1.
André and Virgo
You said in an interview that there will be no problem
to share yourself with your two bands (Shaman and Virgo).
Can we expect a long life for Virgo or just one album
?
Absolutely ! The whole project
with Sascha went out so well, that we're really thinking
to treat it as a normal band, going on tour and, of course,
releasing more albums. Actually there is some more material
already composed, some left-overs from those recordings
that could easily be introduced in the next one ! As for
the tour, we're expecting to start playing as from the
beginning of the next year on, right after the Shaman
record is finished. For now we are just glad to announce
our release-showcase in Paris, on September 26th at the
Virgin Megastore. I hope to see everybody there !
2
& 3. André and
Singing
What is the most important quality for a singer ?
This quality was a gift for you or the result of a lot
of work ?
I think the best quality for a
singer, apart from the voice itself, is to be able to
deal with music as a musician. In other words, I think
it's very important for a singer not to limitate him or
herself to be just a singer, but to try to explore other
musical fields, such as playing a different kind of instrument.
That helps to give you the whole feeling that your voice
should also be treated as an instrument. After that, comes
the whole technical part, practising, exercising and so
on. But nobody is born a professional singer. In my case,
for instance,I had never even considered the possibility
of becoming a singer during my early years. I just wanted
to be a classical piano player.
What would you like to say to somebody who wants to
be a singer (an advice) ?
Just take a look at what I said
above and see if you all agree with me on something. My
biggest advice still is: treat music seriously, whatever
you wanna do with it !
4.
André and
Concerts
With regards to the concerts, do you think that your
career with Shaman is a new beginning or the continuation
of Angra (big concerts, many cities in each countries.)
? Here in France, can we expect some concerts in "little"
cities or just in the "concerts cities" like
Paris or Lyon ?
Shaman is a curious thing, since
it may seem a new band, it's actually not... that means
we are able to maintain almost the same status as before,
but on the other hand it should be dealt with as a re-start...
I think we'll be doing big concerts in big cities, but
we are also going to play some smaller ones in smaller
places. That's what we've been doing so far in Latinamerica
in our first presentations. I'm looking forward to playing
a big tour again, with both big and smaller concerts !
5.
André and
History
In Holy Land, you have related the discovery of Brasil.
In the song Lisbon, you returned to your own origin. What
are your relations with history? Is there any other projects
(in the long list of your projects) about brasilian history
or about your life (a concept album for example) ?
This has always been a very fascinating
subject for me and I think I could never get tired of
relating music to history. For the Shaman debut album,
we're thinking about doing a kind of concept album on
the Shamanism itself, discussing the history of some religions
and creeds and trying to find the relation between every
culture in the world ever. That would include not only
Brazil or Americas', but also an overall view; something
like world-music into heavy metal.
6.
André and the Future
What is the most important thing you would like to
do in the future ?
Keep working with the same people
for a longer time, try to find the best way to live and
work in harmony. Splits and separations are things that
make us grow, and we'll only be able to achieve the best
results if there's integrity within the group. That's
what I'm looking for now. And through this, I believe
we'll be able to deliever the best of us.
7.
André and
Queen
Imagine that you can create an imaginary band (the
best in the universe for you). Who are the Chosen Ones
(dead or alive - vocal, guitar, bass, drums and keyboards)
? André Matos can't be the singer ! :))
Well, well... Ok, for the vocals
I'd call Freddie Mercury; I'd have Brian May on the guitars,
John Deacon on the bass and Roger Taylor on drums... And
what about Andre Matos on the keyboards ???
8.
André and
Changes
In an interview, you said « Everybody changes
along the years". Can we explain your leaving from
Viper and Angra with this changes ? If future shows that
you have changed another time, is it possible for you
to leave Shaman ?
I really hope not. Like I said
above, it's enough of "changes" for now ...
I really would like to develop a nice and steady working
relationship together with Shaman forever if possible
! We always change thinking for the best and thinking
about correcting the mistakes we did in the past. Always
looking ahead. Although some changes may hurt, we always
learn from them, and if something does not kill you completely,
it can make you stronger. But I think I had my good quote
of changes and now I'm just expecting a good time.
9.
