EMQ’s with HER NAME WAS FIRE
Hi everyone! Welcome to our new EMQ’s interview with Lisbon, Portugal based Stoner Rock duo, Her Name Was Fire. Huge thanks to vocalist/guitarist João Campos 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 João, I am the singer and guitarist for the duo Her Name Was Fire. We started in 2016 when I asked Tiago the drummer if he was interested in creating a stoner rock duo, and the chemistry was there from the first jam. So far, we have recorded an EP then our debut LP “Road Antics’” in 2017 that took us to a lot of stages and cool adventures. We are currently working on the release of our second album “Decadent Movement”.
How did you come up with your band name?
We were looking for a name that had all the right ingredients, Her Name Was Fire was the one that best conveyed what we are trying to do musically. It has an element of mystery, danger and it’s clearly a rock’n’roll name that alludes to a femme fatale, so it was a winner combo.
What country are you from and what is the Rock/Metal scene like there?
We are from Portugal, the metal scene here is very active, there are loads of bands, gigs and metal festivals, the most know are Vagos Metal Fest and VOA.
What is your latest release? (Album, EP, Single, Video)
We released the single ‘Allure’ two weeks ago.
Our new album “Decadent Movement” was just released on April 3rd and we are pretty stoked with what this album came to be.
Who have been your greatest influences?
Musically it changed along the time, started with Soundgarden and Alice In Chains, then Tool and Jeff Buckley and then came the stoner phase from Kyuss, QOTSA to Electric Wizard among other things like the classics -Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath or The Doors.
What first got you into music?
Thankfully my brother always had good taste in music and when I was 12/13, he introduced me to all the grunge bands, punk and even metal. I always had a curiosity about musical instruments and when I was 16 a classmate taught me my first chords as well as showing me the classics – he had old Zeppelin, Sabbath and Doors vinyl from his parents.
If you could collaborate with a current band or musician who would it be?
Well I would love to do something with Trent Reznor, that would be out of this world.
If you could play any festival in the world, which would you choose and why?
Tough choice, we still have a lot in our checklist, but from the top of my head Roadburn Festival is definitely one of the top ones. From all we saw about it, it seems to have the coolest vibe, bands and a lot of art happening besides the concerts.
What’s the weirdest gift you have ever received from a fan?
Well nothing too crazy, our fans are pretty chilled, just the occasional shot that you don’t even want to know what is in it!
If you had one message for your fans, what would it be?
Well since we are living in weird times with this pandemic, just stay home, stay safe, take care of each other and blast the new album from the couch. Soon enough we will be enjoying each other’s company with awesome live music.
If you could bring one rock star back from the dead, who would it be?
Probably Jimi Hendrix, he still owes humanity a couple of killer albums.
What do you enjoy the most about being a musician? And what do you hate?
I love creating new songs and playing live. I hate the long waiting hours from the soundcheck to the show.
If you could change one thing about the music industry, what would it be?
Not change but regain something lost, the music industry changed so much that the Labels are no longer interested in creating careers. You either have a hit from the get-go or you are done. Artistic development takes time and nowadays it’s all about how to make money fast.
Name one of your all-time favourite albums?
“Superunknown” from Soundgarden, I don’t know how many hundreds of times I have listened to it. It has inspired me throughout my life and musical journey.
What’s best? Vinyl, Cassettes, CD’s or Downloads?
Downloads and streaming services are without a doubt the most practical, but nothing beats putting on a vinyl and just enjoying it from side to side.
What’s the best gig that you have played to date?
Probably the one gig we opened for Vintage Caravan at RCA Club in Lisbon. Awesome venue, line up and crowd, it was one of the best nights we had for sure.
If you weren’t a musician, what else would you be doing?
Being an illustrator, which is my other passion and source of income.
Which five people would you invite to a dinner party?
Jim Morrison, Bill Hicks, Hunter S. Thompson, Maynard James Keenan and David Bowie. That sounds like a fun night.
What’s next for the band?
Releasing “Decadent Movement” and promoting it as soon as this storm passes. We want to play this album live so bad because these are fun songs to play, we feel they will gain a new depth when we do it live.
What Social Media/Website links do you use to get your music out to people?
You can find us here:
www.instagram.com/hernamewasfire/
www.facebook.com/HerNameWasFire
www.hernamewasfire.bandcamp.com/
Jaffa Cakes? Are they a cake or a biscuit?
The eternal dilemma…Can we just settle for mini cake biscuit?
Thank you for your time. Is there anything else that you would like to add?
Thanks for the interview! Just stay safe and listen to the album “Decadent Movement” which was released on 3rd April 2020
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