With a sound incomparable to any other artist on the circuit, Prismia’s new single ‘Don’t Look’ is an experience to behold. After watching her live performance video of ‘Don’t Look’ for the Jet City Sessions, it is clear that Prismia is possibly the most exciting project to come out of Seattle in recent years. With bold guitar riffs layered in fuzz and drums that drive the song forward with unprecedented power, Prismia has established herself as a force to be reckoned with.
Anna Mariko Seymour helms the beast that is Prismia, serving as songwriter, producer, drummer and lead vocalist. By working through each of these roles, Seymour can manipulate the direction of her music far more effectively than artists who are not self-produced as the overall vision of the song is not lost in the creative filter of other musical voices. This is not to say that self-produced artists hold a monopoly on well-crafted music but instead shows a different side to the industry in which a singular voice shines through. Seymour pays strong attention to the dynamic movement of the track, incorporating low-pass filters that help to build tension up until the explosive chorus, chanting ‘Don’t Look’ on the off-beat to create a counter rhythm against the backdrop of the drums.
It is not just the production style of Prismia that factors into why this track works so well, but Seymour’s expressive songwriting, working alongside a structure that is more akin to a prog-rock band than anything you might hear on the charts. ‘Don’t Look’ expertly moves from the classic verse-prechorus-chorus into a surprising 6/8 instrumental that serves as the song’s outro, further emphasising Prismia’s unique approach to rock.