With more than 20 year career in the music, Uganga, a band from the traditional circuit of Minas Gerais, wich give us seminal bands like Sepultura, Sarcófago, Chakal and others, have a certainty: it has been worth it! since there are, more than two decades after the onset of the band making music and main still enjoying all that involves the process. Proof of this is the album "Opressor", released in 2014 and hailed as the best work of the group. (Versão em Português)
To speak a little of this mark of two decades in Metal, the tours here in Brazil and in Europe, the album "Opressor", and other issues, we have talked with Manu "Joker" Henriques and Marco Henriques, and the result you'll see below
RtM: More than 20
years of career, looking back to all this years, do you believe that the band has
achieved most of its objectives, in the expectation of when you began your
work? What the band aims for the future?
Manu
"Joker" Henriques: Speaking for myself, I believe that we are here
more than 20 years after the beginning of the band, making music and enjoying
it, it is proof that it has been worth it. See several people citing Uganga as
something relevant on the national scene makes us very happy, but not in the
seats. If we have reached all our goals? Certainly not, but we are motivated to
follow this journey because it has proven very valid. Released four studio
albums, a recorded live in Germany, we passed several regions of Brazil as we
drove many kilometers on European soil in the two tours we do there. We made
many friends, played alongside idols to what motivated us to have a band and we
have received a strong response from both, the public and critics. This all does
not have price! While this energy to take us forward, we will continue giving
our best and doing what we like most, that is playing heavy rock.
Marco Henriques:
As Manu said, are over 20 years of playing. That alone is a super
source of pride and accomplishment, but we are always wanting more, seeking to
evolve and grow with the band. Surely already achieved several goals that we
had with the Uganga, but this process is always renewing itself, we are always
looking to evolve within our music and it is very important to the gear keep
moving.
RtM: The Uganga is
a band that sought and seeks to disseminate in various ways their work,
including having two tours in Europe. I would like you tell us a little about
these two passages through old world, the fruits harvested and results, and also a
comparison with the conditions found there, with the reality of bands here in
Brazil.
Manu: We were
the first time in 2010 and ran 13,000 kilometers. It was a tour of hard work
and learning, but with a totally satisfactory result, we recorded our live
album in Germany, launched the album "Vol.03 ..." in Europe by Metal
Soldiers of Portugal and created a fan base that has been strengthening since then.
In 2013 we returned to promote the live album, this time a joint tour with our
brothers of Terrordome (Poland) and the results were even better, although we
rotated least 6000 km. With this second tour close partnership with the Defense
Records from Poland, who will launch the album "Opressor" there this year,
and I believe that in 2017 we do our third working there to disclose not only
this release as the next, that there is already finalized.
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| "We are always looking to evolve within our music and it is very important to the gear keep moving." |
RtM: You also
released a live album, "Eurocaos Live" (Sapólio Radio Label), tell us how
the opportunity arose and how it was planning for this album. And have
recordings of many shows was something planned at the beginning, instead of
capturing and concentrating production in one of the shows?
Marco: In
fact, taking the medley with Sarcófago and Sepultura's songs (which was recorded in
Portugal) and the bonus tracks, the show was all recorded on the same day,
Germany, Razorblade Festival. The opportunity came through our manager, Eliton
Tomasi, who already knew the staff of the organization of the event and managed
to combine with a local technician to capture. This show happened on our first
tour in Europe in 2010. Of the 18 shows we did, surely this was the coolest and
the uptake was great, the band was blood in his eyes and made a fucking show.
So everything conspired in favor of launch this material. The result showed as
well as the band was live at the time. It ended up being a release that brought
an even greater return we expected, and well set the stage for us to come with
the new album, "Opressor".
RtM: One of the goal with the tours in Europe were the shows with Terrordome (Poland), talk to
us a little more about this partnership, including the shows that the Poles did with you
in Brazil recently. It comes more fruits of this partnership ahead?
Marco: During
the planning of our second European tour rolled this contact with the
Terrordome, there was a nice interaction and we decided to do the tour together.
And luckily they all did very well. The guys became great friends, people who
keep in touch weekly until today, and the fact that they have taken all the
backline made all the difference. Get all shows knowing exactly how would the drum kit was a dream (laughs). The tour in general was fuckin great, no problem,
everything went very well and since then we had this plan they came to Brazil.
