Toronto-based jam band Shapes are embracing the unpredictable. Built around the chemistry of four friends with distinct musical backgrounds spanning jazz, grunge, hip hop and beyond, the band has spent the past five years developing a sound that thrives on experimentation, improvisation and the energy of a live audience. For Shapes, music is never meant to stay in one place; songs can stretch, shift and transform depending on where the moment takes them.
That philosophy is at the heart of their debut album, Planet Android, a conceptual journey into a fictional dystopian world where technology has overtaken nature and humanity has lost sight of the consequences. Inspired in part by a cross-country trip through Canada during the pandemic, the album examines environmental destruction, technological dependence and the dangers of unchecked power, translating those themes into a genre-blurring mix of psychedelic rock, funk, jazz, blues and experimental sounds.
Released in April 2026, Planet Android has continued to introduce audiences to the band’s expansive musical world, while live performances have become an entirely different experience of the material. As Shapes explains, the studio recordings are only βthe tip of the iceberg,β with songs often taking unexpected directions when performed onstage. Their latest Village Sessions releases further capture that instinctive chemistry, while upcoming US festival appearances at Hookahville and Good People Good Times give the band another opportunity to bring their improvisational energy directly to audiences.
In this conversation, Shapes opens up about the origins of Planet Android, the real-world ideas behind its dystopian story, translating technology and nature into sound, the influence of artists such as Frank Zappa, Phish and Funkadelic, and why the live stage remains where the band truly comes alive. They also reveal their dream collaboration, the song that continually surprises them onstage, and what they have planned once the current tour comes to an end.
For readers discovering you for the first time, who is Shapes?
Shapes: Shapes is really just four friends who love playing music together. We try to embrace the idea that everything is in a constant state of change and hopefully reflect that idea by letting the music go where it wants to. The four of us have pretty distinct musical backgrounds ranging from Jazz to Grunge and Hip Hop, which allow us to go on some really exciting and unpredictable journeys in terms of improv and songwriting. We have been a band for about 5 years now, so we have really learnt how to bounce ideas off of each other and create something unique and exciting for both us and the audience to experience together. Like any true jam band, we live for playing live and trying to make that connection between the band and the crowd.
How would you describe the world of Planet Android and the story you wanted listeners to enter when they press play?
Shapes: Planet Android is a fictional dystopia that reflects many of the problems we are already facing in reality. It depicts a planet that has completely given up on nature and allowed technology to flourish without any consideration of the consequences. It also explores the dangers of letting those with selfish intentions abuse their power for personal gain rather than the good of humanity. If we simply allow ourselves to be distracted and continue to ignore the real issues, it is only a matter of time before this dystopian future becomes a reality.
The album explores humanityβs growing dependence on technology and our disconnection from nature. What first sparked the idea for Planet Android, and when did you realize this concept could become an entire album?
Shapes: The idea of Planet Android was sparked by a cross-country trip I did with my wife during the pandemic. We drove across all of Canada and got to see some of the most beautiful parts of the country from a really unique perspective. We would sometimes have an entire national park to explore pretty much to ourselves, and it really gave us a sense of how long this planet has been here, and how greatly humanity has impacted it in such a short time.
The album moves between psychedelic rock, funk, jazz, blues, and more experimental territory. Did the concept of the album influence the musical direction, or did the music itself help shape the story?
Shapes: I would say that it went both ways. We are all heavily influenced by artists that make all kinds of music, and so you definitely have those similar kinds of ideas floating around before the concept even exists. As the concept grows and the story begins to take shape, other ideas within the narrative begin to reflect how you write the music. Itβs very much like writing the music for a play where certain characters or moments in the story will influence the direction of the music.
Songs such as βNature Girlβ and the title track βPlanet Androidβ seem to represent very different sides of the albumβs world. How did you use different sounds and textures to represent nature, technology, and the tension between the two?
Shapes: The music for both of these songs are really intended to reflect the distinction between nature and technology. For example, in βNature Girl,β we used clean tones with more reverb on the guitar to reflect a more natural and floaty sound. In contrast, βPlanet Androidβ features much harsher tones with layers of effects to reflect modern technology. Another song that really explores the tension between nature and technology is βThe Last Oasisβ which attempts to convey how important it is to preserve nature in a world where it is valued less and less each day.
You draw inspiration from artists including Frank Zappa, Phish, Funkadelic, and King Gizzard & the Lizard Wizard. What have those artists taught you about experimentation, live performance, and refusing to stay inside one genre?
Shapes: One thing all of these artists have taught us is not to ever be afraid to take risks. The bands we love make some of the weirdest music out there, and it is because they are willing to take such risks that we love them and learn what is truly possible if you expand your imagination.
Do you think the live versions of these songs reveal something about Planet Android that listeners might not hear on the studio album?
Shapes: Absolutely! The songs on the album are really just the tip of the iceberg. We stretch the songs into totally different territory when we play them live, and most of the time we donβt know where it is going to go. This puts us on a level playing field with the audience, and we love it that way.
You’re heading into more US dates and festival appearances, including Hookahville and Good People Good Times. What can people expect from a Shapes live show?
Shapes: Live shows are what we live for, and we couldnβt be more excited to play these two awesome festivals alongside some of our favorite artists. People can expect a ton of energy and some serious face melting!
Any dream Collab?
Shapes: We are huge fans of MMW, and it would be a dream to work with any of those guys.
Favourite song on the album to perform live?
Shapes: βThe Showdownβ is always one of my favorites for sure.
The song that always surprises you when you play it live?
Shapes: Probably βRebel Merchantβ because even the composed section sounds different every time.
Favourite venue you’ve performed at?
Shapes: Buffalo Iron Works is definitely one of our favorite spots to play and nice and close to home:)
One piece of technology you wish didn’t exist?
Shapes: Smartphones!
If Planet Android were a movie, who would you want to direct it?
Shapes: Nolan!
Finally, what comes next for Shapes?
Shapes: We still have some big plans to announce for later this fall. Once we wrap up this fall tour, we will be heading back into the studio to start working on our next album.
Message to Fans and readers?
Shapes: I know everyone says the same thing, but the biggest way you can support smaller independent bands is by pre-buying tickets to shows! It is tough out there these days for bands and venues, and by pre-buying tickets to shows, it ensures that these smaller venues stay in business and can keep providing places for new music to grow.
For Shapes, Planet Android is more than a collection of songs; it is an invitation to question where technology, nature, and humanity are heading while getting lost in the unpredictable energy of the music itself.
