Interview
ALMAH
A talk with
FELIPE ANDREOLI (Bass)
(Questionnaire by STEFAN)
Metal To Infinity
It happen not very often that we at Metal To Infinity Webzine Belgium get the opportunity to interview a Brazilian Metal band. So this seems an interesting offer to get in touch with one of the leading forces in Brazilian Metal music – I’d like to have a talk with Almah, featuring Angra singer Edu Falaschi and other top class musicians. Almah just released their new album “Motion” in Brazil (followed by Europe later on) so let’s found out some more on that and other activities in their camp.eview
Q:
I’d like to welcome each one in the band – what’s up in sunny Brazil at
the moment Felipe?
Felipe:
We just got home from Europe yesterday, so we’re recharging the batteries for
the many activities we have this weekend, including a music fair in Sao Paulo
and of course the Rock In Rio festival, in which Edu and I will play with Angra.
Q:
First things first – how a band like Almah occur?
Who’s the one that can be seen as developer?
Felipe:
Edu started the whole thing as a solo project. He called some friends from bands
that we met on tour, and recorded the album, which was entirely written by
himself. In 2007, during a break in Angra’s activities, we decided to carry
Almah as a proper band, so I and the rest of the guys joined the band. We
recorded the first album with the current line-up, Fragile Equality, in 2008,
and started doing shows in Brazil. Three years later, here we are again!
Q:
What were the most important characteristics Almah had to meet in the very early
days of existence?
Felipe:
In the beginning we were still pretty much bond to the more melodic metal style,
even though we always wrote heavier and more experimental stuff as well. We
always wanted to do something different musically, but I guess we tried not to
scare the Angra fans so much. The new album is our first attempt to almost
completely break up with the traditional power metal.
Q:
Was it easy to find the right musicians to set up a complete line-up? Tell me
some more on the other players – if some of these left the ranks already,
mention the reason why please.
Felipe:
It was quite easy. Marcelo Barbosa was a friend for many years, he opened up for
Angra in his home town, Brasilia, twice, and we always met in musical events in
Brazil. He was one of the biggest rising guitar players here too, so that was a
very natural choice. Marcelo Moreira we have also known for years because of his
band, Burning in Hell, which also played with Angra a few times. He also worked
with all Angra members booking clinics in Brazil. His drumming abilities became
more and more developed, so we thought he was the right choice. Paulo is a
friend of Moreira, they live in the same city in the south of Brazil. When we
thought about having a second guitar player, he showed us Paulo’s work, and we
were blown away!
Q:
First self titled effort came across the Metal horizons back in 2007 – what
would you like to say on the music style and featuring members this album had to
offer?
Felipe:
I guess every musician brings a different voice to the album. Even though Edu
wrote all the songs, I can clearly realize each one’s individual contribution
to the overall mood of the record. They’re all great musicians and friends.
The style was still being developed, so there’s a lot of variety in that
sense, but all songs are really beautiful and unique in my opinion.
Q:
Edu not only sang on the CD – he delivered more than just the vocal parts,
right?
Felipe:
He did everything, actually, from the arrangements to the lyrics, the concept,
etc. He is a singer who can play
every instrument, and he has a very global vision of how he wants things to
sound. He has a natural talent for composition, his ability to come up with
great songs really fast is amazing!
Q:
Was this debut album a real success of just a regular start of a band that could
much better as time passed by? Give me your rating on a scale of 10.
Felipe:
I think it helped establish Almah in the market. Edu wanted to do this not only
for commercial results, but even more to show the world that he’s able to do
much more than what is heard in Angra, and on that he was really successful. I
don’t like to rate musical pieces with a number, I think it’s a little cold.
I leave that to the professionals in that area.
Q:
Entitled “Fragile Equality”, Almah’s second work has been unleashed but
there was something going on within the ranks I’ve heard. What started as a so
called solo project featuring famous musicians turned out into a real band
featuring a permanent line-up. Tell me about please.
Felipe:
Exactly. When Angra took a break in 2007, we embraced Almah as our band. Despite
the fact that Edu started the whole thing, every member was free to contribute
in every aspect, and that’s what makes it totally different from a solo album.
Things naturally evolved to this situation cause we just enjoy playing together.
Almah is a bunch of friends who enjoy doing music.
Q:
Based on the music style of this output, can we speak of a total turnaround of
is “Fragile Equality” similar to Almah’s debut?
Felipe:
It’s a natural result of the sum of five different guys, as opposed by Edu’s
vision alone. We also still had the pressure on our backs of having to please
the Angra fans. We later realized that the songs that the fans enjoyed the most
were the heavier ones, which led to our courage to make Motion what it is.
