EMQ’s with Dowzah
EMQ’s with Dowzah
Hi everyone! Welcome to another EMQs interview, this time with Brazilian Doom Metallers, Dowzah. Huge thanks to their vocalist Italo Guardieiro 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?
My name is Italo and I’m the vocalist. In 2014, when my other band, called Device, completed 10 years of existence, I organized a commemorative concert and invited some friendly bands to participate, including one called Into the Dust. During this event, Sandro, bassist of Into the Dust, and I started talking about the idea of forming a band together, with a more Doom-oriented sound.
In mid-2016 or 2017, we really tried to put the idea into practice and did a single rehearsal, but the initiative did not go ahead. In 2022, we decided to resume the project. We managed to carry out a sequence of rehearsals, compose some songs and consolidate what I consider our first formation: Italo on vocals, Sandro Santos on bass, Luan Lima on guitar and Sandro Marra on drums.
With that, we were able to define the band’s name, create the logo and consolidate our sound, it’s doom/sludge. In 2023, Sandro Santos decided to leave the band, but we called Mario Alvez to take over the bass.
In early 2024, we entered the studio to record our first single, Rotten Sorcery, released in March. That same year, we played our first show and already achieved good national notoriety, in addition to attracting eyes from outside the country.
We are currently in the process of producing our first album.
How did you come up with your band name?
The idea for the name of our band came from an article I was reading about a crater in Turkmenistan, called Darvaza, which releases gases and sets fire. It continues to burn to this day. The name Darvaza means “the Gate”, being associated with the concept of “The Gate of Hell”. At first, I started calling the band Darvaza, inspired by this idea.
However, in the meantime, a Black Metal band with the same name had already gained quite a bit of notoriety. So, we started to rethink the name. That’s when I suggested Dowzah, which has the same origin as Darvaza, but means “Hell”. Since we couldn’t be “the gate”… we decided to be “hell”.
What Country / Region are you from and what is the Metal / Rock scene like there?
We are from Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, where, of course, all the political gangs are centralized. Here, the metal scene is very diverse, which is great. We have a wide variety of styles and bands, which makes it very rich. In my view, it is on the rise.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
It was the single ‘Rotten Sorcery’ of 2024. But we are currently producing our first album.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Black Sabbath, Conan, Fudge Tunnel, Celtic Frost, Crowbar, Weedeater, Eletric Wizard, Sleep, YOB, Dopethrone, Eyehategod, Melvins…
What first got you into music?
A SNES game called Rock and Roll Racing, a classic one.
Ah, MTV’s Fúria Metal*. This saved a lot!
*Fúria Metal was a TV Metal show, similar to Headbangers Ball, that was hosted by Gastão Moreira when MTV Brazil started its broadcast in the early 90’s.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician, who would it be?
Max Cavalera, for sure. I’m too much of a fan!
If you could play any festival in the world, which one would you choose and why?
Roadburn or Obscene Extreme. A dream for those who make extreme sounds.
What’s the weirdest gift you’ve ever received from a fan?
Marijuana, ganja, cannabis…
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Thank you to everyone who supported and still supports our beginning. Be patient, our new material is coming.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Damn, it’s too many people to choose just one, but at the moment: Ozzy!
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
Being on stage, among friends, making a sound, meeting new people who identify with what we are doing… That’s awesome.
Now, recording sucks. The technical process, the repetitions, those details that are never 100%… it takes away from the fun. The final result is even worthwhile, but this middle part is boring.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
It needed more transparency in finances and digital platforms, so that artists could make a living from what they really do. No more being exploited, while platforms and large companies take everything.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
Renato Teixeira & Pena Branca and Xavantinho, live in Tatuí
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CDs, or Downloads?
Better is a very strong word. But I’ll keep the CDs.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
It may sound cliché, but the first show we did was badass. It had an absurd heaviness! And the occasion was even more special, as it was a benefit concert to help rebuild our friend JP’s studio, where we rehearsed, which was flooded after a heavy rain.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
I’m not a musician. So, I’m a broken guy who turns around every month to pay the bills and have a little fun.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Zico, Max Cavalera, Ozzy, Gastão (Fúria MTV) and my grandfather Bené.
What’s next for the band?
We are producing our first full album, some things are already advanced… others in progress. But it’s happening. Then we hope to play more to spread these sounds.
What Social Media / Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
https://www.instagram.com/dowzah
https://www.facebook.com/dowzahdoom
https://www.youtube.com/@Dowzah
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!
Send some boxes of it here for us to know. This does not exist in the third world. Then I will be able to give my opinion.
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
I thank you for the space. See you soon. Bye!
Disclaimer: This interview is solely the property of Ever Metal. It is strictly forbidden to copy any part of this interview, unless you have the strict permission of said party. Failure to adhere to this will be treated as plagiarism and will be reported to the relevant authorities.