Mit ihrem neuen Album „SHAPESHIFTER“ schlagen Memphis May Fire ein aufregendes neues Kapitel auf. Die Band spricht mit uns dem Frontstage Magazine über die tiefgehenden Themen hinter dem Album, den Einfluss persönlicher Veränderungen und die musikalische Evolution, die sie gewagt haben. In diesem Interview geben sie Einblicke in ihre kreative Reise, die Herausforderungen und Inspirationen, die „SHAPESHIFTER“ geprägt haben, und erklären, warum dieses Album sowohl ein Schritt nach vorne als auch eine Rückkehr zu ihren Wurzeln ist.
Frontstage Magazine: The album title SHAPESHIFTER suggests transformation and a search for identity. What does this title mean to you personally and as a band?
Memphis May Fire: On a personal level, I’ve gone through a lot of internal shifts over the past few years, mentally, emotionally, and even spiritually. There’s been this constant battle between who I’ve been, who I’m becoming, and the pressure to be who people expect me to be. The title SHAPESHIFTER reflects that struggle and the realization that identity isn’t always fixed, it’s something we’re all figuring out as we go. As a band, we’ve evolved so much. We’ve never wanted to stay stagnant or make the same record twice. This album represents us embracing change instead of fearing it. It’s us pushing boundaries sonically and thematically, and saying, “We’re not afraid to grow.” Whether it’s heavier moments, melodic elements, or lyrical honesty, every track on SHAPESHIFTER reflects a different facet of who we are. It’s not just a title, it’s a statement. It’s about survival, reinvention, and owning every version of yourself along the way.
Frontstage Magazine: How does SHAPESHIFTER differ musically and thematically from your previous albums?
Memphis May Fire: SHAPESHIFTER is definitely a pivotal moment for us, both musically and thematically. Compared to our previous albums, this one feels like the most honest and raw we’ve ever been. In the past, we’ve written a lot from a place of pain and struggle, which is still very present on this record, but there’s also a new layer of introspection and self-awareness that sets it apart. Musically, we really pushed ourselves to step outside of our comfort zone. We didn’t want to play it safe or fall back on formulas we’ve used before. There are songs on this album that hit harder than anything we’ve done, and others that lean more into atmosphere, melody, and vulnerability. We explored more dynamics, added textures, and weren’t afraid to let things breathe when the song called for it. It’s still Memphis May Fire, but evolved. Thematically, SHAPESHIFTER is all about change, identity, and learning to embrace the unknown. It’s about peeling back the layers and asking, Who am I, really? There’s a lot of wrestling with personal growth, mental health, and letting go of the versions of ourselves that no longer serve us. It’s deeply personal, but we also know those themes are universal. We’re all constantly evolving, and this record is our way of putting that journey into sound. It’s not just a new chapter, it’s a new version of us.
Frontstage Magazine: Were there any specific inspirations or experiences that influenced the creative process behind this album?
Memphis May Fire: Absolutely. SHAPESHIFTER was born out of a really intense and transformative period in all of our lives. For me personally, there were a lot of moments of deep reflection, anxiety, and change that forced me to look at myself in ways I hadn’t before. The past few years have been a rollercoaster emotionally, and that naturally spilled over into the writing process. One of the biggest inspirations for this record was the idea of identity crisis, feeling like you’re constantly having to adapt, wear different masks, or become someone new just to survive. Whether that’s in relationships, career, mental health, or even just how you see yourself, there’s a tension there that I think so many people can relate to. I definitely felt that personally, and it shaped a lot of the lyrics. We were also really inspired by the conversations we’ve had with fans over the years. So many people have shared their stories with us, struggles with depression, addiction, self-worth, and those voices were in the back of our minds while we were creating this. We wanted to make something that felt real, something that gave people a sense of being seen and understood. Musically, we were inspired by a desire to evolve without losing the core of who we are. We listened to a lot of different genres, experimented with new sounds and structures, and just gave ourselves permission to create without fear. That freedom was a huge part of what made this album so special. In a lot of ways, SHAPESHIFTER is a response to the chaos, confusion, and growth we’ve all been through. It’s the soundtrack to transformation, painful, powerful, and necessary.
Frontstage Magazine: You’ve mentioned that SHAPESHIFTER contains some of your heaviest music yet, but also introduces new elements like R&B. How did you manage to blend these different influences?
Memphis May Fire: Yeah, that was one of the most exciting, and honestly, most challenging, parts of making SHAPESHIFTER. We’ve always been a heavy band at our core, but we’ve never wanted to be limited by genre. With this album, we felt this creative freedom to explore new territory while still staying true to the intensity that defines Memphis May Fire. I’ve always loved melodic music, stuff that grooves, stuff that moves you emotionally in a different way than a breakdown does. So why not incorporate it? It was all about balance. We didn’t want to throw in something new just for the sake of being different, we wanted it to serve the song. Every time we incorporated something new, it was because the emotional context called for it. We leaned into contrast: light vs. dark, clarity vs. distortion. That tension became the heartbeat of the record. It’s a heavier album, but it’s also more dynamic than anything we’ve done before.
Frontstage Magazine: What kind of impact do you want listeners to take away when they experience the album from start to finish?
Memphis May Fire: More than anything, I want listeners to walk away from SHAPESHIFTER feeling seen, understood, and a little less alone in whatever they’re going through. This album was born out of real pain, real questions, and real growth, and my hope is that people hear their own stories in these songs. I think a lot of us are struggling with identity, purpose, and the pressure to be something we’re not just to fit in or survive. If this record can help someone realize that it’s okay to evolve, to break down, to rebuild, that it’s okay to not have it all figured out, then it’s done its job. I want this to be the kind of album that walks with you through those hard moments, the kind that feels like a friend when you need one most. Musically, I hope people feel empowered by the heaviness and moved by the vulnerability. There’s an emotional spectrum in this record, and it’s intentional. Some songs are there to help you release anger or frustration, others are there to comfort you in quiet moments. It’s all part of the same journey. At the end of the day, SHAPESHIFTER is about embracing who you are, flaws, questions, chaos and all, and realizing that you’re not broken for changing. You’re growing, and that growth, even when it’s painful, is powerful. If people feel that when they hit the last track, we’ve done something meaningful.
Frontstage Magazine: After so many years in the music scene, does SHAPESHIFTER feel more like an evolution or a return to your roots?
Memphis May Fire: Honestly, it feels like both. SHAPESHIFTER is definitely an evolution in the sense that we’ve grown as musicians, as people, and as storytellers. We took creative risks, explored new sonic textures, and allowed ourselves to step outside the boxes we may have operated in before. There’s more depth, more nuance, and more freedom in this record than anything we’ve done in the past. It reflects where we are now, and that meant letting go of old patterns while embracing new influences and ideas that felt fresh and honest. But at the same time, it also feels like a return to our roots, because at the heart of it, we’ve always been about connecting with people through vulnerability, intensity, and truth. That emotional core, that raw honesty we built this band on, is stronger than ever in SHAPESHIFTER. In a weird way, by evolving, we ended up reconnecting with the most authentic version of who we are. So it’s not either/or, It’s us pushing forward and digging deeper. We’re not trying to recreate the past, but we’re not running from it either. We’re embracing all the layers of our journey and letting that shape the next chapter.
Fotocredit: Rise Records
