazine.com/chasseur-interviews-music-duo-plastic-flowers/|title=CHASSEUR INTERVIEWS MUSIC DUO PLASTIC FLOWERS – Chasseur Magazine| date=October 2013 |language=en-US|access-date=7 December 2018}} Heavenly in 2016 and Absent Forever in 2017.{{Cite web|url=http://www.clashmusic.com/news/premiere-plastic-flowers-how-can-i|title=Premiere: Plastic Flowers – How Can I|last=Murray|first=Robin|date=13 September 2017|website=Clash Magazine|access-date=14 September 2017}}
Career
Georgios started recording music on a TASCAM Multi-track and released a series of bedroom pop influenced EPs that have received praise for their lo-fi touch.{{Citation|title=Listen to "Strange Neighbors" by Plastic Flowers|url=https://pitchfork.com/reviews/tracks/12819-plastic-flowers-strange-neighbors/|language=en|access-date=7 December 2018}}{{Cite web|url=http://diymag.com/archive/tracks-white-denim-swearin-and-more|title=Tracks: White Denim, Swearin' & More|last=Subscribe|website=DIY|language=en|access-date=2 July 2019}}{{Cite web|url=http://exclaim.ca/music/article/plastic_flowers-lucy_video|title=Plastic Flowers "Lucy" (video)|website=exclaim.ca|language=en-ca|access-date=2 July 2019}}
In 2014 his debut album Evergreen was released through Inner Ear Records,{{Cite web|url=https://inner-ear.gr/product/evergreen/|title=Evergreen|website=Inner Ear Records|language=en-US|access-date=2 July 2019}} and Crash Symbols in Europe and the United States respectively. He later moved to London{{Cite web|url=https://beehy.pe/plastic-flowers-heavenly-interview/|title=Interview: Plastic Flowers – Greece – beehype – Best Music from Around the World|website=beehy.pe| date=9 May 2016 |access-date=7 December 2018}} and recorded his second full-length album Heavenly{{Cite web|url=https://ftw.usatoday.com/2016/02/10-best-songs-of-the-week-kanye-west-animal-collective-skepta-fka-twigs|title=10 best songs of the week|date=19 February 2016|website=For The Win|language=en|access-date=2 July 2019}} in November 2015,{{Cite web|url=http://www.thefourohfive.com/music/article/heavenly-an-interview-with-plastic-flowers-146|title=Heavenly: An Interview with Plastic Flowers|last=Darley|first=Andrew|date=25 May 2016|website=The 405|publisher=The 405 Ltd.|access-date=26 May 2016}} and Absent Forever in 2017, both released via The Native Sound and distributed by Warner.
He became the first Greek act ever to perform at South by Southwest.{{Cite web|url=https://www.spin.com/2017/01/sxsw-2017-adds-nearly-500-bands-to-bill-sad13-merchandise-pill-more/|title=SXSW 2017 Adds Nearly 500 Bands to Bill: Sad13, Merchandise, Pill, More|date=10 January 2017|website=Spin|access-date=2 July 2019}} He has also toured USA and Europe and performed live at the Royal Academy of Arts,{{Cite web|url=http://www.royalacademy.org.uk/event/ar-members-ra-schools-curate|title=The Academicians' Room Members: RA Schools Curate {{!}} Event {{!}} Royal Academy of Arts|website=www.royalacademy.org.uk|access-date=27 July 2019}} Fun Fun Fun Fest, Stavros Niarchos Foundation Cultural Center,{{Cite web|url=https://www.snfcc.org/ekdiloseis/plastic-flowers/201|title=Plastic Flowers|last=Wedia|website=www.snfcc.org|language=el|access-date=27 July 2019}} Athens Concert Hall and Thessaloniki Concert Hall,{{Cite web|url=http://www.tch.gr/default.aspx?lang=el-GR&page=3&tcheid=1473|title=PLASTIC FLOWERS|website=www.tch.gr|access-date=27 July 2019}} and shared the stage with Bonobo, A.R.Kane, Emancipator, Still Corners and others.
On his debut album Evergreen he collaborated with Keep Shelly in Athens{{Cite web|url=http://www.imposemagazine.com/bytes/new-music/plastic-flowers-ghosts-feat-keep-shelly-in-athens|title=Plastic Flowers, 'Ghosts (feat. Keep Shelly in Athens)' – New Music|last1=writer|first1=About Dayna Evans Dayna Evans is a|last2=www|first2=editor based in New York full profile/ twitter/|date=7 October 2013|website=Impose Magazine|language=en|access-date=7 December 2018}} and NY-based artist and painter Ed Askew, who also painted the album cover for Heavenly.{{Cite web |title=Heavenly, by Plastic Flowers |url=https://plasticflowers.bandcamp.com/album/heavenly |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Plastic Flowers |language=en}}
= Theodoros Pangalos Sample =
In 2012, Plastic Flowers sampled Theodoros Pangalos' controversial ministerial statement "We [government and citizens] fooled away the money together" in Sinking Ship/Vanished Crew.
