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From left to right:
Leon Oranian, Adama Cefalu, Freddie Brown, Niklas Gantenberg (Credit: Fabian Catoni, 2023)

ABOUT PRISMALA (Bio-Text)

(August 2024)

Prismala is the embodiment of long-standing friendships and deep connection – to each other and to music. Formed by Freddie Brown, Adama Cefalu, and Niklas Gantenberg, the band began as a high school dream in 2017, completing their line-up in 2022 with the addition of bassist Leon Oranian. They evolved since their early days into a force of creative energy, painting with a palette of neo-soul, guitar pop, and alternative rock to craft a sound that’s as colourful as their journey, evoking the carefree spirit of Ocean Alley to the soulful depth of Leon Bridges.

While much of their early discography was created during the band members’ separation due to studies, the band reunited in their hometown of Berlin in 2022 to honour their teenage promise of giving music a proper shot.

This new-found proximity resulted in a surge of creativity and the release of their 2023 album, It Gets Weirder. With the album, the band holds up a mirror to the modern world and its ever-growing complexities. The accompanying release show in front of over 500 people at Berlins’ Renaissance Theatre was not only the band’s biggest performance to date but also a small moment in history, being the first rock concert at this iconic venue.

The momentum of Prismala continues in 2024, with the singles The King, Meditations and Stella each achieving a breakthrough in their own right. From premiering on renowned German radio station radioeins (The King) or earning spots on major Spotify playlists (Meditations & Stella), the releases stand as a testament to Prismala’s ability to write catchy and engaging songs.

But Prismala is more than just their music; they’re about community and connection. The band’s 3-concert series Prismala & Friends aims to celebrate this, showcasing unique live collaborations with other artists that are as much about shared moments as they are about sound. The first two acclaimed iterations saw Belgian ‘Iskander Moon’ and German ‘Jiska’ join the band on stage at Berlin’s Badehaus, while the final concert is planned for this autumn.

As they close out the year with more releases and exciting shows, including an appearance at the renowned Reeperbahn Festival in September, Prismala is proving that their musical journey is only just getting started. Each performance, each new release, is another stroke of colour on their ever-expanding musical canvas.

A cinematic journey through our history leading up to the recording of our album ‘It Gets Weirder’ in December of 2022 at Studio Wong in Kreuzberg, Berlin.

Credits (2023):
Director, Editor: Kaho Watanabe
Camera, Cinematographer: Omar Abogabal
English with subtitles

A short film documenting the lead up to our first show of the Prismala & Friends concert-series in March of 2024. An intimate look behind the scenes, with individual interviews, plenty of “Denglish” spoken, music and lots of laughter.

Credits (2024):
Director, Editor: Maximilian Engelhardt (AirFlair)
German with English subtitles

MEMBERS

Photo Credits: Fabian Catoni, 2023

Freddie Brown –
Lead Guitar, Piano

Prismala_Freddie Brown_Single_FabiCatoni

Born in Oxford, England and raised in Berlin, it was mostly The Beatles and Queen that first brought Freddie Brown to music and guitar playing. Further fuelled by the works of The Kooks, John Mayer and Stevie Ray Vaughn, Freddie finds his own sound – a warm, fluffy carpet of sound that drives the songs.

Adama Cefalu –
Lead Vocals, Rhythm Guitar

The gentle voice of singer Adama Cefalu dances on the melodic waves of the guitar and the groove of the bass. Born in Berlin to American-Gambian parents, Adama grew up with Freddie and Niklas while listening to the music of Outkast, Stevie Wonder and Michael Jackson and began writing lyrics for himself at around 16. In addition to Prismala, his creative output also spans the rap collective Stockdale and his solo project Nomé. In addition to his voice, Adama uses the guitar, piano and bass to express his ideas and emotions.

Niklas Gantenberg –
Drums, Percussion

Prismala_Niklas Gantenberg_Single_FabiCatoni

It is the rhythm of drummer Niklas Gantenberg that carries the framework of guitar and vocals while grooving with the bass. Born in Munich and growing up in Amman and Berlin, Niklas began building his own drums out of pot lids, cushions and cans as a child and learned the instrument autodidactically. Inspired by the Red Hot Chili Peppers and Coldplay, he played in the Berlin indie band Kushtii for years together with Freddie, from which Prismala was eventually born.

Leon Oranian –
Bass, Piano, Guitar

Since 2022 the captivating basslines of Leon Oranian give Prismala their soulful and danceable style. Growing up in Berlin, his musical influences as the child of a German mother and an Afro-Brazilian father are very varied and translate to guitar and piano as well as bass. Besides being a musician, Leon is also an author and 2022 prize winner of the ‘Treffen junger Autoren’, a nationwide competition for young authors.