Planningtorock, often abbreviated to PTR, is the musical and visual project of Jam Rostron, a musician and visual artist from Bolton, United Kingdom. Rostron starts the project in 2004 and is based in Berlin for a period of time. Planningtorock is a solo act rather than a band.

Style and approach

Planningtorock works across electronic and club-oriented music, with connections to dance, disco, EDM and electroclash as well as rock and experimental forms. The project combines art-pop, dance music and theatrical presentation, and is associated with a politically direct use of lyrics and identity themes. Rostron is described as a non-binary, genderqueer artist, and these experiences inform the project’s writing.

Albums

The first full-length release is Have It All in 2006, described as a chamber-pop leaning debut that establishes Planningtorock as unusual in style. W follows in 2011 on DFA Records and presents a tense, atmospheric sound with classical touches and a focus on androgyny. In 2014, All Love's Legal appears on Rostron’s own Human Level imprint and pairs dance music with slogans and political statements such as “Patriarchy Over And Out” and “Let’s Talk About Gender Baby”. Powerhouse, released in 2018, is the fourth full-length and turns towards more personal material drawn from family, identity and music.

Recognition and labels

W is described as critically acclaimed, and All Love's Legal is noted for its left-of-centre dance approach. Planningtorock releases work through DFA Records and Human Level.