Interview: Re-edition LOOMER

Thank very much for accepting to speak with Wave Noise Magazine-Argentina

You're welcome. I also would like to thank for the opportunity.

1-how long have you been working together and who are the members of the band?

We're working since begining of 2008. On this last year (2013) our original bassist (Liege) left the band and now we're playing with Fernanda. Now our formation is Stefano Fell (guitar/vocal), Richard La Rosa (guitar), Guilherme Figueiredo (drums) and Fernanda Schabarum (bass/vocal).

2-Are you from the same area or city ?

Yes, we all live in Porto Alegre city nowadays, despite being born in different places.

3-How is the Shoegaze scene in Brazil?

Well, as an obscure genre in anywhere, you really go against the flow doing that here. Not a big problem as we do it because we like it. And surprisingly a lot of people like it too, more than we expected. With time, you can see that more shoegaze bands are appearing here and there, and new opportunities are being created in alternative media.

4-what are your music influences?

We all like different stuff in a certain way. We hear bands like The Pastels, Sonic Youth, Gang Of Four, Television Personalities, MBV, Dinosaur Jr, Polvo, Glen Branca, Swervedriver, Devo, Joy Division, Slint, Brian Eno, Pixies, Black Tambourine, Team Dresch, Fellini, J&MC, Wire, Dead Kennedys, Cocteau Twins, Spacemen 3, etc. But when the four of us get together, we play this way that you know.

5-in general terms, what are the topics of the lyrics?

This is hard to say in general terms since each song has it's own focus, but I could say that we are very quiet people that has its difficulties to deal with the world and it ends up transpiring in the lyrics of the songs somehow. I think this is a good starting point.

6-Do you believe in maintain a style of composition over the time or you are open to new changes?

I think we have to find our way of composition that sounds good and have it's own identity. I don't know if it's a good idea to avoid new changes if they come.

7-how do you feel to know that your album comes to Spanish language countries?

I feel very happy to know about it. I really do. I hope we can have a gig in some of these countries one day.

8- How are the members of the band? Are they the same from the beginning?

Our first bassist Liege left the band this last year before we release the album. We tried some new bassists and now we are working with Fernanda. The other members of the band are the same since the begining. We are very happy with the good reception of the album and we're making plans for the future.

9-How do you describe the album You Wouldn’t Anyway?

I'm not the best person to talk about music, my business is to make music. But if I try to describe it, I'd say this album is a collection of pop songs surrounded by layers of distortion and energy. Nothing very original, don't you think?

10-Do you feel uncomfortable when media describes you as the new version of my bloody valentine ?

I don't think we are so similar, i think it's probably because of our name. MBV is one of our influences, and we love them, but we have another influences too and differences as well. We don't even try to be equal. We admire them because they have their sound, and we need to have our sound too. Anyway, I don't feel uncomfortable, i feel flattered.

11-Could you please describe the songs All Gone and Search on your Own?

Well, let's go. These two songs have their common points. Short and simple vocal, a dark aura around, a nice guitar riff, drums full of energy, and instrumental ending. A voice quietly whispering the turmoil of feelings that are symbolized by the dirty and distorted instrumental work. All Gone speaks of hopelessness, helplessness, cowardice, and nonconformity. Search On Your Own tries to draw attention to a change of perspective, is a whispered cry for what someone don't want this to be seen.

12-Do you have any other music parallel Projects?

I'm doing some noisy improvisations with a band called "Scafandro" nowadays. Fernanda is playing in a band called "A Red So Deep". I play together with Fernanda in an instrumental band called "Parkplatz" too. Guilherme and Richard aren't playing in any other band at the moment as I know.

13-What are the goals for 2014? Any new album?

We want to record new songs, probably an EP, and we also want to play in some different places. You know, have fun.

14-Do you think, people who listen shoegaze are different? maybe we have a more refined ear? sophisticated ear?

It's hard to put things this way. But i like people who listen that. I guess I could say that is really nice to know about someone who don't turn up his nose to the noise played extremely loud, and at the same time he have an open mind to be touched by beautiful melodies. There is one bad thing about them, at least here in Brazil, you just know if a person listens shoegaze music if he tells you that, because you can't guess it by yourself.

15-What do you find or look in the guitar distortion? guitar coupling? can you find inspiration at the moment?

I like a lot of fuzz and distortion. I tend to not use overdrive because I need to choose something and space is a valuable thing in the pedal case. I prefer older pedals, they usually have rawer sound, despite a less practical size. The good fuzz/distortion is kind of like you play something and let the guitar do the rest by itself. It's powerfull and very inspiring.

16-in a couple months we want to talk with you again, what kind of band we can find? a busy band?, tired?, experienced?, billionaire?, restless?

I hope that in a couple of months you find a happy band doing things they love. In a very loud way.