Rocking with KATARSE!
Interview
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1) History of the band
In 2002, T. Greguol launched a book of poetry called "Catarse" ("Catharsis"). Sales were good for a novice writer of poetry, however, to use his own words, "nobody reads poetry." So he decided to assemble a band to sing what he wrote and so more people had access to his art. In partnership with his musician friends, T. turned his poems into songs, and so came the embryo of Katarse that after several years of road, took the unusual current format. The picturesque formation of the band with four members: two of them are meteorologists! Did you already know a meteorologist in your life? In Katarse band, we have two ... About the other two: one is a professor of English and the other is psychologist.
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2) Which difficulties does a rock band face in the market today?
New bands (in general) can no longer count on a recording company or things like that, then they should look for all opportunities. Nowadays we can see that CD and recording companies are disappearing, then Katarse decided that, in addition to artists, they are their own patrons. They do the songs, arrange, record and pay the producer, create the insert, send to factory, distribute or sell in the shops, on the site, mark shows, do the clips, disclose, release the songs in ECAD, stay in the box office etc ... They are a totally independent band, so 100% "owners of their own noses", therefore they make pure art, or art that comes from heart without barriers. They have more work and results are not guaranteed. But nowadays it is the only way that seems feasible.
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3) Are you fully dedicated to the rock or do you have other occupations?
Besides the band, we have our jobs (so unusual): two meteorologists (Bibinho and Miggy), a psychologist (John) and a teacher of an international primary school (T. Greguol).
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4) Where do you usually play?
Katarse plays everywhere we find these crucial items: 'public' (to disclose their work), 'good equipment' (because it is fun to play) or 'money' (because everyone needs money, right?). If we have the three, it's great; if only one of them, it's also great! But here are some places where we played, play or will play soon: cultural centers, bars, cafes, clubs, discos, nightclubs, hotels and universities.
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5) Which kind of rock the band plays?
Katarse describes their sound as "dancing-mad-philosophical-rough-music." Although some people say that the band has a unique and peculiar style, the best definition is simply the "Katarse style." Or: rock. (But recall that the group has a style called by some the 'katarse style', or just the "dancingmadphilosophicalrough" music (laughs).
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6) Which band should be reference for you? And why?
There are many influences, since each member of the band likes a type of music. Let's see ... Adoniran Barbosa, André Abujamra (and all his bands), Arnaldo Antunes (Titãs), Beatles, Creedence Clearwater Revival, Eels, Elvis Presley, Jorge Mautner, Jovanotti, Leonard Cohen, Nelson Cavaquinho, Nick Cave, Pearl Jam, Stray Cats, Tom Waits, U2 ... The reasons are several. For some letters, style of music, attitude on stage, or because we hear since childhood, and so on.
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7) What impact has caused the rock on music and life?
It depends. Some people have fun, others think, others have both, others none, like all forms of art.
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8) If you could go back in time, in which era of rock would you like to be? Why?
A second ago, because today I have access to everything that has happened, not only in rock as in all other musical styles. Nothing better than having access to everything, to choose ...
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9) Which musical instrument more excites people and can be considered the symbol of rock?
T. Greguol says it is the voice, Mario Amore insists it is the guitar, Miggy always repeats bass is unsurpassed, Bibinho said nothing, because he was very excited with the role of the drums in the history of music. The fans of progressive rock would say the keyboard, and if we listen "Sunday Bloody Sunday" (U2), we would say that it is the violin. It depends, teamwork is what counts. Now answering objectively: the guitar is the most common symbol for the way rock, and although it's obvious, makes sense.
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10) What is the difference between Elvis Presley rock and current days rock?
Maybe today rock has never been so close to the rock of Elvis Presley. Not the sound, but the intention. At the Elvis' era, rock was something so new that the rules were still being made, there was much influence from many musical styles of the season and the songs were released one by one and not in discs full of tracks. Today it seems that everything has been done, and rockers need to make a tremendous effort to renew themselves, and revise rules. Today, like in Elvis' era, there is much influence from many musical styles and songs of the season, and due to the MP3, songs are disclosed one by one - and not in discs full of tracks (at least not as much as it was).
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11) Is rock still a music of protest, of rebellion? Could you give examples of today?
Sometimes yes. But rebellion nowadays can often be confused with lack of education or lack of care with the health, or things like that. We can say that in Katarse we try to pass a message through the lyrics. But it is not a rebellion. Just a different point of view of the average. If people agree, great. If not, fine, we do not want to fight and not be evil. There's a certain danger of being an irresponsible rebel - it has no place today (doesn't make sense). The world has changed so much and there are more "Buddhists" to resolve things. And if you can not solve those things with art, then it should be resolved by legal means or by the policy or sometimes the solution is within the person himself.