Academia
He is an Assistant Professor of Public Policy at King's College London.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-27 |title=Far-right victories in Greece highlight trend across Europe |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/world/election-greece-right-wing-spartans-trend-europe-italy-lepen-vox-rcna91094 |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=NBC News |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Hume |first=Tim |date=2023-06-27 |title=The Far-Right Just Made a Shock Comeback in Greece |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/dy3y7v/greece-spartans-golden-dawn |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=Vice |language=en}} As an undergraduate studying German at Aristotle University of Thessaloniki between 2009 and 2014, Samaras read modern and contemporary literature. He later obtained a Master's degree in Education Policy, and a PhD both from King's College London,{{Cite web|title=Georgios Samaras|url=https://www.kcl.ac.uk/people/georgios-samaras|access-date=2 July 2019|website=www.kcl.ac.uk}} where he investigated the rise of far-right extremism in Greece during the fiscal crisis.{{Cite web |last=Tsaliki |first=Eleftheria |date=September 2022 |title=Χρυσή Αυγή: Aπό την τηλεόραση στο YouTube |url=https://insidestory.gr/article/h-hrysi-aygi-sta-social-media |website=Inside Story}} He often contributes to Greek newspapers Kathimerini{{Cite web|title=Ανάλυση: Το Black Lives Matter ως πυλώνας αλλαγής, ΓΙΩΡΓΟΣ ΣΑΜΑΡΑΣ* {{!}} Kathimerini|url=https://www.kathimerini.gr/1083889/article/epikairothta/kosmos/analysh-to-black-lives-matter-ws-pylwnas-allaghs|access-date=23 June 2020|website=www.kathimerini.gr}} and Efimerida ton Syntakton,{{Cite web |title=Η τέχνη τού να έχεις πάντα δίκιο (εν μέσω ενεργειακής κρίσης) |url=https://www.efsyn.gr/stiles/apopseis/337702_i-tehni-toy-na-eheis-panta-dikio-en-meso-energeiakis-krisis |access-date=18 April 2022 |website=Η Εφημερίδα των Συντακτών |language=el-GR}} and Euronews.{{Cite web |date=2023-07-04 |title=In the most recent election, Greek far right made a sinister comeback |url=https://www.euronews.com/2023/07/04/in-the-most-recent-election-greek-far-right-made-a-sinister-comeback |access-date=2023-07-30 |website=euronews |language=en}}
In June 2020, during the Black Lives Matter protests in London, he started a campaign against a local school in West Hampstead,{{Cite web|last=Berry|first=Franki|title=Petition urges West Hampstead primary school to reconsider slave trader name|url=https://www.hamhigh.co.uk/news/west-hampstead-beckford-primary-school-name-petition-1-6696691|access-date=14 July 2020|website=Hampstead Highgate Express| date=11 June 2020 |language=en}}{{Cite web|title=Now primary school could have name changed over slavery link|url=http://camdennewjournal.com/article/now-primary-school-could-have-name-changed-over-slavery-link|access-date=14 July 2020|website=Camden New Journal|language=en-gb}} named after slaver William Beckford. The campaign received coverage from national and local media, and support from British actress Emma Thompson{{Cite web|date=13 July 2020|title=Primary school to drop name of slave owner in wake of BLM protests|url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/london/beckford-primary-school-name-change-emma-thompson-a4496411.html|access-date=14 July 2020|website=Evening Standard|language=en}} resulting in a name change.{{Cite web|date=27 September 2021|title=Primary school changes name due to links to plantation owner|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/home-news/beckford-school-rebrand-west-hampstead-b1927482.html|access-date=18 January 2022|website=The Independent|language=en}}
Discography
= LPs =
- Evergreen (2014, Inner Ear Records – Crash Symbols)
- Heavenly (2016, The Native Sound – Track & Field Records)
- Absent Forever (2017, The Native Sound – Distributed by Warner-ADA)
= EPs and singles =
- Meltdown EP (2011, Cakes and Tapes)
- White Walls Painted Black – Single (2011, Cakes and Tapes)
- Natural Conspiracy EP (2012, Cakes and Tapes)
- Empty Eyes – Single (2012, Bad Panda Records)
- In You I'm Lost – Single (2012, self-released)
- Aftermath EP (2013, Manic Pop Records)
- Fog Song/Silence – Double 7" (2013, Manic Pop Records)
- Now She's Gone – Single (2014, self-released)
- Summer of 1992 EP (2015, self-released)
- Falling Off – Single 7"{{Cite web|url=https://noisey.vice.com/en_uk/article/feel-everything-at-once-with-plastic-flowers-and-falling-off|title=Feel Everything at Once with Plastic Flowers and "Falling Off" – Noisey|website=noisey|language=en-uk|access-date=17 October 2016}} (2016, The Native Sound)
- Plastic Flowers - Live at Megaron Mousikis (2023, self-released)
References
{{reflist|refs =
| last = Robinson
| first = Tom
| title = Introducing Mixtape
| newspaper = BBC
| url = http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/tomrobinson/2012/11/introducing-mixtape-monday-261.shtml
| accessdate = 26 February 2012}}
| last = Neves
| first = Sergio
| title = OS PLASTIC FLOWERS PREPARAM-SE PARA O SXSW EM PORTUGAL
| newspaper = VICE Mag.
