EMQ’s with VÁLVERA
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with São Paulo, Brazil based Thrash/Heavy Metal band Válvera. Huge thanks to all of them for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play, and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Rodrigo: My name is Rodrigo Torres, I’m the lead guitarist for Válvera, and this year we complete 10 years of history. The band has played more than 200 shows, including a European tour, and we’re currently working on our third album, “Cycle Of Disaster”, which was released on August 28th, 2020.
How did you come up with your band name?
Rodrigo: The name of the band comes from a combination of two Portuguese words: “Válvula”, which is the valve from our amps, and “paulera”, which is slang for “heavy music” here in Brazil. Bring two drunk headbangers in the same room, and there you have it: a great name for a metal band.
What Country/Region are you from and what is the Metal/Rock scene like there?
Gabriel (Bass): We come from São Paulo, Brazil, and the scene here is one of the strongest in the country. We have bands like Torture Squad, Nervosa, Korzus and Angra that were formed here, and they are at the forefront of the Brazilian Metal scene.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Rodrigo: Our third record, “Cycle Of Disaster”, released August 28th, 2020.
‘Born On A Dead Planet’ (Official Lyric Video)
Who have been your greatest influences?
Gabriel: Felipe Andreoli, Steve Harris, Cliff Burton and Billy Sheehan are my main influences.
What first got you into music?
Gabriel: When I was a kid, I wanted to play the electric guitar, and I’ve always listened to a lot of Brazilian music, thanks to my parents. Only as a teenager, I picked the bass, and that quickly became my main instrument.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Leandro (Drums): Great question! I would certainly collaborate with bands such as Mastodon, Trivium, Gojira and other really great bands that are relevant in our time. But my biggest dream would be to play with anyone from Metallica. I would surely cry if that happened!
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Leandro: It would be at Rock In Rio. Since 2011, I’ve been to all of the editions, and all of those were life changing for me as a musician and a fan. I have an emotional attachment to this festival, so playing there, would be a dream coming true.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Rodrigo: Our lead singer, Glauber, got a lot of awesome presents, from a kiss from a 70-year-old woman after a mind-blowing show to nine thousand people, to awesome European beers from our biggest fans.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Gabriel: Everyone, hold on! Once this pandemic is over, we can rock on, as I am anxious to meet you all on the road!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Rodrigo: I would bring back Jimi Hendrix because, I believe that, if he hadn’t died, he’d change pop culture and the way that people listen to Rock n’ Roll in general.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Rodrigo: I love the fun of it. I’m thankful every day for being able to be an artist, a musician, because of the places I’ve been and will be, and the amazing people you meet on the journey of becoming successful. I love the beer, too! But what makes me pissed off is the fact that some people think that being a musician is only fun and games. We work really hard for years to do what we do, just as much as, and maybe even more than, other professions. And without art, the world would be a horrible place to live in.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Rodrigo: I would end the streaming market, which is ridiculous. Wanna listen to music? Buy the fucking album. The experience is a thousand times better, and you actually give support to the artist that spends thousands of dollars to deliver his art.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Gabriel: “Temple of Shadows” by Angra is one of my favourites, the musicianship and orchestrations are out of this world, and also features amazing guest participations, like Milton Nascimento, in my opinion one of the best Brazilian singers ever.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Glauber (Vocals/Guitar): Download is the most practical way nowadays, but all of those are just means to an end. The way it’s distributed is not what matters, but its content is what does. If the listener has access to music, and the artist is receiving his rights, then the mission is completed.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Glauber: On September 17th, 2017, we played at Rock Na Praça Festival, in São Paulo. An open venue, outside Galeria do Rock*, in front of ten thousand people.
*Galeria do Rock is a famous gallery full of stores that sell Heavy Metal CDs, DVDs, Vinyl, clothes and many things related to Heavy Metal and Rock music. It is also a place to meet metal heads from all over Brazil.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Glauber: I would love to have my own brand of beer, or maybe a house of shows. But at this moment in Brazil, I would surely just be another unemployed.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Glauber: Tori Black, Megan Fox, Jessica Alba, Mila Kunis & Morena Baccarin. It would be a tasty dinner.
What’s next for the band?
Leandro: First of all, we’re planning a show for the release of “Cycle Of Disaster”. It’s going to be our best gig to date and the band is really looking forward to playing this new music live. We’re also gonna record videos for the songs, and we’re planning South and North American tours, as well as a European Tour as soon as this pandemic is over. Great things are coming to our fans!
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Leandro: We use all the platforms available. We think that everybody, without exceptions, should be able to access our music, so we make it available literally everywhere. Deezer, Spotify, YouTube, you name it. For publicity purposes, we use all social medias available, as well. The band has its own website, but we are easier to reach on Instagram and Facebook, so those are the best places to go and know us better.
www.valvera.com.br/
www.facebook.com/bandavalvera/
www.instagram.com/valveraband/
www.twitter.com/valvera_oficial
www.open.spotify.com/artist/3S87lwfQs6K1O1WsQrpPhz
bandavalvera@gmail.com
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
Glauber: Neither. In São Paulo we call it a “bolacha”.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Glauber: Thank you very much for this interview…and listen to Válvera!!!
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