Glasya, a Symphonic Metal band featuring 6 members that have a variety of influences and styles in their backgrounds, originated a sound with a wide ra…nge, from Classic to Ethnic to the more powerful metal riffs. Project took off composition and pre-production of the original songs while achieving the stability of the current Line-up. In 2018
Interview conducted on September 17, 2020
By Dan Locke
Glasya, a Symphonic Metal band featuring 6 members that have a variety of influences and styles in their backgrounds, originated a sound with a wide range, from Classic to Ethnic to the more powerful metal riffs. Project took off composition and pre-production of the original songs while achieving the stability of the current Line-up. In 2018, Glasya showed themselfs to the audience with their single “Heaven’s Demise”, a single featured in the full lenght album released in July 2019.
Band Members
Eduarda Soeiro – Vocals
Davon Van Dave – Keyboards, Orchestrations
Manuel Pinto – Bass
Hugo Esteves – Guitars
Bruno Prates – Lead Guitars
Bruno Ramos – Drums
What is your upbringing?
Hugo Esteves: Hello Daniel and Unrated Magazine team. First of all thank you for the interview and for us it is a great pleasure.
As a matter of fact, my upbringing has the presence of music, but in a normal way, I mean…my parents were not musicians. So, I listen to some music that they like, mostly rock music, but not heavy music or something like that.
At the age 13, I entered at Instituto Militar dos Pupilos do Exército, a military school, and it was there that I discovered heavy music, with my best friend’s brother, who was older than us. After that, it was a snowball, always finding new bands and new sounds.
How did you discover music?
As I said, I listen to music at home and holidays with my parents and their friends. I start to like some bands…my mother heard Scorpions, Guns n´Roses, Bon Jovi, etc…and after that, i discover heavy bands and it caused curiosity because it´s sound very different and I remember to think: ” ooh…it’s so different…it´s very cool”. It’s about something like that…
How did you start to write music?
My grandparents buy me a guitar…a Squier. Later I started to have some lessons with a friend of my grandparents.
After that, I started to make some demos and tried to gather some ideas. We started a band and played some covers and originals, but it didn’t last long and we split.
How did you get your first guitar, and do you still have it?
As I mentioned it was a gift from my grandparents. Actually, I don´t have it…a friend of mine has it, and sometimes I play with it.
What was your first performance like?
hmhmhm…it’s about 5 songs i think and it was in a final school party. It’s not anything amazing, but at the time it was a very cool thing.
What was the title of your first original song? Did you record it?
No, I don’t remember, but it´s not something with too much sense ahahah. We don’t record it, we only play in our studio.
How did you start the band?
At the time I listened to different bands, and some of them had orchestral elements, and I love it. So, I think…” why not try something like that?”. It was not easy to find elements to start the band, but over time it started to go well and we tried to create a band that could join orchestral elements and metal with a more dramatic and cinematic way.
How did the band get its name?
Glasya is a name that was suggested by a founder member of the band. Represents a divinity that’s also a demon. In our interpretation, it means the female strength and also the polarity of the human being between good and evil.
How was your first performance in 2018?
It was in a venue that no longer exists.
We schedule that with a band friend of ours. We have some problems with the sound at the beginning, but in the end everything went well.
Was your latest video “Cancão do Mar” live in the studio?
No, it wasn’t something recorded live. We recorded in parts and tried to spend as little time as possible together, to avoid major problems.
Why did you decide to immortalize the voice of Amalia Rodrigues?
This year Amália Rodrigues is celebrating 100 years of her birth. The reinterpretation arises from the will to spread the Portuguese culture and music sing in its mother tongue, to a wider group of new listeners who have discovered what is made in Portugal by different national talents, and there is no better way to honor the past that brings it to the present.
It has been 2 years since Heaven’s Demise. You were in the middle of making the new album and the virus hit. How is the album coming?
For now we are in the pre-production phase, but it is true that it is not an easy time for anyone.
We are doing our best and trying to enter the studio at the end of the year.
What is your favorite track on the album?
There is no favorite song yet…Ahahaha
How do you stay healthy while touring?
Some of us have not stopped working. We have taken the greatest possible care.
We have been working online and doing everything by computer, but sometimes isn’t easy.
What are you feeling about streaming music?
