Today we’d like to introduce you to Sam Legierski and Ben Tarr Of the band Pretty Pretty Please
Hi Sam Legierski and Ben Tarr, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
To be honest, we didn’t really know where this thing was going to go at the beginning. Pretty Pretty Please began as a jam session in the unused attic space above Ben’s apartment. I met Ben Tarr through a friend of a friend. We both wanted an original creative music project to get invested in but were looking for the right people. Ben moved here from Los Angeles in 2020 and didn’t know many people here, so it was just serendipity that we were introduced. An initial meet n’ greet jam led to more, then we started getting together pretty frequently sharing ideas and writing some songs. Pretty soon, we developed a full set of original music over about six months. Ben and I began writing these songs during the lockdown in the fall of 2023. Last summer, in 2024, we tested them out by playing as many shows as we could. It was a great summer, but we were so busy – we didn’t prioritize recording at all, it really was a “test run” if you will. Then, in the fall, we hit the studio and began recording the songs we’d been developing on stage. We laid down the drums and guitars first and then went back to complete each song fully, adding all sorts of instruments and putting on the final production touches ourselves. Now, we’re finally releasing them for everyone to hear. You’ll be able to find our music on all streaming platforms as of this June 14th. We’re planning on slowly releasing 2 songs at a time, until we’re ready for our full album drop.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The journey has been anything but smooth, but it’s been incredibly rewarding. Both Ben and I were pretty discouraged about performing or pursuing music after COVID. Even though we’ve both been in different bands before, the pandemic took a toll on our motivation and confidence to do anything creatively. We had to overcome our doubts and really look into the eye of the tiger to get back to where we were before the long hiatus.
One of the biggest challenges has been recording and producing everything ourselves. It’s a time-consuming and expensive process. When we first started jamming in that unused attic, we never imagined how much work would go into creating a full album of original music.
On top of that, we handle almost every aspect of our band ourselves. We’re like a full-service label for just the two of us. We design our own merch, create our own show posters, organize photoshoots, book shows— everything that goes into it. Though it can be a lot sometimes, the DIY approach gives us complete creative control. Luckily both of our different skill sets allow us to divide and conquer.
Despite the struggles, we’ve learned so much along the way and grown both as musicians and individuals. The hard work, late nights, and countless hours spent fine-tuning our craft have made us even more determined to put this album out. It’s not easy, but seeing our vision come to life makes it all worth it. We’ve built something we’re truly proud of, and we can’t wait to share it with the world.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
Pretty Pretty Please is an alt-rock band from Minnesota. We’ve been told our sound compares to different bands/artists like The White Stripes, Cage the Elephant, and Zach Bryan – but we’ll let you be the judge. We are the most proud of the songs we’re making right now. Regardless of how this album does – I know we both will look back on this time fondly and the music that came out of it. When it passes and we finish this album, we will probably just start on the next one.
It’s hard to say what really sets us apart from others, right now we are just doing our own thing and making the kind of stuff that we want to hear. Yeah, we make mood boards and use references when mixing our songs but at the end of the day, we’re just two friends having fun, making music.
We love surprises, fun facts and unexpected stories. Is there something you can share that might surprise us?
Sam – In my free time I like to build model Gunpla kits. They are cheaper than Lego and they keep me busy when I have free time (which is almost never!). I have like five of them set up in my apartment and at this point, I’m wondering how many is too many. I don’t want to become the Gunpla version of a Disney adult.
Ben – I work with kids at a music school and help them write and develop their own songs/voices. Not only do I wish to inspire the youth with the passion I have for music, but their limitless creativity inspires me to be better and think outside the box in my own writing. They’re also just really really funny and I love that about working with kids. I never have to worry about loving or enjoying what I get to do, it’s very easy to find joy around them. My students are the coolest people I know, and are developing into some amazing young artists with some great songs.
Pricing:
- Our music is free to listen to on all major streaming services. We sell various merch at shows as well as in our depop shop @prettyprettypleaseband. Prices vary, designs are limited, please buy and support our project so we can keep doing cool things.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/prettyprettypleaseband
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/prettyprettyplsss/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@PrettyPrettyPlease
- Other: https://distrokid.com/hyperfollow/prettyprettyplease/soda-pop–tequila–time-away
