The duo who makes up the genre-bending band Pleasantville first met while acting in a production of The Fantasticks at Westchester’s Arc Stages. Lead vocalist Aaron Gleason hails from Hollywood, California. Like most individuals who live out their hipster stint in Greenpoint, he eventually moved north to Westchester County with his wife. One thing the indie rocker has taken with him throughout his years on both the East and West Coasts is his passion for writing and creating music.
Although Gleason and Emma Freeman, the other half of the band Pleasantville, met at Arc Stages, their musical paths didn’t cross until some time after their introduction. Freeman, a Westchester local, has immersed herself in creating music, harmonizing, and recording acapella versions of songs for years. Her bedroom boasts a recording set-up where she produces her work. A majority of her solo endeavors lean in the way of indie folk, but since collaborating with Gleason, a sliver of rock influence has found its way into her vocals. (Think Fleetwood Mac.)
The musical connection between Gleason and Freeman ignited when Gleason uploaded a guitar riff online with the caption “Someone Duet This” and tagged Freeman. The addition of Freeman’s angelic background vocals to Gleason’s riff was an element he didn’t realize he needed until that moment.
“I was planning on making a solo album, and I sent one song to Emma, and she added background vocals on, and I had no notes for her. It was hand in glove,” says Gleason.
Listeners may be surprised to learn that the two were never in the same room, city, or state while recording the entire album. Gleason recorded his riffs and vocals, then sent them to Freeman to add her magical touch. The only feedback Gleason gave was, “I’d like on this last chorus to see the face of God,” to which she replied, “I got you.”
This year, Pleasantville has released a series of singles, teasing fans with a full record release, hopefully coming in late September. A handful of their alt-centric songs have been accompanied by aesthetically shot music videos featuring local establishments including the Westchester Table Tennis Center and a antique bowling alley built in 1919.
The nine-song album, THESE EMBERS, will guide listeners through a journey of existential crises relating to life, COVID-19, and relationships. Relationships are a particularly intimate theme for Gleason and his go-to when writing music. However, these past few years have encouraged him to explore new lyrical territory, showcased in songs like “Steel Eyed” and “The Universe Is Loud.”
“I don’t think I would be as attracted to doing these songs if I didn’t have Emma here,” adds Gleason.
The moody pop setlist has attracted a wide range of listeners, from 15-year-olds to 74-year-olds. Freeman notes that Pleasantville’s music “doesn’t fit into a box” in terms of genre, melding indie-pop, alt-pop, indie-rock, and alt-rock. Keep an eye out for the album’s release date, along with a tentative album release party to celebrate.
“I think we have a lot more to explore. It’s really fun to work together,” Gleason says.
Related: Den of Wax Is Stocked With Rare Records in Westchester