André and the
Past
If you could travel in time, what would you like to
change in your musical career and in your life, in general
?
I can't really say; everything
happened in such a crazy sequence where I no longer had
control over... I started out as a classical music student
and that's what I was supposed to do for the rest of my
life, but on the opposite I found myself deep into Rock
and Metal and then there was no way out. I didn't know
whether there would have been other musical fields where
I
could perform - and that's actually what I'm experiencing
right now with Virgo. Therefore I guess everything happened
in the right time for my career so I don't have a reason
why I should change anything.
10.
André and Mysticism
Your lyrics often make allusions to contemplation
and hope. On several occasions, mystical concepts appear
(Angels Cry, Paradise, Holy Land, Lullaby For Lucifer,
Evil Warning, Renaissance, etc.). What is the place of
religion in your life and why allusions are so frequent
in your songs ?
I'm not an officially religious
person, I don't have an specific creed and I don't attend
to cults. As most of brazilians I was born and baptized
catholic but the church never had an important role in
my life. Although I do respect the whole history and I'm
crazy about its Mithology and temples - but the same goes
for all other things; actually I think that's an advantage
because I feel free to flert with many different kinds
of religions and try to get the best out of them. On the
other hand, I believe I'm a very spiritual and even mystic
type of person, something that I really work out with
music. I see music as my own religion and whenever I experience
any kind of spiritual phenomenon, music is always present.
11.
André and Friends
Why have you recorded so many different songs with
other bands (Avantasia, Sagrado, Time Machine, Looking
Glass-Self, etc.) ? For the money, friendship, new musical
horizons... ?
Never for the money !! I would
be rich if I did so ! : ) No, I've never charged a single
cent for my participation in a recording, that's a rule
For me - and if I did all those things, it was only for
one reason: friendship. Besides that, It's always great
to be performing with other different musicians, it has
opened up my mind pretty much and I think I grew up a
lot as a musician. I'm very proud of all my appearances
and I hope all the friends who invited me are happy as
well !
12.
André and
Football
Imagine an International Heavy Metal football team.
What is your position on the playing field (goalkeeper,
defender, the bench (?).) ? It's a metaphorical question
:)))
Good question ! Going back to my
adolescence, I used to be the goal keeper in my school
class team... but the problem was my bad sight (I've got
5 degrees on each eye !) so it was kind of catastrophic
sometimes! Then I moved to defence; it's a position that
could be more flexible ! But talking about a Metal or
musical team, I guess my place would be on the mid-field;
I'm not the one who likes to be scoring goals the whole
time, I'd rather appreciate the ability of creating the
whole game. Something like a composer. It's a more creative
position !
13.
André and
Litteracy
The talented portuguese author Fernando Pessoa is
quoted in Holy Land (God upon the sea.). What was his
real function in the album writing (just a quote or a
more important source of inspiration with "Ode Maritima"
or other written works) ? Who are your favourite writers
(and books) ?
Before writing the lyrics for Holy
Land I read the whole compilation of Fernando Pessoa's
poems, including "Mar Portuguez" and others.
It played an essencial role in inspiring me and get me
to the whole atmosphere and ambientation of the Discovery
Times. He is, in my opinion, the greatest poet in the
portuguese language and one of the greatest of the world
ever. I've got some other favourite writers; among them
is the french Victor Hugo and the colombian Garcia Marquez.
14.
André and a Weird
Question
What is the question nobody ask to you ?
I think nobody ever asked me exactly
what you're asking now: "what's the question nobody
has ever asked you..." There might be a million questions
apart from that one that were never asked. But it would
be a way too boring if I had already answered all the
possible questions... Anyway, I'll always be there to
sincerely answer anything !
André
and the
END
To finish in beauty, a little word for your french
audience :
It's not enough to say "thanks
for your support"... More than that I'd like to thank
your everlasting friendship and for making this contact
between all of us something else other than just a professional
fact. It's very nice what we can learn from each other
and I'm looking forward to see you all soon and be close
again !
Salut a tout le monde !
André.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
MANY THANKS FOR TAKING
PART IN THIS INTERVIEW
Mathieu Teissier
webmaster
9.09.2001
13h31
