LONG READ
1. (Jon's Q): How did you meet each other? (if that’s not being too nosey!!)
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘I’m The Sea’ (The Who/Quadrophenia)…
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We met each other at a magic mushroom rock n roll carnival at a paradisiac beach in south Brazil in 2005, with friends in common. There were more than 15 people staying at the same house (loads of tents set in the garden!). Glauco was playing drums every night with his brother and two friends, at a 60s psychedelic rock place, the Pirate’s Bar (RIP). Our connection happened when we’ve been at a special part of the beach, sitting on the rocks, watching the sea splashing in front of us. We even kissed each other and it was the most comfortable silence ever with a strange person. Just the poetic power of the sea. When I (Ananda) got the bus to get back to my city late that night, I gave my mail address to Glauco. He told me years later that he wrote me letters but he was ashamed to send them to me… After 8 years without any contact, we met again in Porto Alegre at a gig with Glauco’s band from Rio de Janeiro (and since then we’ve never been separated again). It has been almost 9 years together…
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2. Did you form Altermoderns straight away after you first met, or have you been in other bands before?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘When I was Young’ (Eric Burdon & The Animals)…
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AlterModerns was born in 2020 when we started to work with the Bristol label This Could Prove Fatal. Before we used to be Moldy Couple (playing 60s cover versions) while living in Italy in 2018, and in Swansea in 2019, just before moving to Bristol. We home recorded a few original tracks singing in Italian, but never released it (maybe in a sooner future we will record them).
(Ananda) I learned music when I was 11 years old playing piano with my grandmother (and studying at a Music School). Later, when I was 18, I started to learn to play drums and went to every gig in town watching the new local friend’s bands. I have never been in any band before, but I am a music lover, always learning from my favorite rock bands. I’ve focused all my life on studying Visual Art at a Fine Art School and painting for living. When me and Glauco started dating was when I got back to playing and writing music, and Glauco supported and taught me a lot since then… He is the rock star of the band!
(Glauco) The first instrument I’d learned was the accordion when I was a kid (7-8 years old) at the Art School. Influenced by the punk 77, my brother and I created a punk hardcore band (‘Ataque Epilético’) when I was 14, playing bass. Our songs were about society and also about the environmental crisis. The decision for start playing drums came when my brother's band ‘Puberdade’ drummer left (50/60s influenced band). In 1996 I recorded drums with the psychedelic songwriter ‘Jupiter Maçã’ at the claimed album “A Sétima Efervescência”. At the same year I joined the mod band Parkas Verdes in Curitiba substituting the drummer and later, playing bass (which I left in the next year to form ‘Dr. Spock Combo’ band). I played drums with the ‘DeFalla’ band in 2001/2002 promoting the album Superstar. Later I played bass with ‘Tarja Preta’, a mod band from Curitiba. During my 30s I played blues with my elder brother as drummer at ‘Blues Del Fuego’ / ‘Emerson Caruso Trio’ (being the crew band for loads of big blues men many times when they came on tour to Brazil). I also composed and recorded drums for the first album of my younger brother and his band 'Escambau'. Around 2012 with 'Iggy D. & the Traitors' in Rio de Janeiro I played drums for two years, being the support band for the Brazilian 60s rock star Serguei. In 2014 I started a power trio named ‘TURBA’ in Rio, writing the songs and playing drums. In that time I composed and recorded a few drums for the movie about Tim Maia, also playing the musician at Fabio's band scenes (Tim Maia friend musician). From 2016, when back to living in Curitiba I joined with my brothers to create the blues power trio 'Irmãos Caruso' playing drums. Also I did a few gigs with the ‘Rocksteady City Firm’ band at that time. Then I started to play acoustic guitar in small pubs around Curitiba and in Garopaba beach during the summertime, just by myself, singing my favorite 60s songs. But only the guitar didn't sound as good as when it has a drum... so it was the beginning when Ananda joined me playing drums just before leaving Brazil to Italy and our music story started. I’m not a great guitar player. I fight guitars!