I think it’s a complicated subject.
Things have evolved, changed. It is something that exists and will continue to exist, but it is still not working the best way.
Digital vs. vinyl?
I prefer vinyl. It’s a matter of tastes and there is also the practical part, but not everyone thinks the same way.
Your last show was on Feb. 22, 2020. At the time you have heard about the virus. And on March 2 Portugal reported the death of two men. What were you thinking at that time. Did you think the virus would have affected your life the way it did?
I remember at the time, talking to each other and starting to think that some things could change. Maybe some concerts would be canceled if things got worse, but we didn’t think it would last that long and with so many complications.
Do you think kids should go back to school his fall?
Yes I think so, but taking into account the reality we are experiencing.
What song from the past is in your mind right now? Moreover, what is the meaning that song means to you?
I don’t have any particular music on my mind right now. Sometimes I remember songs that give us strength and show how we should help and support ourselves, and not spend energy on negative issues.
How do you feel the Covid-19 virus going to affect the music business in the future?
It is already happening. The whole world of spectacle and culture is suffering and without a doubt, it will have great consequences. I do not know how it will affect in the future, but so far it has already done great damage and that no one reverses.
What have you been doing with your self-quarantine?
I’ve been rehearsing. During class, I accompanied my daughter and helped her.
I have seen films … we have seen many films and documentaries. And we’ve been preparing the new album.
Have you discovered or rediscovered any new hobbies?
We try to do different things. I live near the beach and that’s why we have been running, walking.
At home we play more family games too and we have made some home changes.
95% of people said that they have changed the way they watch television. Which is your favorite streaming channel?
When I watch television, it is usually Discovery or National Geographic. We are not in the habit of watching our programs or news. It is not just now, it is a habit for a longer time.
We also see concerts from some bands and festivals.
Many artists are doing nightly concerts over either YouTube, Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram. Doing this time you were doing something called an Acoustic Session and also We are the ones. How did you decide to go that way with the quarantine sessions?
The song We are the ones was something that made sense to us at that time. Something to convey the message of strength and to believe.
The acoustic sessions were different. It was just to show our songs in a smoother way and because we liked the final result.
Live Nations just started Live Nation from Home? Which are concerts from artist homes. An all-new virtual music hub keeping fans connected to their favorite artists featuring daily live streams, performances, new music, and more. Do you think it will be possible to make a living doing concerts this way?
Complicated question … in the extreme, if there is no other way, it will have to be. But I think it will be the same, neither for the artists nor for the public. Things are not lived the same way, the enthusiasm is different and over time this has different results. But I don’t think anyone knows how to manage that situation yet.
For smaller bands who do not play large crowds, this is not really an issue. How do you see bands going back to smaller venues and doing things like play for the door, with no guarantees?
As I said before, it is very complicated. I don’t see some bands working that way, but let’s see how things continue to go. Many people live off these businesses, and that alone will not be enough to keep things active, I think
This year Femme (Female Metal Event) which was going to happen, is now cancelled. It has been rescheduled for April 2021. Do you think it will happen?
Yes, it’s true. for now, it’s postponed but we are not 100% sure that it will take place on that date. Things can improve as they can get worse, so there are no certainties.
With Social Distance being the norm. Do you feel that it may be the end of the music fest for the next couple of years?
In our country, we had events that took place, so for now, the question I think is, whether it can be done or not. It just doesn’t make sense to me that some things exist and others don’t, for whatever reason. If events are to be held, it should be for everyone and with adapted standards.
This issue has an impact, far beyond just watching the concert live or on TV. Coexistence and the social part have a big impact on our daily lives and we still don’t know how to deal with the lack of it. It was something that was taken for granted … it was normal.
What about Holographic concerts in our living room?
It’s a new idea on the same basis as streaming. It is not something real and in person.
How do you see yourself in the next five years?
I see myself doing my best … I hope things go back to the normal we used to know. I will continue to help anyone I can and participate in events that help and support people.
I believe that things will evolve and improve.
Anything you would like to say in closing ?
Yes, I would like to thank you for all the support we have had. Thanking all the people who have helped us achieve our goals and who have worked with us It is great to feel that we have help and that we are also available for whatever is needed.
Stay tuned that we will have more news and we will believe that things will improve.