| location = Portugal
| language = Portuguese
| url = https://www.vice.com/pt/read/os-plastic-flowers-preparam-se-para-o-sxsw-em-portugal
| accessdate = 26 February 2013}}
| last = Palast
| first = Greg
| title = I upset my least favorite greek minister
| newspaper = VICE Mag.
| location = UK
| url = https://www.vice.com/en_uk/read/my-big-fat-greek-minister
| accessdate = 21 May 2013}}
| title = SXSW: Plastic Flowers
| newspaper = SXSW
| location = USA
| url = http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS21024
| accessdate = 1 February 2013
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130308051820/http://schedule.sxsw.com/2013/events/event_MS21024
| archive-date = 8 March 2013
| url-status = dead
}}
| title = August's best new music from across the MAP
| newspaper = The Guardian
| date = 17 August 2011
| location = UK
| url = https://www.theguardian.com/music/musicblog/2011/aug/17/august-new-music-map
| accessdate = 7 February 2016}}
| last = Milton
| first = Jamie
| title = The Neu Bulletin 20th June 2013
| newspaper = DIY Magazine
| location = UK
| url = http://diymag.com/archive/the-neu-bulletin-20th-june-2013/
| accessdate = 7 February 2016}}
| last = Carson
| first = Dan
| title = Plastic Flowers – Dead Promises
| newspaper = The Line of Best Fit
| location = UK
| url = http://www.thelineofbestfit.com/new-music/discovery/watch-plastic-flowers-dead-promises-117914
| accessdate = 7 February 2016}}
| last = Evans
| first = Dayna
| title = Plastic Flowers – Populists
| newspaper = Impose
| date = 17 May 2013
| location = USA
| url = http://www.imposemagazine.com/bytes/new-music/plastic-flowers-populists
| accessdate = 7 February 2016}}
| last = Murray
| first = Robin
| title = Plastic Flowers – Diver
| newspaper = Clash Magazine
| location = UK
| url = http://www.clashmusic.com/news/premiere-plastic-flowers-diver
| accessdate = 8 February 2016}}
| last = Neves
| first = Sergio
| title = Plastic Flowers Evergreen review
| newspaper = Vice
| location = Portugal
| url = https://www.vice.com/pt/read/discos-plastic-flowers
| accessdate = 8 February 2016}}
| last = Phillips
| first = Nicola
| title = Plastic Flowers Album Premiere
| newspaper = Kaltblut
| location = Germany
| url = http://www.kaltblut-magazine.com/album-premiere-plastic-flowers-heavenly/
| accessdate = 8 February 2016}}
| last = Bushell
| first = Glen
| title = Plastic Flowers: "I like to remind myself that there is a past"
| newspaper = Punktastic
| location = UK
| url = http://www.punktastic.com/radar/plastic-flowers-i-like-to-remind-myself-that-there-is-a-past/
| accessdate = 10 June 2016}}
| title = Evergreen
| language = English
| url = https://crashsymbols.bandcamp.com/album/evergreen
| accessdate = 26 February 2013}}
| title = Heavenly
| language = English
| url = https://plasticflowers.bandcamp.com/album/heavenly
| accessdate = 26 February 2013}}
}}{{Authority control}}
External links
- [http://plasticflowers.eu/ Plastic Flowers official website]
- [https://www.facebook.com/plasticflowers Plastic Flowers on Facebook]
- [http://soundcloud.com/plastic_flowers Plastic Flowers on Soundcloud]