Plush has launched a nationwide tour ahead of their new album Mass Hysteria, due out September 18th. I recently sat down with the women of Plush to talk about their rise, what they’ve learned along the way, and what lies ahead for the band with deep Capital Region roots.
Fronted by local Moriah Formica – whose vocal tenacity rivalspowerhouses like Lizzy Hale and Amy Lee – Plush is rounded out by bassist Ashley Suppa and drummer Faith Powell. Their upcoming follow-up album is promising to bring an even heavier sound to listener’s ears.
Who is the best band or artist you’ve seen live?
Faith: Paramore was my favorite band to see live. I grew up listening to their music, so when I finally got to see them live it made it even more special. I loved the energy Hayley Williams brought to the stage alongside the rest of the band. They kept that energy going throughout the entire show while showcasing incredible chemistry and musicianship that made this show a very memorable one for me.
Ashley: The 1975 is one of the best live bands I’ve ever seen. It doesn’t matter if they are playing a club, an arena or a festival. The size of the room can change, but the feeling in the crowd never does. Their energy is undeniable.
Moriah: In my opinion, the best show I’ve seen live has to be Muse. I have to say, I had no clue what to expect and I was so blown away by their show and live sound. Also, their visuals, just the whole entire thing was a true experience from beginning to end!
I’ve had the chance to see you live many times, from Moriah playing local shows here in Albany pre-Plush with a killer guitarist and drummer behind her, to Plush opening for Slash in Waterloo, and Sevendust in Long Island. What lessons did you take away from touring alongside legends like that, and are there any fun stories from the road to share?
Ashley: First of all, thank you for coming out to our shows. We’ve been incredibly lucky to tour with some of our heroes, and one of the things I’m most grateful for is how kindly we’ve been treated along the way.
Mike Inez from Alice In Chains, who is one of my favorite bassists (and people) ever, was especially incredible to us. We had the time of our lives touring with Alice In Chains, Breaking Benjamin and Bush. We were in a van, barely sleeping, and Mike would check in on us during long drives and bring us these care packages full of snacks after shows. When you’re out there, away from home for so long, those things mean everything.
The biggest lesson was really love and care. Touring with the bands we grew up looking up to taught us just how much it means to lead with compassion and make people feel safe. I feel really lucky that we got to learn that firsthand, and remember thinking when it becomes our turn to a bring band out, we want them have that same experience.
Plush has gone through a big transition, from bringing Faith into the band to evolving into a power trio. How has thatgrowth shaped your dynamic, and in what ways has it influenced your songwriting process?
Moriah: I would say it’s shaped our music greatly. Being a trio has definitely encouraged us to be much more genuine and the most authentic versions of ourselves. I think we’re much more united on the direction we feel our music should go. As far as the writing process, I think as a trio, we are much more involved together with writing and working stuff out in the studio. It’s also super exciting because Ashley is singing lead on a song she wrote called Severance (which is one of my absolute favorites off the album), and the future is so exciting thinking about there being more songs like that!
Mass Hysteria drops on September 18th, and the first single “Animalistic” is an awesome first impression of the album. What can listeners expect from the new album?
Faith: Listeners can expect a heavier and more powerful direction that we’ve naturally evolved toward as a band. This album really captures who we are right now, both musically and the experiences that have shaped us along the way. We pushed ourselves creatively and brought a new level of energy to these songs. We’re so excited for everyone to hear this new evolved sound of Plush.
Is there a track on Mass Hysteria that you’re looking forward to playing live in front of a crowd?
Ashley: I’m excited to play everything off the new album live! I’m especially looking forward to playing “Bleed Me Out.” It’s heavy in a way that we haven’t yet explored, and I think it shows a different side of the band.
Moriah: I am super excited to play Drain Me live because it is one of our favorites off of the album and I think it will hit hard live! I also am excited because it will definitely be a challenge to sing and play the riff at the same time!
Faith: Breakdowns will always be my favorite thing to play live, so my answer is ‘Bleed Me Out’. It’s one of our heaviest breakdowns with fast double kick patterns. I have so much fun playing this one and I can’t wait to see crowd reactions to this one.
Your Instagram is always a great follow. When you’re out on tour, how do you keep yourselves entertained between shows
Ashley: There are endless ways we keep ourselves entertained on the road. It could be exploring a new city, climbing a mountain, finding an unhinged new snack combination, or singing Judas Priest karaoke on three hours of sleep at 7 am.
The road is a very strange place where there’s fun everywhere if you’re willing to find it. But honestly, I do think the three of us could watch paint dry and still have a great time. We genuinely love being together that much.
Moriah, you spent some time performing with the Trans-Siberian Orchestra. What was that experience like, and did anything from that world carry over into your work with Plush?
Moriah: Singing with TSO has been an absolutely incredible experience. It is so different from touring with your own band and is a really nice balance between the two. It’s very surreal getting to be in the presence of such amazing musicians that I really look up to and then get to be a part of it with them. The show itself is insane too to watch and be a part of each night, the pyro, the lights, the music, the story, the crowd of so many smiling faces. It’s just amazing.
Thanks for taking the time to chat with WABY. Is there anything else you would like the listeners to know?
Faith: Our new album ‘Mass Hysteria’ comes out on September 18th. We are currently on tour for our new album and would love to see you at a city near you. Check out our schedule at plushrocks.net and be sure to follow us on Instagram @plushrocks!
Thank you so much for having us!
Talking with Plush made one thing clear: their rise hasn’t been accidental – it’s been earned through resilience, connection, and a shared belief in what they’re building together. As they head toward the release of Mass Hysteria, the band feels poised for a breakthrough that stretches far beyond the Capital Region. Their story is still unfolding, but this next chapter is one to enjoy for sure.
