British American electronic duo Ready, Steady, Die! are Morgan Visconti and Sam K return with bold new single ‘Access to Pollution’, which follows the success of their 2022 album ‘Settle’. Morgan lives in New York, while Sam lives in the UK, but the duo work together seamless creating songs which explore the complexity of human emotion.
How did your musical project/band first start? Is there a story to tell about it?
Sam K: We met when we were kids. Our families were friends and our first song we ever wrote together was when Morgan was about 15 I was 17. ‘Sometimes it Happens’ was the title. Still love that song.
Morgan: We pressed it onto vinyl and recorded about 10 other songs too. We were gonna be HUGE. At that time Sam set the bar very high for people I would work with throughout my career. She’s always inspired me with great lyrics and melodies and she was a one take wonder on vocals even at 17.
What was your first gig?
Morgan: Joe’s Pub, New York, 2000. We were joined by my longtime collaborator and friend Gareth Williams (aka JAUST) on laptops and me on guitar. The laptops tried to connect to the internet during the first song and made intermittent Mac error noises while my capo was on the wrong fret and I couldn’t even hear my own guitar. Sam was perfect but the audience must have been like WTF?
How has your music/live performances been received by fans?
Morgan: See previous answer.
Sam: We are primarily a studio band, and we don’t very much perform live. Logistically it’s tricky with Morgan in New York and me in the UK. Our fans tell us our music is haunting but also relatable with some of the subjects we cover with our lyrics. Our videos which have been produced either by Morgan or Max Clendaniel will either have you feeling moved or laughing out loud.
What three words best describe your musical style and why?
Sam: Poignant. Haunting.
Morgan: Immersive. We like to visualize the kinds of spaces the music fits in. We often think of a genre of film or tv that we’d like to play in and it’s not surprising that both of us are into thrillers, noir, psychological drama.
Who are your biggest musical influences?
Without question, Massive Attack, Radiohead and Portishead were our initial starting points for inspiration and more recently we would say we would like to find us on the same radio set list as FKA Twigs, Fever Ray, Labrinth, Arca.
Tell us about your new release.
Our latest single is called Access to Pollution. It’s an electronic, dark, hypnotic track with hard-hitting beats and a contrasting ethereal vocal.
“Access to Pollution” by Ready Steady Die! is an evocative electronic rock track that captivates with its dark, hypnotic atmosphere and emotionally charged narrative
“Access to Pollution” opens with a slow, hard-hitting beat that pulses steadily, while the music buzzes and glitches, creating an unsettling yet entrancing soundscape. The instrumentation floats around in a calming, almost hypnotic way, drawing the listener deeper into the sonic experience. Sam K’s vocals are luscious, tender, and deeply sonorous, providing a soft contrast to the grittier electronic undercurrents. Her voice feels relaxing yet gripping, pulling listeners into the emotional core of the song.
Lyrically, “Access to Pollution” dissects the complexities of toxic dynamics, particularly in relationships marked by power imbalances and emotional harm. The song’s title, inspired by a roadside sign Sam K spotted while stuck in traffic, serves as a metaphor for how easily accessible toxicity is—both environmentally and emotionally.
What inspires your lyrics?
We feel inspired by human behaviours and relationships. With all our work there will be a nod to this and as such will usually involve some uncomfortable subject matter, such as DV, narcissism and power struggles in relationships.
How do you hope listeners will feel after hearing your music.
Unsettled but inspired – it gets better!
Do you have any upcoming tour dates?
Not for this year, but maybe 2025, will keep you posted.
What are you/your band working on next?
Getting weirder and a little funkier perhaps? We love making music videos and we’d love to also flip the script, writing music FOR directors and people doing interesting narrative work.
Listen here:
