Hanna Tsepesh: Olá Guilherme and Marco! Thanks so much for accepting this interview and Welcome to THE GATES OF METAL! First of all: how are you guys?
Guilherme: I´m fine thanks! We are glad to participate in this interview.
Marco: Hi Hanna, we are fine, thanks for asking. First of all thanks for the opportunity to be at “the gates of metal”, we’re very pleased.
Hanna Tsepesh: for those who do not know the band, could tell us a little bit about how it all started?
Guilherme: Nuno Khan, Miguel Gonçalves and André Lopes already were already playing together, and they were looking for a drummer and a bassist on web.
I answered the request and Sérgio Vaz joined the band shortly after me. We started playing together and making songs, after that André decided to leave and Marco Fresco took his place. At that moment for me, was when everything really began. Our music began to
have more meaning and became stronger.Hanna Tsepesh: Marco is new in the band… was it difficult to find someone for the vocalist position? In your opinion what you think that Marco brings to the band?
Guilherme: Today, I cannot say that Marco is really new in the band. He has been with us since 2008. Yes, it is very difficult to find a good singer. It needs to have a good voice, write good lyrics and melodies, be dedicated and be a front man on the stage.
He brought power to the music with guttural vocals, he knew how to interact with the public and is a great friend to everyone in the band, and he is a motherfucking drunk, just like me!
Hanna Tsepesh: Marco, was your integration in the band difficult? And what do you think that you bring to this group?
Marco: Actually was very easy from the social side because all the guys from the band are wonderful persons. The difficult thing was to get to a band that had clean vocals and try to put aggressive ones. In some songs we had to change all the lyrics. And there were some other songs that the previous lyrics were about things i think that the band should not speak about.
Hanna Tsepesh: You have a variety of nationalities in Tales For The Unspoken. You think that is like a “secret weapon” for the success and the different “ingredients” in your album? For me it was a great surprise when I first listened to “Alchemy” and found that same variety of sounds and styles…fantastic work guys, congratulations to the entire band!
Guilherme: Thanks for the praises! I appreciate that! But I do not see it as a secret weapon, because it was not something intentional. It just happened!
Of course we try to take advantage of it musically and attract people's attention. Because it is not a normal thing to see. And we want to explore it yet, but since it does not sound forced.
Marco: We only started thinking about that when we were composing “alchemy” because everyone began to bring new stuff from our own countries to the table and we thought that was the way that we should work in this album and at in that time start to be the trademark of the band.
Hanna Tsepesh: Also, you two are from different countries… Guilherme you are from Brazil and Marco is from Portugal. What kind of influences did you guys bring from your own countries into this album?
Marco: we try to do something different but that comes naturally, it was not something planed. we don't think like: “we are Portuguese, we have to put something Portuguese in the album”, the ideas just come when we discuss in our rehearsal room and we work just like this so i think we all brought something to the album.
Guilherme:
I bring that influence in “Makumba” lyrics, a song about black magic and maybe in a few parts of others songs. But I cannot say that is 100% Brazilian, because Brazil is a mix of African and European influences. My musical influences are more directed from old school thrash metal, and i like to bring this to our music.
Hanna Tsepesh: What inspired you the most to create the lyrics and what kind of process did the band use to create the songs in order to comply with the lyrics? Could you tell us a bit more about the creative process of this release?
Guilherme: Usually we create the music first with a vocal harmony, and after that, someone writes the lyrics, and if we all enjoy the idea, the lyrics stay.
Some of the songs were already written when I joined the band. Once André came out, and Marco joined the band, some lyrics and songs needed a touch of evil and we all agreed. This process occurred with the whole band working together in the rehearsals. I think these changes inspired us all to keep working in the album.
Hanna Tsepesh: What are your favorite bands? Do you have any musician that you admire the most?
Marco: I listen to a lot of death metal from Sweden it’s really hard to say because there are a lot of good bands. But musicians that really inspire me i can tell you Peter Tagtgren from Hypocrisy because he is an amazing musician and composer and another one is Mikael Akerfeldt from Opeth, for me they are two of the best metal voices ever.
Guilherme: As I have said, i like the old metal school, I grew up listening Black Sabbath, Kiss, Sepultura, Slayer, Pantera, Megadeth, I love heavy, thrash and death metal, but I never stop listening new bands and rediscovering others. Today I hear a lot Stoner Rock, Black Metal and Brutal Death. There are many musicians I admire, would be unfair to name just one!
