Projector interview
1. Hi! Can you give a brief history of Projector, including the music style and the members?
I founded the project in 2008 oriented towards the style of Sentenced—one of my biggest influences—since at that time I was playing death metal in another band. After I left that group, I began shaping Projector into its definitive form, fully focused on Gothenburg-style melodic death metal, which is a true passion of mine. As a result of that evolution, we released a demo in 2011, followed by our debut full-length album, Between Nature and Ego, in 2015.
Our current lineup is:
Ivón Sepúlveda: Bass
Esteban Ponce: Drums
Rodrigo Salazar: Vocals
Ignacio Yáñez: Guitars
Rodrigo Bocaz: Guitars
2. Could you provide more detailed information about Before the Last Light?
We recorded the album between 2023 and late 2024, navigating several delays caused by COVID-19, as strict restrictions in Chile remained in place until late 2021. Getting back into the groove wasn't easy amidst our personal schedules, readjusting to post-pandemic life, jobs, studio dates, and so on.
Before the Last Light represents the consolidation of our current lineup and a truly collaborative effort, in contrast to our first album, which fell mostly on my shoulders. In this release, we also added guest collaborations, explored more Doom-oriented elements, and achieved a noticeable evolution in terms of production and songwriting.
3. Projector has signed with NB Extreme Recordings. Could you tell us more about that?
NB Extreme Recordings is currently one of the premier record labels in the Chilean metal scene, with a roster that includes seminal local bands like Criminal, Nuclear, Pentagram, Dorso, and Undercroft. Being part of their family is a massive honor, and we are deeply grateful for their backing and trust—especially considering that Melodic Death Metal isn't as widespread or mainstream in our country. Having that support and push is essential for Projector's growth.
4. What is the difference between your latest record and the band's very first one?
The main difference lies in the songwriting process. On our debut album, I wrote everything myself at a stage when I had very little experience. It was my first time recording professionally, and I didn't have as much guitar technique yet, so it ended up being an album driven far more by passion and heart than by technical skill.
Today, the landscape is totally different: there's much more experience, improved musicianship, and a more mature production job. In that sense, working with Erick Martínez as our producer represented a huge step up in quality and a key pillar for the final outcome.
5. What inspires Projector's music and lyric writing? What do Projector's lyrics talk about?
Our main inspiration comes from everyday life. The global situation, injustice, the destruction of nature, and the gradual loss of humanity are issues that strike us deeply, and music gives us the perfect cathartic outlet to express that.
We live in an increasingly hostile environment, so turning that frustration into songs is the healthiest way we've found to express ourselves.
For instance, the track "200 Eyes" directly addresses the social uprising that took place in Chile in 2019, shedding light on the abuses committed during that period and reflecting on the root causes that triggered the crisis.
6. Do you play live often? Do you enjoy performing abroad?
We try to keep an active schedule playing fairly often—at least once a month—and it's something we enjoy immensely. Feeling the crowd's energy live is what makes all this work worthwhile, and for that exact reason, we would love to bring that live experience to international stages very soon.
7. How often does the band practice and work on new material?
We maintain a weekly rehearsal routine, not only to stay tight musically, but also because it serves as a genuinely therapeutic process for us to blow off stress. When it comes to writing new material, the workflow usually starts with me preparing initial demos and sharing them with the rest of the guys; from there, we work on them and polish them together in the rehearsal room.
8. How did the band come up with the name Projector? What does it mean to you?
The name comes from two reasons. The first and most obvious one is a homage to the album Projector by Dark Tranquillity—my favorite band—which left a huge mark on me. In the late 90s and early 2000s, I was mostly into 'pure' heavy genres, so hearing that blend of styles completely blew my mind; back then, being very young, I was blown away by how they managed to combine all those elements.
The second reason is conceptual: for me, the band acts literally as my own 'projector' of ideas and worldview, expressing how I live, feel, and interpret Melodic Death Metal a la chilena (Chilean style).
9. What are the band's plans for the near future?
Our immediate main goal is to push and promote Before the Last Light as hard as possible. Parallel to that, we are planning a European tour to bring our music to international audiences, and we've already started writing the next material, with early demos and ideas currently in development.
10. Do you have a message for Iron Backstage readers?
First of all, thank you so much for this interview and the coverage; these were great questions. To everyone reading this and following the webzine, I truly hope you enjoy this new album and that it becomes a frequent listen in your daily routine. Hopefully, you'll keep an eye out for the metal we are creating from this side of the world! Thank you very much!
https://linktr.ee/projectorchile
