EMQs with Diffen
EMQs with Diffen
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQS interview, this time with Brazilian Heavy Metal/Hard Rock band, Diffen. Huge thanks to their Bassist Zeca Dom and the Vocalist Jhonny Viana, for taking part.
What is your name, what do you play and can you tell us a little bit about the history of the band?
Zeca Dom: I’m Zeca Dom (bassist).
Jhonny Viana: I’m Johnny, (vocalist). Formed in 2022, the band DIFFEN, from Brasília, has emerged as a creative force in the music scene. Their journey is marked by a remarkable evolution, blending elements of Progressive Rock, Hard Rock, Heavy Metal, and even classical music, resulting in a powerful sonic identity. Led by the versatile vocals of Jhonny Viana, accompanied by the intense riffs of Filipe Guedes, the energetic beats of Thiago Brito, the rhythmic groove of Zeca Dom, and the creative, classical touch of Anna Gaertner, DIFFEN delivers a rich and engaging musical experience.
In 2024, the band released four impactful singles: ‘Not Your Fault’, ‘Death Is Not The End’, ‘DICE’, and ‘Think About It’, each showcasing their ability to explore emotions and tell memorable stories. Their dedication earned them the “Balbúrdia do Rock Independente” Award in 2025 for the “Heavy Metal Releases” category, also a second place in the “Band of the Year 2024” category.
Additionally, DIFFEN solidified its presence on the local scene by participating in iconic Brasília events, such as “Capital Moto Week” and independent festivals. The band stands as living proof that passion, talent, and innovation can lead artists to new heights. For fans of rock and quality music, DIFFEN is undoubtedly a name to watch.
Balbúrdia do Rock Independente Awards
How did you come up with your band name?
Zeca Dom: Not sure, I must confess. It seems that ‘DIFFEN’ is short for ‘different’. The name converges to our different cultural backgrounds and trajectories before we met in our band.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Zeca Dom: We are from Brazil, the land of metal bands Sepultura and Angra. Brazil is a huge country, with a plethora of regional influences such as the indigenous people, Afro-Brazilian rhythms and cultures, and the Portuguese practices.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Jhonny Viana: The song ‘Think About It’
Who have been your greatest influences?
Zeca Dom: I could say some about my bandmates: Classic heavy metal (Jhonny); Angra and Dream Theater (Filipe and Thiago); Post Punk and Gothic (Anna Gaertner). Personally, I used to listen to diverse rock genres, particularly, Post-punk/ Gothic, American Hardcore, and Industrial. In the realm of heavy metal basses, I really love Megadeth, Motorhead, and 80’s metal bands.
What first got you into music?
Zeca Dom: Hahahaha, nice question. We are surrounded by music every day, everywhere, I believe. For this reason, I can not point out in my past the exact moment when the music ‘popped out’ in my life. To be precise with a moment: I began playing in a school marching band and then I went to Brasilia music conservatory. There I studied music theory and double bass.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Zeca Dom: Not sure. I would say any Industrial band with distorted basses and samples. Personally, I do not see myself playing/ collaborating with anyone else like DIFFEN. Besides, I do have my personal music projects where I explore my creativity in other music styles I like (https://soundcloud.com/notactors).
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Zeca Dom: This one is easy: Hellfest!!!!!!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Zeca Dom: A compliment. One day, a fan asked me if I could teach him bass. I felt honoured!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Zeca Dom: Believe in yourself and in your creativity. Certainly, I will find more people like you!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Zeca Dom: Oh. Cliff Burton would be great. Maybe if he were alive, Metallica guys would be less arrogant and more innovative. Lemmy Kilmister, definitely. Neil Peart (what a loss!)
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Zeca Dom: To me, to be a musician meant to be a person with another world view: people, postures and so on. For this reason, I hate some musicians who insist on being dumb people, politically speaking.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Zeca Dom: Everything! Hahahaha. Seriously: I would say that today streaming services could pay more to artists. As we know, it is very hard to live exclusively playing music — this is true not only for countries like Brazil. And the streaming services are part of this problem: some artists have millions of listeners, and it is not translated to them on money.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Zeca Dom: The Stooges’ “Funhouse” (1970): all the anger, energy, noise and distortion belong to that album. But my list is far more extensive.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Zeca Dom: All of them. That’s what’s amazing about this century: we have many different media at same time: Beautiful vinyl arts; the noiseless CDs; lo-fi cassettes (short budget bands love it) and free (at least in Brazil….) downloads.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Zeca Dom: Here in Brazil: my band opened to Ratos de Porão and Sepultura for 25,000 metalheads. This was really insane.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Zeca Dom: A producer.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Zeca Dom: My band. The 5th will be Anna’s partner… hahahaha. Alternatively, it would be fun to imagine a table with Lemmy, Les Claypool, Geddy Lee, Gail Ann Dorsey and Peter Hook— to mention some of real kick ass bass players.
What’s next for the band?
Zeca Dom: Play more gigs, create and record more songs. And play gigs abroad.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://www.instagram.com/diffenband
https://www.youtube.com/@DiffenBand
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
Zeca Dom: ???????
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Zeca Dom: Thanks for the questions. I hope to see you in your country soon!
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