Hanna Tsepesh: Do you have other bands or some future project?
Marco: In this current time i only have time for Tales for the Unspoken but in the future maybe I’ll work in some other project.
Guilherme: Not right now, but I intend to build a project someday, and play other genres inside the metal.
Hanna Tsepesh: I would like to know if did you had or have any guttural technique lessons?
Marco: I never had, when i started listening to metal i was always thinking how the hell the metal singers sang like that, and i tried for a long time until my throat staredt to bleed. And then i discovered the technique to sing without damaging my throat.
Hanna Tsepesh: When did you start to play bass? Was it difficult to learn? Which brand do you prefer?
Guilherme: I started when i have thirteen years, some friends would like to form a band in that time and someone said I will be the bass player, and I said ok, cool! I take some lessons in music school near my old home.
To be honest with you, I wish I had more time to devote myself to the bass guitar. My favorite brand is the one I have money to buy, hehehe. But if any brand wants to sponsor me, I am available!
Hanna Tsepesh: Which were the highest and lowest points of your career as musicians?
Marco: The highest point i think of, was the release of the album. It’s something everyone dreams about, when they’re involved in a band. When we did it and with a record label and a worldwide distribution, it was really a dream come true. The lowest point is the everyday fighting to have a band in Portugal and every time there’s a problem we just learn from it for the next time we can do better.
Guilherme: The highest point was to have released three albums, to play in amazing places and to meet many incredible people through metal. The lowest point is the difficulties to keep a band with our money. But in the first place, we do this for passion.
Hanna Tsepesh: Let’s talk more about the “Alchemy” album. To people who haven’t listened to it yet what can you tell us about this release?
Guilherme: It's an album one hundred percent honest, devoted much time, work and money. We did almost everything by ourselves. Some friends helped us to make this album come true. I think it's an album that needs to be heard a few times to be well digested. I'm proud of it. It was the first big step for Tales for the Unspoken. I hope people enjoy it!
Hanna Tsepesh: One little curiosity, what does “N'Takubawena” mean?
Marco: That’s the question everyone asks, (laughts), N’takubawena means “I will be punished”.
Hanna Tsepesh: At the recording studio, did you guys face any difficulties? If yes, tell us which were and how did it affect the whole process? Are you guys happy about the final result?
Marco: Only Guilherme had real studio experience because we had just recorded the demo that was in a homemade studio, so the difficulties that we had was only to adapt to a real recording studio. We are very happy with the final result and we hope that people that listen to Tales have a good time.
Guilherme: The difficulty, on my part, was dealing with the delays and lack of studio money. This caused some stress in the recordings sessions, but we tried hard to not pass this in to the album. In general, analyzing the conditions, I am very satisfied. We learned a lot from negative situations and it will help us on the next album!
Hanna Tsepesh: How has the response been to the album by the fans and media?Guilherme: In general we have received good reviews from the specialized critics. And many fans came talk with us about the album or after the concerts with compliments. It’s good to know our work has been accepted.
Hanna Tsepesh: What about if one of our readers wants to buy your album?
Guilherme: Enter in our website and talk with us in: www.talesfortheunspoken.com. Or also by with our label: www.coprodirect.com/products/tales-for-the-unspoken-alchemy
Hanna Tsepesh: Which is your favorite song from this album and why?
Marco: It’s very difficult to say but i think “Makumba” is my favorite is the most difficult one to sing but i think it’s the one with the better feeling!
Guilherme: “Possessed” is direct, fast and has a good groove. And the letter is evil too. But i enjoy “There you Stand”, “Take Over”, “Unto the Breach” and “Makumba”. The entire album is good for me!
Hanna Tsepesh: Do you want to send any messages to the people who are going to read this interview?
Marco: Keep supporting metal when you come to see us live in a near future!!
Guilherme: I hope you enjoy our music! And after the concert let’s drink some beers together!
Hanna Tsepesh: Thank you very much for your answers and time. I wish the entire band big success with this amazing album! Hope to see you guys very soon on stage…
Marco: thanks a lot and we are hoping to see you in the crowd as well.
Guilherme: Thanks for the opportunity to talk about our work! Cheers
By: Hanna Tsepesh
To listen to some songs and for more informations go to:
www.talesfortheunspoken.com