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3. (Pete's Q) You lived in Brazil, and then moved to Brescia, Italy. How would you compare the two places both for living, and for playing music?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Nessuno Mi Può Giudicare’ (Caterina Caselli)…
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The music scene in Brazil is massive, especially the underground scene. It’s impossible to compare with the Italian music scene (even so many amazing singers made history there and great bands are still creating there!). In Brazil it is super easy to find a place to play. There is live music everywhere in every city, especially over the big ones (São Paulo hosts the best underground rock venues). Music Festivals happen all around the country (for example, there is a Surf Music Fest that happens every year in the middle of nowhere of Minas Gerais, miles away from the sea front!!! Bizarre things that only happen in Brazil!!). Glauco played a thousand times at all kinds of different venues and festivals! But as AlterModerns, we didn’t have the experience to play there together. We will one day in the near future (we are just waiting for the shit Bolsonaro to leave the government).
While we were living in Brescia, Lombardy, we had a blast time, playing everywhere (from friendly restaurants to classical pubs, art galleries bars and nightclubs). We were super well welcome. For start, we passed by each spot asking for a night to play and people loving it (as our setlist was filled with obscure 60s Italian beats like ‘I Corvi’, ‘I Bizzonti’, etc.), asking for more and more gigs. The best moment for us was just before leaving Italy, when we were invited to play at the World Music Day Fest (in Italian ‘Festa dell’musica’ on 21 June 2019). It is a huge international festival and in Brescia they used to set stages all over the city (on the streets, parks, churches (burn it!), train stations, outside bars and restaurants…). We were booked to play at four different spots from noon till late night. It was mental and for sure the best way to say goodbye to friends and fans.
Comparing the countries for living, both are magical and unique in themselves. Brazil is beautiful by nature and the people are always super friendly! We were born in the southern region and even for us our country is still a place to discover. The three big cities where we lived together (Porto Alegre, Rio de Janeiro and Curitiba) are special places and super different from each other (about culture, weather and art opportunities). They are all great but insecure in comparison with any place in Italy (even Milan and Rome where people are scared of being around late at night). Italy is where the ancient master culture that influenced all the rest of the east world was born (even England was part of the massive Roman Empire). Walking by the historical places is like traveling on time. It’s fantastic. Because we were not born in Italy (even getting both of us the passport and speaking Italian) we couldn’t get a job, and in consequence, we were not able to rent a place to live in. Thanks to the helpful friends we have there, and the art and music opportunities, we could stay for a while. But that was the main reason for us leaving Italy and moving to the UK.
4. Do you intend of staying In Bristol now, or will you move on again at some point?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Tomorrow Man’ (Joe James and The Pariahs)…
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Bristol was a pleasured surprise since the first day we stepped on it. We were living in Swansea and came for busking on a weekend. We passed by Elmer’s Arms and it was the most magic possible starting of a friendship and the future of our lives. Bristol was meant to be our place for living in since then and by now, we will stay. We’ve got fantastic friends (and still meeting so many friendly people all the time we are out and about). We’ve got a partner label to work with (Paul Surridge from This Could Prove Fatal trusted us and made a lot for us, and is still making so much, supporting us to develop our creativity on freedom). Ananda has been busy as she will open later this year her own art business and also playing drums with her girls band Mimi & The Miseries. Glauco is getting involved also with other bands (by now he is playing bass with Bruno & The Outrageous Methods of Presentation, and in the sooner future playing drums with Joe James and The Pariahs). It is a lovely, beautiful city so easy to live in, so we will stay for a while until the day we decide to move again (who knows when and to where!).
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5. We know you have a great 7” single out now ‘She’s Not Yours’, have you any more releases planned?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Who Makes The Stars’ (Woog Riots)…
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Thanks to Formosa Punk Records from Japan we got the 7” pressed last year! The manager Mike Wille listened to our songs after Rob Pursey, from Swansea Sound, listed us as one of the bands he was listening to for an interview. Mike invited us to release a split 7” with Woog Riots, a German/Italian two piece band too, but at that time the couple was busy and they weren’t able to do it. So he asked us to release a solo single in partnership with This Could Prove Fatal and it was more than perfect. Great reviews from Shindig! Magazine and Louder Than War made us delighted. The split 7” is now on its final stage at the pressing plant and soon we will release the single ‘Overdose of You’.
We are starting a new project that is “AlterModerns featuring…” musician friends that we love. It consists of recording two songs with each (a collective composition plus a cover version by our choice). The idea is pressing limited editions on flexi discs, covered by a handmade art zine, special three minds and six hands produced. The first artist invited and recorded was Bruno (from the Outrageous Methods of Presentation). The next of the queue is Joe James. We have no date yet to release it, so we are doing it with no rush at all!