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12) What message do you send for the bands that are starting a career playing rock?
Do not act or go for opinions of others, do what you think that's nice, fun without hinder the others and always try your best. Like everything in life!
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13) Define in a few words what rock means for you.
Rock means a song that does not need many rules and, for Katarse, not adherence to any way. It is good to think that the lyrics can touch people in a positive way and do think or feel good or curious. We hope that, listening to our CD, people feel good and going to our shows people are very fun. Rock music is free. It is like your friend who can teach you something, or it can also be like the best person to go to the cinema or a party! I'm speaking about Katarse, of course. But each band has a different definition.
E agora? - Lyrics
E AGORA?
Disseram que sou o que penso
Penso tanto que nem sei mais
Eu leio, ouço e assisto a tudo
Continuo vazio e querendo mais
Eu já estive só, já estive junto
Descobri o que me mantém de pé
O que me difere de um defunto,
Talvez seja o que chamam de fé
Não há o que diga que não saiba, não sou um gênio, mas por favor
Preciso mais do que um 'Oi!' e menos que compromisso e louvor
Quando penso em você
Lembro de algo que se escondeu
E lembro no mesmo instante
Que meu maior inimigo sou eu
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Free translation:
"AND NOW?
They said that I am what I think
I think so much that I don’t know anymore
I read, watch and listen to everything
But remain empty and wanting more
I’ve been alone, have been together
I found what keeps me up
What differs me from one deceased,
Maybe it’s what they call the faith
There’s nothing you say that I don’t know,
I’m not a genius, but please
I need more than a "Hi!" and less commitment to praise
When I think of you
I remember something that was hidden
And remember at the same time
That I'm my biggest enemy
***
Bibinho: battery and vocal(nanana…)
Mario Amore: guitar
Miggy: bass, vocal (uhuhuh…)
Nanana’s & Uhuhuh’s: Capoba, Dennian, Felipe De Luca, Juninho Bill, Terriaca Luciano, Rodrigo EBA!, Rodrigo Greguol and Joe Vincent (“Nananiest” walking by the lonely forest)
T. Greguol: vocal, Nanana’s & Uhuhuh’s
(Lyrics: T. Greguol / Music: Bill & Juninho BIU)
Condolências - Lyrics
CONDOLÊNCIAS
Tem um monte de gente que tá roubando
outro dia me assaltaram na rua;
Ainda bem que só levaram a minha carteira
(da próxima vez podia ser a sua)
Tem um monte de gente que tá matando
Outro dia mataram alguém que conheci
Ainda não sabem quem foi o desgraçaado
e tem uns que ainda não caíram em si
Tem um monte de gente que tá delirando
outro dia é outro e agora é diferente
E continuam dizendo como era costume:
"onde esse mundo vai parar, minha gente?"
Tem um monte de gente que tá surtando,
Outro dia reclamaram do trânsito, da violência e... sei lá ... mais um monte de coisas,
e aí no mesmo dia me falaram sobre ter um filho! Na hora eu parei... e antes de sair, eu dei minhas condolências...
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Bibinho: bateria e "Povo cheio de indignação"!/BIU: solo de guitarra vocal!/Mário Amore: guitarra e "solinho de guitarra de verdade muito lôco"!/Miggy: baixo e "Miggy revoltado"!/Povo indignado: Dennian, Juninho Bill, Luciano Terriaca, Rodrigo EBA!, Rodrigo Greguol e Zé Vicente!/T. Greguol: voz, assobio e "indignatus populi"!
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Condolences
There's a lot of people stealing
certain day someone robbed me in the street,
happily he only took my wallet (next time can be yours)
There's a lot of people killing
certain day someone killed somebody that I met
We still don't know who was the scoundrel
and some people haven't yet fallen in themselves
There's a lot of people delirious
another day is another and now is different
And as usual still they are saying :
"where will stop the world, my people?"
There's lot of freaking people,
Complaining about the transit, the violence .. whatever ... a lot of things,
and in the same day someone talked me about having a son!
At that moment I stopped and before leaving I gave my condolences ...
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Bibinho: drums/BIU: vocal guitar break!/Mario Amore: guitar and crazy guitar break/Miggy: bass/Outraged people: Miggy, Bibinho, Dennian, Juninho and others...