EMQ’s With O Maldito
EMQ’s With O Maldito
06/02/2024
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
My name is Rubão, vocalist and bassist for O Maldito. The band began in 2017, in Curitiba-Paraná/BR and with Jefferson and Toni on guitars and Koreia on drums. The band has a heavy and sludgy sound with lyrics reflecting on human nature, existential conflicts and exposing hate and hypocrisy and are sung in Portuguese.
How did you come up with your band name?
It’s a reference to so-called damned artists (like poets, writers, musicians and philosophers) also a reference to Boca Maldita, a location in our city (Curitiba) where many popular protests happened.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from Brazil, more specifically Curitiba (capital city of Paraná) in the south region. Our city is named the rock capital of Brazil, with a very active local scene.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We’re currently working on our first album’s release, the self-titled album O Maldito and we plan to release 3 videos also.
Who have been your greatest influences?
My main influences are AC/DC (Bon Scott Era), Motorhead, Black Sabbath, Slayer, Ministry and Rotting Christ and many local names like Los Antiguos and O’Connor (from Argentina) and from Brazil Inocentes, Devotos and Bezerra da Silva.
The band’s influences vary a lot from Classic Metal to Thrash, Prog and even some newer stuff like Djent.
What first got you into music?
Not sure, I’ve had a taste for music since I was a child, mainly rock and its many sub-genres. I always liked writing for a long time and this influenced me greatly to want to be in a band.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Sepultura, I’ve always had a great admiration for Andreas and Paulo. Amazing musicians and all they did for the genre and Brazilian music outside the country, the difficulties they faced, criticism and being discredited, they’re examples of respect for Heavy Metal.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Every musician wants to be on a stage, to connect with people. And it’s always a new experience. Meaning I’d go play anywhere haha. That being said, Rock in Rio is a dream for every Brazilian musician and Wacken is the dream for every metalhead.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I don’t remember receiving anything weird so far, maybe the guys got something and hid from me hahaha.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
We are very happy to know that people are liking our work. That motivates us to keep going, keep working and evolving. To know that this is not only our dream, that it is shared and we want to share it with more people.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Bon Scott, IMHO one of the greatest vocalists of all time and unfortunately he passed way too soon. A real frontman.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Writing and playing are great, seeing people liking our stuff and identifying with our message is an incredible feeling. Hate? The wait to play again.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Not sure, the whole thing is moved by money and I get it, you can only play if people will pay to see you play. Wish there was more space for new artists but again, money…. It’s never an easy path to walk on but we’re doing our best.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
AC/DC’s “Let There Be Rock”, an album with a very impactful sound.Guitars, drums, bass and vocals, everything appears sharp and yet wild. Bon Scott’s best compositions are in here: ‘Overdose’, ‘Hell Ain’t a Bad Place’, ‘Bad Boy Boogie’.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
I’m very fond of vinyls, but if the music reaches people it could be by smoke signs for all I care.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Our financial reality doesn’t allow us to live as full time musicians. I am a public server, Jefferson is a philosophy teacher, Toni is a programmer and Koreia makes dental prosthesis.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Bruce Dickinson, Sharon Osbourne, David Gilmour, Roger Waters and Glenn Danzig. Why? Some men just want to see the world burn hahaha.
What’s next for the band?
Right now the focus is on the next releases but we’re already working on new songs.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Time for a very British question now. As an alternative to the humble sandwich, is the correct name for a round piece of bread common in the UK either a Bap, a Barm (or Barm Cake), a Batch, a Bun, a Cob, a Muffin, a Roll or a Tea Cake?
I’m going with Bap, I like the sound (but I’ve never heard most of these names hahaha).
Thank you for your time.
