EMQs With Murderess
EMQs With Murderess
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Brazilian Death Metal band, Murderess. Huge thanks to their vocalist, Claudia Franco, and to their guitarist, Jazz Kaipora, 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?
Claudia Franco: My name is Claudia Franco, I’m the vocalist of Murderess and one of the band’s founders along with Jazz Kaipora, the guitarist.
Jazz and I created the band with the goal of entering the Brasília underground scene, delivering messages, stories, and impactful themes about what it’s like to be a woman in society. Given that Brasília still has high numbers of femicides every day, we decided it was important not only to play and have fun but to use the band as a voice for all the women who support the underground scene.
How did you come up with your band name?
Claudia Franco: The idea for the name came from Jazz Kaipora, making a connection with murders in which women take possession of their acts as a defense mechanism, and revenge. The name “Murderess”, as it suggests, is strong and impactful, meant to express female resistance provoked by all the hatred we see in society.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
Claudia Franco: We’re from Brasília/DF (Brazil). The scene here has always been present. In the DF there are several bands that shaped the local scene in Brasília, for a long time it was always great, then it had its hiatus phase that ended for now, with new bands with new sound proposals and different types of genres. We are very happy to have a voice in this new scenario and that we can always pass on a new message.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
Claudia Franco: We released our EP “Time to Kill” on 08/01/2024, available on all digital platforms. We also released a video for our song “Queen of Swords,” available on YouTube.
MURDERESS – Queen Of Swords (video) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dZjra2KXho8&list=RDdZjra2KXho8&start_radio=1
Who have been your greatest influences?
Claudia Franco: We can say we’re definitely touched by Bolt Thrower, Sepultura, and Obituary.
What first got you into music?
Claudia Franco: Since childhood, I’ve had contact with music. I come from a family of musicians, and my father was a big fan of Classic and 70s Progressive Rock, so it had a strong impact on my upbringing. Over the years, I grew up playing acoustic guitar, which supported me in creating my own versions of songs and inspired me to sing. Eventually, I gravitated toward more extreme music, the Heavy Metal.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Claudia Franco: We always mention the band Valhalla from Brasília, an old-school Death Metal band composed of women who had a great impact on the underground scene. It would be an honour to play with them someday.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Claudia Franco: My dream isn’t just to go see a show there, but to actually play at the Obscene Extreme Festival, no doubt!
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Claudia Franco: Does a hater message count? Jokes aside, I think we haven’t received any weird gifts so far.
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Claudia Franco: Never doubt your own ability to go after what you want. I always wanted to have a band but never believed in myself enough to make it happen, until now. If you’re good at something, go after your dreams and don’t let anyone else validate your goals or tell you what you should or shouldn’t do. Believe in yourself!
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Claudia Franco: Chuck Schuldiner, without a doubt.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Claudia Franco: The best part is composing and having creative freedom to make music.
The downside is sometimes giving too much for a return that may not be viable—it can be exhausting. But it always brings valuable lessons.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Kaipora: It’s hard to answer without the urge to write an entire anti-capitalist manifesto, hahaha. I think the issues I see in the music industry are symptoms of a cruel and degrading society. Profit is coming before everything, as human lives or dignity, and of course, art is also oppressed by it. So, it doesn’t remain too much for the artists in this musical industry. If I had the power, I’d change absolutely everything!
Luckily, we still see powerful artists who manage to break through these barriers, despite all odds.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Claudia Franco: Arise – Sepultura
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs or Downloads?
Claudia Franco: I don’t think there is such a thing as better or worse, we are in a time when the ease of getting music content from bands, projects that we like is increasingly accessible. But what I can say is that the quality and care of valuing music and art in full of physical content (vinyl, CD, etc.) is really priceless. For those who really like the band, it is a gratifying gift of the work.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Claudia Franco: I think they were all incredible—especially because we’ve played in many places and felt the energy of different crowds. It’s always great to experience new environments. I’d say it’s a rewarding learning process.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Claudia Franco: Besides being a vocalist, I’ve worked in the field of social communication for a long time. So I’d definitely focus more on that career.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Kaipora: Max Cavalera, Dercy Gonçalves, Mike Patton, Luana Dameto, Jo Bench.
What’s next for the band?
Claudia Franco: On July 30th we’re releasing our second EP “Time to Kill Vol. 2”.
So stay tuned for our next sonority murder!
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/intl-pt/artist/3FUgBhZbqzZZljyt0fSvX7
Bandcamp: https://murderessdeath.bandcamp.com/album/time-to-kill
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@murderessBand
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/murderess.band/
There’s a long-standing food-based debate here in the UK. And we’d like your help. So… A Jaffa cake – is it a cake or a biscuit? Discuss!
Kaipora: I had to look it up to find out. Clearly a biscuit, but I think we’ll have to go straight to the source to give a final verdict!
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Kaipora: We would like to salute all the women in the world who are part of the underground Heavy Metal scene.
There are many of us and we have always been there. As in many other artistic areas, the contribution of women in the heavy music scene has always been subjugated. However, whether in compositions, productions, backstage, logistics, administration and also in the invisible work of physical and mental care; women have always been present in every step of this scene.
Therefore, here is our admiration to all who have followed and continue to follow this path!
You are incredible, may our strength grow even greater!
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