Plini
Visionary Modern Progressive Rock & Jazz-Fusion Guitarist
Biography
Born Plini Roessler-Holgate on 25 July 1992 in Sydney, Australia, Plini has emerged as one of the defining voices of contemporary instrumental progressive guitar. Initially releasing music under the moniker Halcyon while studying architecture at university, he quickly cultivated a dedicated international following by independently writing, tracking, and mixing his music from a home studio.
Plini's signature sound weaves modern progressive rock, math rock, djent-inspired rhythmic articulation, and rich jazz-fusion harmonic sensibilities with an innate gift for catchy, lyrical melodies. His groundbreaking 2016 debut album, Handmade Cities, earned widespread critical acclaim—most notably hailed by Steve Vai as "one of the finest, forward-thinking, melodic, rhythmically and harmonically deep instrumental guitar records" ever produced. Regarded as an essential innovator alongside peers like Intervals, Jakub Zytecki, and Animals as Leaders, Plini performs worldwide with his live ensemble (featuring longtime collaborators Simon Grove and Troy Wright) and is widely recognized for his signature headless Strandberg Boden guitars.
Selected Discography & Key Releases
Full-Length Studio Albums
- Handmade Cities (2016)
- His landmark debut full-length, featuring modern prog staples like "Electric Sunrise," "Selenium Forest," and the title track. The record established his reputation for blending intricate virtuosity with deeply singable melodic themes.
- Impulse Voices (2020)
- A rich and expansive sophomore record that dives deeper into ambient textures, electronica accents, and complex rhythmic structures on standout tracks such as "I'll Tell You Someday" and "Pan."
- An Unnameable Desire (2026)
- Plini's third full-length studio release, continuing his musical evolution with cinematic, genre-blurring arrangements, intricate dynamic shifts, and mature, multifaceted melodic composition.
Extended Plays (EPs)
- The EP Trilogy: Other Things (2013), Sweet Nothings (2013) & The End of Everything (2015)
- The foundational trilogy that introduced Plini to the global guitar community, highlighting early masterworks like "Heart," "TARRED & FEATHERED," and "Paper Moon," with guest contributions from Marco Minnemann and Chris Letchford.
- Sunhead (2018)
- A vibrant four-track EP exploring broader jazz-fusion and synth-driven territories, anchored by tracks like "Salt + Charcoal" and "Flâneur" (featuring pianist Anomalie).
- Mirage (2023)
- A heavy, intricate five-track collection exploring darker tonal palettes, sophisticated odd-meter rhythmic layers, and soaring melodic interplay.
Live Albums
- Finnvox Sessions (2023)
- Recorded live at the legendary Finnvox Studios in Helsinki, capturing pristine, live-in-the-room performances of key catalog selections.
- Live in North America (2025)
- An energetic live release documenting the tightness and improvisational flair of Plini's touring band across major North American stops.
Plini - "An Unnameable Tour Movie"