And earlier this year the guys came. It was awesome to be able to reciprocate
the hospitality that we had there. The guys had fun too here, made several legal
shows, were at the waterfall, fell in love with the Brazilian girls, were knocked off
(laughs). That is, they returned home full of stories. And certainly comes more
things around the partnership.
RtM: You also had the opportunity to play with Exodus in Brazil, I know you are also fans. Tell us about these shows and this opportunity.
Manu: It was
actually a single show in Curitiba at the Music Hall, and was very cool! As you
said, Exodus is a reference for everyone in the band, and have a chance to
play in the same event that they was something unique in our history, a
milestone to be celebrated. We had all the conditions to make a cool show,
played for 40 minutes and public reception was excellent, more than we expected
I must admit, it was our first time in the city and in the South as a whole.
Many people in
Brazil do not value the opening bands, and are at the door making time, waiting for the
main attraction, but the audience of Curitiba showed that is out of this
ridiculous blasé attitude. Before we step on stage the house was already
crowded with guys totally wasted! People singing the songs, wering
band's shirts and looking after to exchange an idea and buy material, it
certainly makes us want to return to the capital of Paraná as soon as possible! What
about the Exodus, the guys and all staff were very nice to us, Zetro even
watched part of our show beside the stage! We had the opportunity to talk with them
after the show, and they prove that they are above all humble and people standing on
the ground, much more than many assholes that not left the garage yet and think themselves are stars (laughs).
RtM: The latest album, "Opressor" (2014), received mentions and very good compliments in various specialized vehicles, appearing in several lists of the "best album of the year". Analyzing the album past now a time after the release and results so far, do you believe would be the best and perhaps most mature Uganga's album? What is its importance in the history of the band?
Marco:
Definitely, in my opinion, is the best and most mature album. I think the "Vol 3: Caos, Carma, Conceito"
("Vol. 3: Chaos Karma Concept") we can establish our sound, creating the
identity of Uganga. In the album "Opressor" this sound was polished and
consolidated. I think the band in general reached its high point on this album,
and members individually also showed a big musical evolution.
Manu: I have
no doubt that "Opressor" is the best work of Uganga, at least so
far. It took us a few steps up and now we are working hard to overcome it in
the next release.
RtM: Continuing on
"Opressor", I would like you to comment on the music theme, and also
because of her choice for the title track?
Manu: I think
this band synthesizes very well the theme of the album that includes several
issues regarding the current world, both things, the positive and negative. The idea in Opressor is an entity created by the failures, the mistakes that we
humans are committing for centuries with our planet and ourselves. A totem
erected on the basis of our vacillation, depending on how we treat the world.
Ego, hatred, war, jealousy, addictions, religions, lies, everything is there to
form this symbolic figure inspired by the Hindu deity Kali, the goddess of
destruction. We adapted this idea to nowadays and to our world view. I chose the album name before writing the lyrics,
I spent the idea to the guys and everyone enjoyed it. There is not a conceptual work,
but the lyrics are tied in some way to the theme of the title track.
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"I have no doubt that "Opressor" is the best work of Uganga, at least so far. It took us a few steps up and now we are working hard to overcome it in the next release. "
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RtM: The Uganga
also uses many Brazilian elements and samples in the compositions, and lyrics with Brazilian themes, as some social
problems, for example in "Moleque de Pedra" and Umbanda in "Aos Pés da Grande Árvore" I would like you to talk a little about those elements
that make up the personality of Uganga's sonority.
Manu: About
elements and typical Brazilian rhythms, I think it comes more in samples and
interludes than the actual compositions, as we work with the basics: voice,
guitars, bass and drums. We are first of all a band that fuses heavy metal and
hardcore / punk in our way, but we do have some elements out of this universe
that we use here and there in some compositions, not only things of Brazilian
music. The Jamaican dub, for example, has always been another diluted influence
in our music as well as welcoming beats of Africa and something oldschool rap
vocals. In the end these small details end up being more a difference in our
personality as well as letters fleeing metal patterns, as you mentioned.
RtM: And since I spoke of these two songs, which are among my favorites, would you also comment a bit more on the lyrical content of these two songs in particular.
Manu:
"Moleque de Pedra" (Kid of Stone) was a lyric that I wrote togheter with my good friend Tito,
bassist of the band Seu Juvenal, and speaks of this kids crazy with crack stone. People are
talking about the movie zombies and forget that unfortunately we have our
wandering the streets of Brazil for a long time. Crack and cocaine are an epidemic
out of control and to most people seems to be something distant. This is
unfortunate and shows how selfish man can become. Children living as garbage in
the streets of Brazil and the political motherfuckers turning a blind eye or
opting for "solutions" electioneering. That disgusts me! "At
Feet Of The Great Tree" is a tribute to my Orisha, Omulu, and all the
guides that help us and teach, incarnated or not. I have much respect for a
number of different spiritual ways and Umbanda is certainly one of them.
