São Paulo-based singer and songwriter Pris releases the single “Discipline”, available on all music platforms from now on, which reflects on the creative potential wasted by distractions and the importance of self-discipline. The release of the single is a prelude to the artist’s first career album, entitled “Multidimensional”, scheduled for release this year. With influences from neo soul, rap-jazz, bossa nova and lo-fi , the album explores the non-linearity of life and human multidimensionality.
You mentioned that the single “Discipline” reflects the importance of self-discipline. How do you see self-discipline influencing your own journey as an artist?
I think the first step for me was understanding the impact that the lack of self-discipline had on my journey as an artist. I have always dreamed big, I have always been creative, and I have always had many interests. And this is very important for the artistic creation part. However, without the discipline necessary to organize these aspects and make them tangible until they materialize, I noticed that I ended up adding more time than necessary to achieve many of my musical goals. Without focus, dreams remain dreams. When I started working on myself to develop discipline, I noticed that things started to happen at a different pace than they did years ago when I moved through life in a disorganized way. My self-esteem improved, because I started to fulfill more of the commitments I made to myself, and this generated a sense of self-respect that I never remember having. My sense of well-being increased a lot, because I also became more disciplined in taking care of myself and ensuring that my needs were met (exercise, good nutrition, meditative/spiritual practices, feeding my mind with valuable information and self-knowledge). All of this has made my career flow better than in the past. And I dare say that I’m just at the beginning of this journey, there’s always room for improvement!
What inspired you to explore the concept of multidimensionality in your new album “Multidimensional”? How is this reflected in the songs and creative process?
In my studies on the development of human consciousness and self-knowledge, I came across the understanding (if I can call it that, since we know so little about what really exists) that our life is not linear. Although our physical world is dual, our consciousness is not. We do not exist only in poles : good vs. bad, hot vs. cold, problem vs. solution. What defines how our life experience will be is the perception and meaning we give to events. The more angles I can see of the same situation, the more choice I have about how I can respond to it. The amount of choice I see is the amount of dimensions that become available at that moment. The multiverse explained in a simplistic way, perhaps. If I experience something and choose to only see it from the perspective that it is a problem, for example, I will be limiting my experience to that, I will only see that angle and this will influence all my decisions. When I understand that I am multidimensional and take control of my narrative, without limiting myself to just one unfavorable spectrum, my entire relationship with life changes. Songs in general talk about this. Not so much from a metaphysical point of view, but applying this understanding to everyday situations that I have experienced and in which I have tried to see/relate through perspectives that went beyond what the eyes could see, which made me learn and (perhaps) evolve as a person.
You talked about the influence of fashion and visuals on the Multidimensional project. How do you think aesthetics and fashion can complement and enrich the musical experience?
I believe that fashion and visual elements are extensions of the musical work. Music is not just the sound that we hear, it is the feelings it evokes, the mental images we produce when we connect with it, the fit we give it to a certain phase of our lives. So, the more elements we can add to bring the musical project to life, the richer and perhaps more inspiring the experience will be for the listener. We are auditory, visual and synesthetic beings, so I think it is very important to explore all of these aspects, especially when it comes to an album that is a work that requires greater depth.
What was the creative and production process like for your first album, especially when combining elements of neo soul, rap-jazz, bossa nova and lo-fi ? Were there any specific challenges in mixing these styles?
It was a truly incredible process. Perhaps one of the top 3 experiences of my life so far. I lived every stage of the creation of this album with such presence that it seemed like it lasted years and at the same time it was as if it had started yesterday. Paradoxical, I know, but so is life, right? If there is one thing I love about musical composition, it is mixing different styles in the same sound. Taking elements of jazz and mixing them with rap, creating a bossa nova but with a modern tone, looking for classic and also current references, it is something that really shines in my eyes. The challenge involved is that you need to remain very conscious in the process, so that it doesn’t turn into a big fruit salad (laughs) and so that these styles mix fluidly and create a unity.
What was the most memorable experience for you during the production of the album “Multidimensional”? Was there a moment or recording session that stood out?
It’s hard to say which one was the most memorable because there were so many! Each song had its A-HA moment and luckily we captured the entire process on video to document almost everything that went into creating this album. I would say that the first and second recording sessions (there were several) stood out in relation to the following ones, because they were the ones in which we took something very raw and started to shape it to achieve the desired result. I arrived at the studio with only the lyrics and melody and harmony (preliminary) on the guitar and we started to really transform that (according to the references) into what I had visualized months before when I decided to record the album. And since it’s a totally different sound from anything I had ever done in my career, I was even more impressed with the result, because it killed the fear I had of not being able to afford that change and get closer to my references in terms of quality. When I heard the first versions of the songs we recorded, I was amazed at the fact that what I had imagined was taking shape. It’s like taking a big, shapeless piece of clay and turning it into a beautiful vase.
You’ve referenced artists like Tom Misch, Mac Miller, and Billie Eilish in your work. How did these influences help shape the sound and aesthetic of your album?
References are very important to provide a starting point and serve as a guide during the design process. I had a very specific idea of the type of music I wanted to make, but since we are talking about mixing elements from different styles, without a base I could end up shooting myself in the foot. I really didn’t want to make a pop sound and that was a specific guideline we followed. I wanted to distance myself from that in order to create something very different from what I used to do and having pre-established musical references was essential to redirect the route when we ended up falling into a familiar path. And I think that in addition to that there is also the inspiration factor. These artists are people I admire a lot and who I really love listening to, so connecting with them inspired me a lot to create my own sound. When admiration becomes inspiration, it moves mountains.
The music video for “Discipline” has been released on YouTube. How did you decide that the visuals and the video should capture the essence of the song and the album?
Discipline is like a synthesis of the album. It brings together many of the key elements that permeated this work in all the songs, and that’s why I chose to make a video that would represent this: scenes from the creation, production and recording process. I think that in this way I tried to crystallize in one of the songs all of these very special moments that changed the way I see myself as an artist, the way I make music and that brought so much evolution.
What impact do you expect the “Multidimensional” album to have on your career and the way your fans perceive your music? Is there anything specific you hope to achieve with this release?
This album represents a fundamental change in my sound as an artist. I used the early years of my career to experiment with different musical styles, to get to know myself better in this sense and, from this self-knowledge, to be able to direct myself towards what I most wanted to do. However, when I decided to make this album, I was no longer looking for experimentation. I knew very well what I wanted to create, I knew where I wanted to go and I wanted to follow a specific path. It was a much more conscious work than anything I had done in the past. I hope that this is felt by the people who decide to follow my work, because we put much stronger intentions into its creation and I believe that I have never made a sound that represents as much who I am/want to be as this album. I hope that it motivates people to reflect and seek this type of self-knowledge in their own lives, while also serving as a bridge that transports them to moments of decompression in their daily lives, relaxation, relief or whatever they are looking for to feel good when listening to music.
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