speed of dark

I finally broke down and joined my space. Yeah, I know, I've been a myspace snob since forever. I had envisioned all myspace users as tween airheads with nothing interesting to say. But it turned out to be a wonderland of new bands who I never would have heard of if it hadn't been for myspace. Plastic Shapes is one of those up and coming bands who I'm sure you'll be listening to in the very near future.

Matt Czygan is Plastic Shapes, a one-man band from Rochester, Michigan, who contacted me through myspace and who I contacted, in return, to be interviewed for this blog. Read the interview below to find out about the metamorphosis of Plastic Shapes, what's in the future for the band, and even his bad dreams.


indie mom: I've been looking through your myspace page and plastic shapes.net, but there isn't a whole lot of information about you or the band. All I've been able to ascertain is that you're from Rochester, Michigan, and that your wife is a nurse. Tell me a little bit more about yourself and the band.

Matt Czygan: Well, the word 'band' (which I have been using myself up until recently) is a bit of a misnomer. I am--for the most part--a solo artist. I did have a former bandmate, Joe Ciavattone perform some fantastic piano work on two of my songs. An earlier incarnation of this project existed from about 2004 up until last March, which included other musicians. But, due to excessive drug use by some of the guys, as well as other problems, things were just not getting done. Thus, about seven months ago I decided to go at it alone and the music you hear now is the end result of my parting ways with them.

im: What inspired you to start The Plastic Shapes? How long have you been a band? Who is your biggest inspiration?

MC: Back in 2002, I was still reeling from my expulsion from the band that I was in (Average Zero) when I got a call from a buddy of mine, K, who was a producer. He wanted me to fly out to Washington D.C. from Detroit to form a musical collaboration of sorts. We both wanted to do something different--like nothing that was out at the time. The guys in my last band had no vision that adhered to any semblance of originality--that was the reason that they had dumped me in the first place. So naturally, I wanted to do something that was eons past what they were doing!

K and I were both heavily into the Beatles, Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, The Doors and the like, which we agreed had one thing in common: they were all innovative. So I ended up visiting him in D.C. a couple of times and we ended up laying down some tracks and ultimately some of the groundwork for Plastic Shapes.

K eventually left his career to move back to Detroit and in with me to start a full band. And that's when things started falling apart. We partied excessively, while little was done in the way of recording. We formed a band, yet problems with drummers kept us in a state of limbo. I got engaged and cleaned up my act, while K was entering a downward spiral of drugs and booze. His unwillingness to accept that he had lost his drinking buddy more than anything, had killed our collaborations, as well as our friendship.

im: Were you always musically inclined? Which instruments do you play?

MC: Thanks for the compliment! I never though of myself as musically inclined. I always felt I was a pretty average learner and I really had to work at music get to where I'm at. I play guitar, bass and sing--as well as arrange all of the drums and synths. I'm a one-man band!

im: What music did you listen to as you were growing up?

MC: Metal all the way. Iron Maiden, Megadeth, old Metallica, Van Halen, Led Zeppelin. I still listen to that stuff. Van Halen is why I play guitar in the first place and Megadeth is probably the reason why my music is so political!

im: What is the significance of the name "Plastic Shapes"?

MC: Well, it has much to do with how I perceive many people in society. Self-absorbed and foney--they're "plastic". Also, it comes from nightmares that I had as a child involving geometric shapes trying to eat me!

im: What was the first album/cassette/CD that you bought?

MC: Van Halen 5150 and For Unlawful Carnal Knowledge at the same time when I was 12 years old.

im: What music have you been listening to lately? What's the best album to come out this year so far?

MC: I'm so out of the loop when it comes to newer music, but there are a few new bands I really dig. Ladytron, The Shins and Franz Ferdinand are bands I've been listening to lately. I really like Iron Maiden's new album "A Matter Of Life And Death".

im: What's next for The Plastic Shapes?

MC: Right now I'm working on finishing up this first full-length album that I am producing. There will be 10 songs, eight of which are completed or are near completion. The songs featured here have yet to be mastered. I'm planning for an early 2007 release. Once the album is wrapped-up, I intend to find some new musicians to perform this music live with.

im: Where can I (and others) buy your music?

MC: Well, for now, the album has yet to be finished, but it will certainly be available at my official website: plasticshapes.net and will probably be available at CDbaby.com for now. It may be featured elsewhere, but those arrangements have yet to be made.

Thanks, Matt, for letting me interview you. Check out Plastic Shapes myspace page for more songs and info!

plastic shapes: changing seasons
plastic shapes: peeking through the clouds