Theater of the Absurd and the punk darkness back.
One of the most recognized Mexican bands of recent years is, without a doubt, Prismatic Shapes. At the beginning of this year the band released their most recent album, Theater of the Absurdand now, almost a year after the album's release, Prismatic Shapes is preparing to present it completely live from start to finish for the first time in CDMX at the Indie Rocks Forum! In an interview, we spoke with Guillermo Torres about this presentation and the importance of seeing the band as a project and a brand.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: We will start this talk by talking about the trajectory of Prismatic Shapes, we know that they have been making music for many years, many albums and a lot of material. We want to know if they have discovered a formula or how they keep alive, as a band, the creative spark and the desire to continue.
Prismatic Shapes: I think the formula we have found is, to begin with, try not to repeat ourselves. Do not repeat processes, concepts, or the way in which we view and start a recording: how we record, how we work, etc. Repeating what we already did in the past can be boring, right? Like making the same album several times.
We have had very different ways of working: there were times when it took us three years to record an album and others when, in the same year, we recorded two albums or EPs. I think it depends a lot on how everything comes up at that moment and also on how we are dealing with issues that don't clash with tours, live shows or other commitments.
We have also had lineup changes, and when someone joins is when we take the opportunity to find something new and release material as much as possible.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: You could say that the secret is perseverance…
Prismatic Shapes: Yes of course. And also see it holistically. There is the creative part, which is usually the most relaxed, and then there is the most media part: how the project is presented, how the brand is communicated. That part is usually the one that costs the most.
Without forgetting, obviously, the live performances. But as long as you see all these areas with the greatest possible professionalism, that helps a lot: in times, schedules, budgets and organization. And in the end it is something that is very enjoyable; If you get along with your team, it's like constantly seeing your friends.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: I love what you say about seeing the band as a brand, as a label. Prismatic Shapes already works with a very clear identity. Because I think they are already a reference in the scene, at least as an unmissable point within the dark sound.
Prismatic Shapes: It took me years to discover that. There is the romantic part, the cliché of the artist, the expression and the creativity, and then there is the other part: seeing your project as a brand and understanding the whole question of marketing. How you present it, how you see it yourself and how you transmit it in digital, virtual, business and, obviously, live.
I feel that the sooner one understands it and develops it, the more it can be exploited for good. In the end, everyone wins.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: Speaking of everything you have created —EPs and albums—, 2025 has arrived Theater of the Absurd at the beginning of the year. A few months have passed, we heard it and reheard it. From your perspective, how do you map the reception of the album now that time has passed?
Prismatic Shapes: From the outset I feel that our audience is very open. The fact that they have received so well Theater of the Absurdwhich breaks with previous materials—especially with the more classic post-punk of the beginning—is something we greatly appreciate. This album is more aggressive, faster; It's like a vortex.
Doing it was a need to express how we feel in real life. We hoped the public would take it well, and fortunately they did. This year we presented it in different parts of the Republic and in January we are going to present it in a very formal way in Mexico City, just one year after its launch.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: That's special, because sometimes fans are very punishing when a band changes its sound or its influences. Have you felt that the public has grown with you?
Prismatic Shapes: Yes, totally. The public is curious: sometimes they complain that a band repeats the same album a thousand times and, other times, that it changes too much. In the end there is nothing left but to trust intuition. You can't have twenty chefs giving their opinion on the same dish. This year we have attracted a lot of new audiences and I think it is something natural, as in life.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: And personally, do you listen to Prismatic Shapes' music again? Does it appear in your daily random?
Prismatic Shapes: Yes, the truth is that yes. I entered Prismatic Shapes five years ago; The project already existed before. And if he hadn't gotten in, I would be one of his biggest fans. I really like the project. When I listen to our songs, in addition to enjoying them, they transport me to very specific moments in my life: where I lived, what was happening, how I felt when we made each song. That's something very special.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: That speaks of a very good relationship with your own music.
Prismatic Shapes: Yeah, I try not to be so hard on myself. If you dwell on what could have been different, you never finish. I prefer to trust our “self” from the past: we made those decisions for a reason.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: Speaking of Theater of the AbsurdDo you have a favorite song?
Prismatic Shapes: “The form of the indeterminate”. Originally the project was going to be an EP. There were lineup and personnel changes; life happens. When we got back to the material, we decided to make more songs, and that was the last one we wrote. It came out very quickly, almost alone, and I really enjoy playing it live. I like that the album tells a story that is not necessarily chronological, but emotional.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: They have gone through post-punk, dark wave and now more punk sounds. From your perspective, where are we at for these genres and for independent music in Mexico?
Prismatic Shapes: Mexico is a great creative breeding ground. In recent years these currents have gained strength and many bands have emerged. The risk is that they become formulas: when you can no longer distinguish one from the other. That's why we try to get out of those niches and find our own voice. And for independent music in general, I think it's a very beautiful moment. There is more access to tools, tutorials and resources. The important thing is to create, enjoy the process, regardless of the size of the scope.
Indie Rocks! Magazine: What can we expect from the show at the Indie Rocks Forum!?
Prismatic Shapes: It will be Saturday, January 10. We have been preparing it for weeks. There will be surprises: guest bands, a DJ and a very theatrical concept. We want to transform the space and make it feel different. It's going to be a very energetic and special show.