And the most exciting release planned of the year is for sure our first album! More information about it at the end of this interview, as have a question made only about it!
6. You’re single was voted No. 30 in the Dandelion Festive 50, were you pleased?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Corporate Indie Band’ (Swansea Sound)…
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It was a huge pleasure and a crazy surprise. We even know that the fest was happening, and that our song had been listed. We also discovered it (thanks you Arthur) and that our song has been played over so many djs radio shows along last year, inclusive on Dandelion Radio. While listening to the fest selection it was so grateful hearing musician friends too (as The Total Rejection and Swansea Sound) aside famous bands. Being part of a continuity of the super John Peel’s project, launched ages ago, was a fantastic late year gift.
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7. Ananda, I think I’m right in saying it’s you who does the band’s artwork, is art & design something you have studied, or just something you enjoy doing?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘If I Stay Too Long’ (The Creation)…
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Art is my soul! I’ve studied Fine Art, doing paintings and prints for a living since my mid-20s. I’m always researching new artists and creative design. I enjoy creating our gig posters and hand painting the t-shirts' merch. Glauco is a fantastic self-thought drawer and a super creative mind too. We love to do inventive things together. Our band logo, for example, was designed on a drunken lockdown late night, inspired by a long good chat between us about Thelema. But all the official artworks are created in partnership with Paul Surridge, from the label, who edits the photos and videos with/for us. It’s good to have another crazy imaginative mind sharing the art passion with us. We discovered that we worked very well all three together!
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8. (Pete's Q): Are there any advantages of being a two piece band?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Want You! Like a Cigarette’ (The Courettes)…
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Oh yes, there are many of them!! It is very pleasant and easy sharing ideas while composing the songs together (too many heads thinking and expressing themselves need more time and patience!). We don’t need to book large rooms’ studio to practice, and anytime is an inspirational time for composing and playing at home (PS: being a band couple living together was the top advantage during the lockdown). We also don’t need a large stage to play. The smallest venue in the world would fit us comfortably to make some noise. When traveling, it is much cheaper with only two tickets and a hotel room (or any sofa/bed/floor anywhere to sleep). And like no other band, all the arguments will finish in sex!
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9. (Pete's Q): I’ve heard your influences include The Sonics, MC5, Alice Cooper, Love & The Stooges, could you pick a track by each of these that you really love?
PS: read this answer while listening to the tracks listed from each band…
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Our influences list is much more than this, including from blues, soul, mod, early rock’n’roll to classical, Latin-America folk music and experimental sounds. From that small list we can pick “He’s Waiting” (Sonics), “Border Line” (MC5), “Don’t Blow Your Mind” (Alice Cooper / Spiders), “Little Red Book” (Love version), and “What’s You Gonna Do?” (Psychedelic Stooges).
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10. Are there any other Bristol based Groups or Artists that you like, and that you feel a connection with?
PS: read this answer while listening to the bands listed…
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There are the ones we work with: Mimi & The Miseries, Bruno & The Outrageous Methods of Presentation, Joe James & The Pariahs, but also we feel a connection with The Total Rejection, The Mudd Club, Dequincey, Rauschenberg, The SinicTones, Amun-Ramen, Windshake, Los Savages, Narco Lounge Combo. Also, the Upfest Gallery that runs a fantastic street art project in Bedminster and That Art Gallery and View Art Gallery for always showing amazing artists.
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11. (Bill's Q): How do your lives and experiences influence your music? Tell me about your busking experiences.
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Femme Fatale’ (The Velvet Underground)…
All our songs are about our lives and experiences. ‘Docufictional’ songs. Altermodern is an art term that resumes it (and that was the reason we chose it): it is about how communication, travel and migration affect a way of life. Our perception about the world and every single situation we had experience we translate into music. Each song is a tragic-comic true contemporary story. The source is endless.
