EMQ’s With Urdza
EMQ’s With Urdza
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Brazilian Heavy/ Thrash Metallers, Urdza. Huge thanks to their guitarist, Hugo do Prado, 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?
Hi everyone, I’m Hugo do Prado, one of the guitarists for Urdza. We formed back in 2017, when we chose our name and began writing our own music. While we’ve been working on our music since then, we only recently released our debut album and truly began our journey.
How did you come up with your band name?
“Urdza” pays homage to Magic: The Gathering, a card game I play competitively. The name itself echoes that of a key character from the game’s rich lore. Magic’s expansive history and diverse card pool have served as a significant source of inspiration for our lyrics.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from São Paulo, Brazil, a city with a surprisingly vibrant and diverse metal scene. We’re part of a new wave of bands exploring different styles and influences. It’s an exciting time to be making music here and we are lucky to start our journey exactly at this moment.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We have just released our debut album, “A War with Myself,” featuring 10 tracks. We’ve also created and released four music videos
Who have been your greatest influences?
Our sound is rooted in heavy and thrash metal, influenced by iconic bands like Iron Maiden, Judas Priest, Megadeth, and Metallica. While these four are central to our musical DNA, we’re not limited by them; we explore a wider range of influences, but these bands’ style form the core of our sound.
What first got you into music?
I vividly remember watching MTV’s Top 10 countdown at my cousin’s house back in 1997. That was the moment I truly discovered rock and metal. I started picking up albums from the bands I’d seen, and then after a while I borrowed an Iron Maiden record. It was love at first listen. From there, I dove headfirst into the world of metal, and the rest, as they say, is history.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
While collaborating with established names in the music industry would be incredible, I believe it’s even more productive to work with and support bands at our level, especially those within our local scene. Strengthening the metal community around us is a priority.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Our dream is to play Rock in Rio, a legendary festival with a rich history here in Brazil. Another dream for us is the Wacken Open Air, a festival that truly needs no introduction.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
I haven’t received anything too unusual yet, but it’s still surreal to hear people say they love our music.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Support your local and smaller bands! There are so many talented artists emerging who deserve to be heard.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
André Matos, a legendary Brazilian vocalist, best known for his work with Viper, Angra, and Shaman.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I enjoy being able to express myself doing the music style I like and exactly the way we from the band want to hear it. I don’t hate anything yet, but the price of music equipment here in Brazil is definitely a challenge.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
I find the entire copyright system to be deeply flawed. I believe a potential solution could be found by looking at the model that emerged with the free and open-source software movement.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
If I had to pick a single song, it would be “Painkiller” by Judas Priest. For an album, it’s Megadeth’s Rust in Peace. And if I could only choose one discography, it would be Iron Maiden’s.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Vinyl offers a nostalgic experience, along with the appeal of large-format artwork. The format also influenced the mastering we appreciate, as lower frequencies had to be adjusted to fit on the disc. Cassettes allowed for personalized playlists and the ability to record over them. CDs are compact and convenient. Ultimately, though, technology advances, and streaming services now put virtually the entire music catalog at our fingertips. While the discussion about fair artist compensation in the streaming era is crucial, the sheer accessibility of music today is unparalleled compared to previous formats.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
We recently had the incredible opportunity to open for Marco Mendoza here in São Paulo. The energy that night was fantastic!
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Besides music, I also work in IT. I’m a huge computer enthusiast—it’s not every day you see a certified Linux administrator rocking out to metal!
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
My four bandmates and one additional person, chosen by a band vote. Just imagining the debates we’d have if we could pick anyone in the world to join us is pretty hilarious.
What’s next for the band?
This year, our main focus is playing live shows to promote our album. We’ve also landed an incredible opportunity to open for Saxon here in Brazil—it’s a dream come true! In addition to touring, we’ve begun composing new material for our next release, which we plan to record and release next year.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/urdza
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Urdza
Streamings: https://urdza.hearnow.com/
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 not very familiar with the UK’s extensive bread terminology, but I’d probably go with either “bap” or “cob.” Since a cob often has a firmer crust, I’m leaning towards bap. It’s great to have learned so many new terms; now I’ll know what to ask for when I visit!
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thank you as well! I’d like to say to everyone: please support your local metal scene, wherever you are. Support small bands, and support metal media. There are so many dedicated people working hard to promote deserving metal bands, and they deserve all the recognition they can get.
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