Distraught

Interview by: Valkyrie

(Valkyrie) Hi, Andre I want to thank
you for taking time to do an interview with me. How are you doing darlin?….

(Andre Meyer) Hi, Valkyrie I’m doing
great, it’s my pleasure to be answering your questions. You have always
supported Distraught and we’re very grateful for all you do and have done for
us…..

(Val) I love Distraught it’s an
honor for me to support such a great band and friends at same time. The band
started in 1990 can you give me a little history?….

(Andre) When we started playing it was just for fun.
There has been many line up changes over the years leaving me as the only
original member. In 2005 Nelson Casagrande joined on bass he is an awesome
musician. Since then there have been no more changes we have a strong solid
line up…..

(Val) You just released
“Unnatural Display of Art” which is your forth full length album.
Which I happen to think is fantastic, so what has been the response to album?….

(Andre) “UNNATURAL” was release two
months ago, the response has been very positive. We are happy with the feed back we have been
receiving from the people, radios, magazines, etc. on how much they are liking
it. Distraught and Heros Trench (KORZUS) produced the new album. The way Heros mixed the album made it sound
even heavier. He did a great job and we are very pleased with final product…..

(Val) The album art is wicked! You have a whole new myspace layout who is
artist?….

(Andre) Marcelo Vasco did the cd
cover as well as the myspace layout. We like his work very much. I am sure we
will work with him more in the future…..

(Val) I talk to and support many
Brazilian bands. I get told a lot that support for these bands is not the best
from your country. Do you find this to be true?
What is the metal scene like in your city?….

(Andre) Well….my city is ….Porto Alegre….. The metal
scene isn’t the strongest in ..Brazil..,
….São Paulo…. has
has the biggest metal scene. Here in my city you will find many great bands
such as Krisiun, Rebaelliun, Hibria etc. A Brazilian band needs to get very
well known abroad to have more support in ….Brazil………

(Val) Hahah….Andre when you
talking about all great bands in your city you forgot a big one for me
anyway…..hahahah Distraught!! I find it sad that in ….Brazil…. a band
has to be known other places to get notice and support. I know you have toured
much of ….Brazil….
how were these shows?….

(Andre) We have always been welcome
where we played. If people don’t know us, they begin to like Distraught after
the gig…..

(Val) Who have been some of bands
you have toured with? Is there any show or shows that stand out in your mind,
that if you could, you want to do it all over again?….

(Andre) Krisiun, Hibria, The Ordher,
Torture Squade, Tankard, Destruction, Vader etc. As for ones that stand out
when we played with Destruction in Belém a city in north ..Brazil.. and when we play in ….Uruguay…. with
Criminal…..

(Val) Wow you have toured with some
great bands I wish I could have been present for all of them. What are some of
bands that influence Distraught?….

(Andre) Kreator, Slayer and
Testament are the biggest influences of Distraught. It would be great for us to
one day tour with these bands also…..

(Val) As a singer is there anything
you do to keep your voice in shape and have you had any Vocal Training?….

(Andre) I do nothing special. I just avoid taking cold drinks before gigs.
I never had vocal training but I gained experience during all these years…..

(Val) Does the band have any
endorsements?….

(Andre) Yes, the guitars and bass
are made by a company in our state called LEDUR…..

(Val) You had some special guest on
the cd please tell me about them.….

(Andre) We invited some friends to
participate on the new album. Diego Kasper(HIBRIA), Flávio Soares (LEVIAETHAN)
and Clark(UNMAKER) participated in “ HELLUCINATIONS”. Diego with some
arrangements Flávio and Clark on the backing vocals. “THE END OF TIME” Flávio did backing vocals with me…..

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(Val) Does Distraught have
distribution world wide? How would people get the cd if they wanted to?….

(Andre) We are signed to a Brazilian
label (VOICE MUSIC). Our Brazilian label has an email to buy our new cd:
silvio@voicemusic.com.br . Soon we will have distribution outside of ….Brazil…. with
another label. People can contact us also at
http://www.myspace.com/bandadistraught….

(Val) I would really like to see
Distraught live one day so are you working on touring other places?….

(Andre) Insano Booking is working on
setting up a tour for ..Europe.. in November
nothing is concrete as of yet…..

(Val) ….USA….! ….USA….! ….USA….! Insano booking I hope you are
reading that…..hahahaha. How about Internet, myspace, radios etc.. Do you
find all this helpful?….

(Andre) Yes, for sure MySpace is a
great tool for spreading the bands and for interacting with fans. The radios
are not limited to one city; many people can listen to the music at the same
time in different parts of the world. If not for the Internet we would not have
all the support we have now. For all those people who have checked out and
supported our music we are grateful to all of you…..

(Val) Andre
thank you again for answering my questions. Distraught rules I know we will be
hearing more cool things that are happening for you soon.