Hey! First of all, for those who have missed your band before: What does Prismeria is all about?
Prismeria was born in Lyon, France in 2017 and its composed of five members (Cyril, Leny, Nicolas, Alexandre, Benjamin). We are a band where each member have very different influences. Our project is to make songs that will mix all these influences. The goal for us is to create music’s that reflects our identity: a journey where you can meet different kind of metal into it. We take inspirations from Thrash, Death and Core music. We are all influenced by the old and the modern metal. We try to eat and drink 50 years of metal.
Tell me about your band and what kind of previous experience do you have as musicians?
Prismeria is the very first metal band of each members and our first band for three of us. We are all beginners into metal music. We are very hungry. We want to discover this world and further our path into it.
Why did you pick your band name? How did you form? Why did you decide to play the genre or genres you do?
“Prismeria” is a name with the word “prisme” in the root of the name. The prisme is an object that separate the light into all its components. We symbolize the light as the band made of different influences (the components) and we also symbolize the light as a song made of different kind of metal music (the components). The “prisme” is the link between each other and the genesis of our music. The band started by the meeting in 2013 of Leny and Benjamin, the two guitarist in that originally wanted to form a Thrash metal band. After trying with no success to find good musicians, they met Nicolas (Drums) and Lucas (Bass and Vocals) in December 2016 with who we started composing. After the departure of Lucas, we met Cyril (vocals) and Alexandre (Bass) during the summer 2017. Prismeria was officially born in September 2017 with this full line up. We understood that playing only one kind of metal was not something original. There are so many bands in each style which practice well their matter since so much time. We want to try to do something else. Of course we know that it’s almost impossible to create something new today. We just want to try and see. Maybe someday we will find something.
What can you tell us about your latest record?
It’s an auto produced EP, self-recorded but mixed and mastered by the talented Thibault Bernard from Convulsound Studio. It’s a 6 tracks EP including an instrumental track and a bonus track. In this EP, we approach different thematic. A lot is about violence. Physical violence which is really present into our world in different form: war, drugs, sexual harassment etc… However we are not here to say too much about our opinion. We just tell some stories then, it’s for the listener to inquire and make is own opinion about the subject. For M.O.A.B, which is the instrumental track (so no lyrics ah ah), it’s the story of a bomb (M.O.A.B) which fall on a bunch of people somewhere. Just this moment: the beginning, the impact and the following. At the end the survivors expect life, but M.O.A.B is a mother and all of her children’s follow her. We are very proud of it. It’s our very first EP and our first step into the music world. Since the beginning of the band, it was important for us to validate the work we did. This EP represent what we were at a moment of our life. We chose the songs we wanted to put into this album to represent the most our philosophy.
What the kind of album feedbacks are you waiting for?
Well… hard question… it’s our first EP and we don’t really know what we can expect from public and professionals. We are not expecting that much in fact, we are just sharing. We will see if people will be concerned by our philosophy and universe.
Are you gonna to make some world tour in the future? Do you think this is available for everybody option to tour around the globe? What do you think band have to do to get such opportunity?
At the moment, we are working on an European tour to promote this EP and the upcoming album. For sure we can just get agency at our level (renowned): events in little bar, stage etc…Opportunities are limited. You have to find yourself your way and create your own future: need time and determination. There is also a money problem. We have already asked bigger agency for touring and the response is clear: “no matter how your music sound you need money, a lot of money. Come back when you’ve got some”.
Do you believe in heavy music scene without money?
For the short experience we have, that sounds impossible. We think that underground bands, instead of their talents, need to stop to the cash machine if they want to get bigger. Or, maybe, to get more visibility. Making music as a cost. So, the first problem is money if you are not ready to put a minimum of X000 to X0 000 euros (as a band) each year for the material, touring, clip, recording etc…it’s hard to do something serious. So, there is a selection between people which have money since the beginning and the rest.
What do you think about online music sharing? Do you ever give your music away for free? Why?
You are touching here an interesting question. In a society it seems logic that art should be free for everybody. Anyone should have the right to listen, see any music live, painting, photo, movie etc…about anything without money (or other) discrimination. Like an open door. However in our world, art has a cost (you have to invest a lot of money and you don’t have a lots of help) and it’s a really tough work. It’s not like taking a guitar and in 2s you make a song. No it’s long, fucking hours of work. It’s grueling physically, mentally and monetarily. So today: we can’t do that a long time without the help of people in front of us in the crowd and without selling some merchandising. In the same time nobody told us: “do music”. It’s a passion. We have to make our proof. It’s the way it works today: the system recreate a “natural selection” inside itself. But it’s not a natural selection it’s a selection made by men which is ”non-objective”.
For the moment, we share our music for free in order to get more visibility, new fans and because we believe in freedom of art. We will see how much time we can handle this way of making music without dying.
Who are your musical influences? Have you ever think your band could be so famous as your favorites?
It’s very difficult to put a genre or a famous artist on Prismeria style and this is what we want. We are the children’s of 50 years of metal. It’s so hard to say. Being as famous as our favorite bands? Well, we do not work to be famous. Thinking this way is the best way to create impersonal songs. We want to make music that comes deep inside of us. Of course, the dream is inside our head, but dreams never born without hard working and strong belief of what you do.
Do you have a formal music education? Do you think it’s a Kind of important thing?
We do not really have a big music education. Nicolas (drums) has a one year experience in a music school, Benjamin (guitar) has a two year experience with a guitar teacher… the others never took classes…We are more autodidact than certified musicians. Is it important? Music history show us that lots of talented musicians were complete autodidacts. We don’t think there is a better way. Of course, having this music education, developing a work method is a big plus but it’s not an absolute way to develop as a musician. Indeed education could be a brake. It puts you on a rail and can take you away from interesting paths. We don’t want to repeat a lesson that we learned in our music. We have to develop our music by ourselves, find our ways. The best instrument you have is your ear and this is something that is more important to train more than your brain. So if you want a good teacher listen all the other bands, incorporate their soul, breathe, feel and do your own way.
How do you balance your music with other obligations – mate, children, job?
Music is something wonderful but its sacrifice. It’s important and difficult to separate your days between all your obligations. Getting time to things outside music is something important to get efficient and inspired in your music. Our first food in order to compose is the world around us. It’s an organization but we are well supported by our relatives.
How do you handle mistakes during a performance? Or you can assure there are no any mistakes during your gigs? Do you get nervous before a performance or a competition?
Work, work, work, only work! We prepare every shows very methodically, focusing on intro, transitions, ending… and songs of course! We record every sets during training sessions to create the best set and the best show possible. We have a rule, we do not put a new song or change something in our routine if it’s not perfect. We “sell” a show more than a simple gig. With experience, we know what to do in case someone is lost during the show but it’s very rare. Also, we prepare our instruments and materials for every shows to prevent technical problems. For example, each guitarist changes their strings before the show, has a second guitar in case of problem with the main one… Before a show, we feel more excited than nervous! The last hour before getting on stage is too long and too short at the same time. We take time during this hour to warm up musically and physically. The goal is to be at 200% at the start of the show.
What’s next?
Thank you! Well, we are working on our first album and we plan to enter studio in July. When we finished recorded our EP, we were already working on our first album, even if our first EP wasn’t released yet. About shows, we have several gigs coming throughout France and we plan a European tour at the autumn to promote the future album. We are very very hungry…