Hailing from South Africa, Garett van der Spek is Prism Tats, a musical endeavor that blends dreamy and energetic sonic qualities into a sound that’s truly unique.
You might remember Prism Tats from the self-titled debut of 2016. Now, he’s back with a highly anticipated sophomore release that combines complexity in sound with complexity in emotion.
Mamba has depth in itself, as the term has a double meaning. “It’s the name of a venomous snake, and in my hometown it’s a slang term for the biggest or meanest of something,” van der Spek explained. In fact, this album is a big one.
Mamba explores many different prominent themes, from isolation to the hopelessness of the working class to the repercussions of technology addiction.
The topics are heavy, but Prism Tats speaks on them powerfully through music.
For Prism Tats, Writing Music is Therapy
“The older I get and the more of life I experience, the more I rely on that as an outlet,” van der Spek said. “Without making music I’d probably go crazy, and it feels good to know that I could never stop doing it.”
This passion is clearly reflected in Mambo, in which Prism Tats expresses different opinions and thoughts through song.
It opens with “Venomous Slang,” a brief introduction that creates a dream-like setting for the remainder of the album. The echo effects draw out the vocals, making it sound like it’s just fading away into the atmosphere Prism Tats has newly created.
It makes the more forward and direct “Vamps” hit harder, a song in which loops and different vocal effects are used to create interesting layers. The song is heavier and rougher in comparison to Mambo‘s introduction, but the stark contrast demonstrates Prism Tats’s versatility.
Prism Tats also recently released a music video for their song “Doomed,” which is the closer to Mamba. It’s a beautifully ethereal song with the perfect video to match. In it, a woman and her dog take a road trip and end up somewhere mysterious and extraterrestrial. In fact, Prism Tats creates a sound in “Doomed” that truly sounds other-worldly.
It’s a gentle and peaceful ending to an album that covers the spectrum of dynamic and musical highs and lows. The louder, energetic songs complement the quieter, introspective ones perfectly.
In Mamba, Prism Tats truly explores and demonstrates a wide range of different sounds and styles, making it a versatile and extremely interesting album to listen to.