RtM: How did the
writing process, production and recording of "Opressor"? I see that
you had a hard work on this album, including seeking excellence in
terms of sound. How was the choice of the producer Gustavo Vazques and his
contribution to the final result?
Manu: We were
two years involved in pre-production and album up to get in the studio with -
if not all - almost all set. Before we left a lot to set the studio and it
generated more debates effectiveness. From the "Vol. 03 ... " We are
focusing more on composition and pre-production, and the results speak for themselves, the
band, in my opinion, was found your better way to work. Gustavo had a very important role
in the capture of the material as well as get the best performance of each
member. The guy is a master at it! The production is on the hands of the band and this function is more with me and Ras (bass). We are six
people, all make up, but now we have a more organized and productive process to
equate all ideas. I can say that we arrived at Rocklab (studio where
"Opressor" was recorded) with 90% of defined material. We're in pre-production of
the new album and we will repeat this process.
RtM: The results achieved and praise with "Opressor" put some kind of pressure to make the next album?
Marco: I think
that the internal pressure is always greater. Of course you always want to
please people who like the band, but the most important is that the band is
satisfied with the result. And I believe that managed to grow and evolve more
in the previous work, because it makes no sense to release something worse than
what was done previously. We have some new compositions and the way things are
taking I think we will be able to achieve this goal.
Manu:
Certainly whenever we want to overcome. The Uganga does and has always done
what feels right independent of external criticism or praise, but within that
optical hard work to go beyond where we are.
RtM: And how do you
see the role and importance of Uganga within the scenario in Minas Gerais, which
revealed many revered names here and other countries, as Sarcófago, Overdose,
Sepultura, Witchhammer, Chakal and others? The fact that you are fellow of
Sepultura, for example, aroused some curiosity there in Europe?
Manu: Always. The brazilian Metal is well respected in the old world thanks to this
wonderful harvest from 80s. Being the son of the scene, I see that we are the
continuing of something that makes us very proud. When the bands you mentioned
started, they were looking for their own sound, something that came to
influence many groups around the world. It was not copy certain groups of the
past. One thing is to be influenced, another is trying to repeat what has
already been done. In our case it is the same thing, we do not want to be a copy
of any of them, despite being influenced by various and be friends with many
others. Do we need more clones of Sarcófago or Sepultura around? I do not
think so.
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"One thing is to be influenced, another is trying to repeat what has already been done"
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RtM: What about the Metal scene, do you think that is utopian to want to live of metal in Brazil, or
is it possible? A few succeeded, but the reality can change and with hard work,
and perhaps focusing on some markets, a band here can be self-financing and
survive only with your job?
Marco: I think
live music in general is very difficult. I do not think it is a utopia, but
it's not something I personally have a goal. It is very common to see bands
that have a strong name, touring the country, touch the biggest festivals, and
yet the members have other jobs, which are usually the main source of income.
The Uganga reached a point that can keep. A band has spent, and there are few.
merchandise production, testing, promotion, press office, equipment ... and we
have fortunately been able to draw this account through shows and selling
merchandise. But honestly, what I want is to play well, take the sound of
Uganga to many places as possible and be able to keep this running gear. If for
that I have to keep working on my bar, or with my fire brand, great. What we do
not want is to stop playing.
Manu: We all
have our jobs out of the band, but at the same time if there is a way to
survive music, we want to search it on the right way. As these parallel works, we
are not in music to play.
RtM: Guys, thank you! It is the ultimate space for you to send your message, a message to fans. Marco: Thanks for the space! Thank you by heart for the opportunity.
Manu: We are releasing the "Opressor" vinyl in Brazil by Sapólio Radio label, and in Europe on CD by
the Defense Records. A little further on is the new job and meanwhile we see on
the road. Peace for all!
Interview: Carlos Garcia
Interview: Carlos Garcia
www.uganga.com.br
www.twitter.com/uganga
www.myspace.com/uganga
www.youtube.com/ugangamg
www.facebook.com/ugangaband
www.sapolioradio.com.br
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"The idea in Opressor is an entity created by the failures, the mistakes that we humans are committing for centuries with our planet and ourselves."
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