MISSING PET is the brainchild of Montreal-born, Toronto-based singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Adam Marek Platek, a project that emerged from the claustrophobia of the pandemic. What started as a series of genre-fluid, experimental alt-pop singles in 2021 has now evolved into a deeply personal and introspective songwriting project. The essence of MISSING PET lies in Adam’s reflection during the lockdown, where he grappled with a sense of something missing in the life he had painstakingly built over a decade. The pandemic forced him to confront feelings of entrapment, isolation, and a longing for something more, a feeling many can relate to. It’s this inner dialogue that forms the core of his music—questioning what it is that we are often lacking and exploring what makes us feel fulfilled, understood, and complete.
Adam’s personal life took a sharp turn when his long-term relationship ended, and his electro-rock band fell apart in the spring. These events, painful as they were, acted as a catalyst for his songwriting, a place where he sought refuge and clarity. In his words, “When everything felt like it was falling apart, music was always my safe haven. My songs have been able to support me; give me the best advice and clarity that not even my Mom or best friends could provide.” Music became his therapy, and from that place of vulnerability, he created the “Sentimental Germ” EP. Each track dives deep into self-examination, where Adam began to see himself as an outsider, shunned and avoided by those he sought closeness with. He reflects on the harsh reality that love, despite all its beauty, doesn’t always last forever. This EP is Adam’s exploration of how to navigate the end of love and life’s inevitable disappointments.
Influenced by an eclectic range of sounds, from the classical gravitas of Mozart’s Requiem to the raw industrial edge of Nine Inch Nails, MISSING PET’s sound is a blend of the unexpected. There are echoes of 80s synthpop, 90s rave, and even the punk energy of The Clash woven throughout his music. The “Sentimental Germ” EP highlights Adam’s understanding that the world cannot be shaped entirely by willpower or dreams. There’s an acceptance here—an understanding that sometimes, even love isn’t enough. “It’s easy to fall in love; we’ve all been there, but how do you climb out of love? This album tries to answer that,” Adam explains, touching on one of the central themes of the EP.
The EP’s lead single, “Bad Vibes Only,” sets the tone with a hypnotic and thunderous techno beat, while Adam’s snarl of frustration and angst cuts through. The track is an unapologetic anthem of discomfort and rebellion. Following that is “I Used to Care,” where punchy electric guitar riffs meet bouncy electro beats, creating a contrast between melancholy and defiance. “Hit Where It Hurts” introduces a shift in texture with an acoustic guitar driving the tension, only to build up to an irresistibly catchy chorus that captures the emotional complexity of being hurt by someone you once loved. The EP concludes with “Papercuts,” a track that builds tension through its breakneck breakbeats and dark, swirling atmosphere, leaving listeners on edge.
MISSING PET recorded the entire EP in a single day this past June with producer Josh Korody at Wychwood Sound. The four-track “Sentimental Germ” EP was released on September 24, 2024, numerologically timed to coincide with Adam’s birthday. In the whirlwind of self-exploration and heartache, MISSING PET’s music stands as a testament to the healing power of songwriting and the necessity of accepting life’s inevitable wounds.
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