Q:
Which one do you prefer and why?
Felipe:
To me Fragile Equality will always be special, because the moment was very
special. Musically too, I think it’s more my style than the first.
Q:
As a worldwide release; do you have any idea which country scored the best of
all?
Felipe:
Brazil, for sure. That’s where we live, that’s where we have a chance to
play more shows, be on the media, and in direct contact with the fans. It makes
all the difference when you are really present.
Q:
Two works were released in style – what do you have to say about playing for a
live audience? In June 2010, The Fragile Equality Tout ended – feel free to
tell a little story.
Felipe:
Playing with this band is quite special, not only because of the music, but also
the friendship. The connection we have onstage is very special in every aspect.
We have a lot of fun doing it and to me that’s key in order to be able to keep
doing it for many years. We played a lot of shows, and we were able to realize,
as I told you, which songs the public liked the most, and that helped shape the
path to our new album.
Q:
The story continues and the good news is that Almah just brought out a third
album called “Motion” only in Brazil. European releases will follow
somewhere in October 2011. Where, when and by whom this new album was created?
Felipe:
We started exchanging some ideas in early April via email, kind of trying to
find a musical direction. When we felt like we had enough material, we all
gathered in my home for a little over a week to arrange the songs and write the
missing parts. That’s when the music really took shape, and we were able to
realize what this album would be all about. The whole process was surprisingly
easy and natural! In the recording studio (Norcal Studios) it took us little
over a month to have everything done and ready for Jochem to mix and master. All
songs were written by the whole band, even though Edu brought the initial ideas
for most of them. It’s really a team work.
Q:
I'm sure there will be more people involved to complete an album as it should be
– who are they?
Felipe:
We are fortunate to have many friends around all the time, and in this album
this was really important. The guys at Norcal Studios did a great job capturing
the best of what we wanted to achieve. Jochem, who has also become a friend, did
an excellent job in putting it all together the best way possible in the mix.
Apart from that we had three singers lending us their voices in the album:
Thiago Bianchi from Shaman, Edu Cominato from Remove Silence and Jeff Scott Soto
and Victor Cutrale from Furia Inc.
Q:
Are you fully pleased with the end result?
Felipe:
Absolutely! Not only I think that the music itself is great, but also that we
chose the right people to work with. Besides, our relationship as a band is more
mature, we know each other much better, and that makes a lot of difference in
the end result.
Q:
Here in Belgium we have to wait a little longer on the new Almah album but I’d
like to ask to give us some kind of a small preview by now.
Felipe:
This album is different from everything Edu and I have made with Angra. It’s
much more modern and heavy, but still with lots of melodies and more technical
parts. The essence can be heard, but in a totally different way. Actually,
we’re having a hard time trying to find a suitable label for this album. Not
that we need one, it’s just a matter of curiosity. Couldn’t make it so far!
Q:
I never understand the reason why some overseas albums firstly come out in their
homeland followed by the rest of the world? Maybe you can tell me why?
Felipe:
It’s all dependent on the different needs of the record labels, I guess. Each
market has its own peculiarity. But I wish one day we’ll be able to do a
simultaneous release worldwide.
Q:
Which label will bring out the new Almah album in Europe?
Felipe:
We have been working with AFM Records since the first album, and we’re pretty
happy with their work.
Q:
Is “Motion” the best Almah effort up to date?
Felipe:
I think so. It’s the best out of everything we’ve done so far, all summed up
in one album.
Q:
Along with the new work – have you guys planned a new Tour as well?
Felipe:
That’s on the way. We have quite a few shows scheduled in Brazil already, and
they should go until the end of the year. We’re now on the process of finding
a good package, with bands that we admire and that we think fit our style, to
tour Europe and Japan.
Q:
Nothing to do with Almah actually – how’s the Brazilian Metal scene at the
moment? Any bands to announce really worth to check out?
Felipe:
Brazil is full of great bands! I can recommend Torture Squad, Furia Inc.,
Threat, Arena, Remove Silence, Command 6, Mindflow, Coração de Herói. There
are many others, of course, but those are the ones I remember now.
Q:
I also like to know your vision on the future of Almah – gaze into your
crystal ball Felipe!
Felipe:
I see Almah establishing itself as a band with its own path, not something
dependent on Angra or any other band. We’re working hard to get the band to
the next level, both musically and commercially, and the results so far are way
above expectations!
Q:
Running outta questions so time to leave. Nothing left to say than wishing the
entire band all the very best. Maybe you will speak some final words to our
readers? Go ahead and thanx again for the opportunity to finish this interview
Felipe:
Thanks a lot for your interest in Almah! We are doing our best to take our show
to Belgium in 2. theian people!