About busking… It’s funny because we came for the first time to visit Bristol for busking…and we even didn’t make it at that time!! But since we moved in we had played in the streets (Broadmead and the Harbourside) so many times to make some money to get some food and drinks while the struggling times we found us. And all of these times we had a blast thanks to the audience. There is no doubt that homeless people are the best audience in the world! It is because they have no chance for having fun in private pubs or nightclubs, and the freedom of the streets allows them dancing and singing and partying, shameless and with no judgment. They always made us feel special for giving them the chance of having a good music party, thanking us always with cider cans, cigarettes and money. Not only that, but also busking is great for having walkers stopping to sing along to the songs and having a break from their busy journeys. It is free of charge for them, and super well paid for us (their attention, smiles and cash). Busking means freedom and fun.
12. (Bill's Q) : I hear there's an Altermoderns LP being released on a Portuguese label this year. Can you tell me more about that.
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Pó da Estrada’ (Os Haxixins)…
Our first album is on its last production stage and is going to be sent to the press plant very soon. It will be another label cooperation, this time with the super garage label Groovie Records from Portugal. Edgar Raposo, who has run the label since 2005 invited us last year to make it and was another one of the best unexpected surprises of mid-late 2021! It will probably be released late springtime of this year and we will make a Eurotour promoting it (playing in Portugal, Spain, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark…).
Most of the 13 songs of the LP were composed along the lockdown (while we were at home, on furlough from our shit jobs, having all the time in the world for playing and creating!). The craziest situation we ever thought of living in because we were renting at that time a room at a shared house. Most of the time we were inside a 20m² room, which was enough for us to become AlterModerns even stronger and truly than we could imagine.
Thanks to the Ill Repute pub (by Greg and Joanna management) we were able to practice the songs on a louder volume that we used to play at home. We spent around 3 months (from January till March2021) occupying the basement with all our instruments and gear, while the pub was shut for the public and only open for food delivery. It was a fantastic experience, walking every day along bizarre empty roads for making music inside a pub. We think we are very lucky!
The recording sessions were during three different moments of the year, when lockdown was smoothed (October2020, April and June2021). We chose Bink Bonk Studios for Bully Bones band indication, because of the obscene vintage 60’s gear that it’s offered there (instruments, amplifiers and analog record equipment). Also because we found Matt Sampson, the authentic sound engineer that runs the studio for decades, the best partner that understood our music and helped us to make it while recording and mixing. Matt's knowledge, experience and good vibe, plus the energy of the space (many of great bands recorded there, as for example, the Massive Attack first album was recorded there!), helped our sessions flow super easily! The LP master has been made by Luis Tissot in Brazil, while the CD has been made by James Trevascus in England. The final production is AlterModerns & Paul Surridge, as usual. We are now at the final art cover details production too. We are super excited with what is coming in for the future!!
13. When you play live, you have a song which you end by shouting “No Flags, No Borders” which we are guessing is the way you feel about things like ‘Brexit’, dividing us instead of bringing people together… Do you feel it’s important to get messages like this across to people through music?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Anarchy In The UK’ (The Sex Pistols)…
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We believe that it is all going wrong around the whole world at the current time (actually, since a long time ago!). It’s unbelievable that people voted for Brexit, for having borders again, and for consequence, giving more power and control for the far-right wing politicians and their wrong decisions. The TV and radio media lied (and kept lying on people’s faces) telling them absurdities relating to immigration and economic problems. People need to read more about metropolis/colonialism historical facts and consequences before blaming immigrants for everything. Wars are still happening because of the rich countries' selfish opinions. We all are free to live wherever we want, and to do whatever we want. As artists, we are free to create and sing about whichever we can to express our point of view, doing what is possible of trying to change the world. Our songs are about it. Art is expression and it is our gun. The live gigs are the top moments for doing it and we will keep doing it for sure and forever. Maybe someone else pays attention to what we are saying, then spreads the words and follows us on the daily revolution.
14. (Marks Q): You are offered £1million by Donald Trump’s team who want to use “Wednesday” as his walk-on music during the 2024 presidential campaign. What do you spend it on? Seeds, Stones, Sonics or Shirelles?
PS: read this answer while listening to ‘Big Boss Man’ (Jimmy Reed)…
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Even if the options are good investments, we would never accept a coin from someone that wants to transform the society into his money playground, destroying the good few things that are still resting on the planet, only for money. There is no cash amount in the world that can disrupt a truly anarchist ideology. They blame the artists for being free, not following their rules. We will keep at this side of the war and have no chance of selling our souls for the big machine. Our love for art and music, and paying respect to human rights is bigger than anything.
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Raving Pop Blast! Magazine Issue 2