5 Songs I Love w/ 2AP (Two Alien Planets)

Every artist has a handful of songs that become part of their DNA, whether they first sparked a love for music, captured a particular feeling or stayed with them through different chapters of life. For 2AP (Two Alien Planets), those influences reflect the emotional and atmospheric qualities that have become central to their own sound, from intertwining vocals and layered guitars to the cinematic indie-pop textures that give their music its sense of intimacy and space.

With their new single “Sweet Harmony” marking the latest chapter in the story of their forthcoming album Let’s Talk About Love, 2AP catch up with Flex for 5 Songs I Love. Along the way, Jarek H. and Lenka K. talk through five tracks that have left a lasting impression on them, exploring the songs that shaped their musical identities, the artists who influenced their creative approach, and the sounds that continue to inspire their journey as a duo.

Fleetwood Mac – The Chain

This rock classic gets to me from the very first drumbeat, which feels like a heartbeat beneath those striking vocal harmonies at the start. The blend of voices is what I love most deeply about music —especially when it is so full of conflicting emotions. They sing about the chain holding them together, and that hits very close to home for me. In our most intimate relationships, pain is inevitable, and you cannot simply walk away from it lightly; we carry shadows from the past that force their way into our present lives.

And that bass solo?! That’s the shadows dancing. And it’s just beautiful.

What I also love about this song is the guitar line, which I learned years ago in both the studio and live versions. Musically, I really like the way the vocal parts are phrased, and then the song finishes with that iconic descent together with the bass. A true classic — fantastic.

Lau Noah – Lesser Men (feat. Chris Thile)

An almost angelic blend of voices and an amazingly skillful interplay between two instruments. We often debate this in our band — how do you blend two instruments when both want to ‘show off’, with two lead voices on top of that? It can feel impossible, as if one always has to take a back seat so the other can shine. And then you come across a song like this and realize that both can completely cut loose — and it sounds incredible! I love Lau Noah’s entire album A dos, but I find the most inspiration in this track, partly because of the lyrics, which once again explore that fragile space within relationships: ‘… We’d be hanging

from a cliff / Holding on by just one finger.’

Pamela. – Better Than Before

This one was my pick (Jarek), because I came across it recently. Musically, compared with Lau Noah’s ‘Lesser Men’, the melody is actually very simple — but in the best possible way. It is a really nice duet: nothing overly complicated musically, yet the production feels modern with a slight retro vibe. A very jazzy-sounding Fender in the background adds a lot, played lightly and blending nicely with Rolling Stones-style guitar riffs. It all works really well with nice lyrical hook in chorus as a whole. The video also plays nicely with tension, and the jumps from the amp to the floor genuinely made me laugh. I found the clip while looking for inspiration for a possible video for our song ‘Let’s Talk About Love’. We’ll see whether we

actually go for it… maybe there’s a surprise coming?

Ester LC – Play My Vibe

And here is something from our own independent scene in the Czech Republic. This video has a perfect story and punchline, it is full of brilliant little comic moments, and it just flows incredibly well. I smile from start to finish every time I watch it. Ester is a friend of ours, a fantastic drummer who even played a few gigs with us, and she is an absolutely incredible and charming actress in this clip! On top of that, she is a songwriter, singer, and producer. She is simply a force of nature. Her energy, effortless vibe, humour, and endless stream of ideas always rub off on me, giving me a fresh burst of enthusiasm and passion for music

and everything around it.

Kenny Rogers & Dolly Parton – Islands in the Stream

To finish, we chose this classic. When we were starting out, we used to sing it together — although a few semitones lower — and it is simply one of those songs that works perfectly. Maybe there is not much more to add, because both Kenny Rogers and Dolly Parton were masters of their craft. And for us, it is also a kind of thank-you to Dolly, because in many ways she inspired us to take the step into writing our own music — simply to write, sing, and create. So, a slightly belated thank you, Dolly! And Kenny too, of course.

Listen to "Sweet Harmony"