Interview with Moonspell

«If a newspaper releases a cartoon about me that offends me , I’ll have to live with it, if I want to have freedom»

Moonspell is a band that has been playing for 30 years and whose "devilish music" is familiar to almost every fan of the heavy or metal scene. "Hermitage" - the "lucky" 13th album was released this year on the Napalm records label and gathered a lot of contradictory opinions. Pedro Paix?o kindly agreed to talk about the new record, social problems in the world and what he considers unacceptable in art.

- I'll be honest it's kind of a strange feeling to have to interview the band that I listened to back in high school. In those days, music was my only friend. Would you say that music is your best friend? Is music for you a place where you can find comfort zone, shelter and power to confront life's problems?

Music is definitely a therapy, by making it, by writing it or simply and most importantly by listening. When I feel really sad, it definitely helps me to hear sad music. It’s paradoxal but it materialises the feelings in a way that I do get some control over it. It’s still painful but it makes more sense.

At young ages music was a big support and it shapes one’s personality. I wasn’t the popular kid in school too, I also wasn’t unpopular, I was just a kid trying to get dry in the rain. Music was companion to me.

Anyway, to be a musician is definitely out of my comfort zone. If music is my best friend, it’s a hell of a friend! To have to be creative is a non natural state for anyone. The natural is to be creative when you just feel like it and as professional musician and creator I just can’t seat down and wait for it to happen. It’s just not possible!

I see it a bit as sports exercise: do I like to do it? Yes, sometimes but to start is hard; do I have to do it ? I should better; do I feel good afterwards? Definitely yes.  As a musician, that’s the feeling.

As a listener, it’s a completely different story. I need music almost as water or air! And it’s almost never unpleasant!

- Moonspell has been around for 30 years. Many of your fans are the same age, some are even younger. Do you get the feeling that you are not keeping up with fashion trends, or that your music will be incomprehensible to the younger generation?

There will be always a generation gap. The way I listen to black sabbath isn’t , for sure, the same way people felt it back then.  That doesn’t mean that anyone from any age can relate to our music and identify with it! That has nothing to do with age but with taste and personality.

That said, I must underline that Moonspell never followed any fashion trends. We’ll be happy if we cause one!

- How scary was it to start a career as a musician in a country where heavy music is not all that popular?

I know what you mean but it wasn’t scary at all. We grew up as a band in a democratic and enough tolerant country not to live scared over the art we did or the aspect of ourselves. I know it might have seemed a rather risky choice to choose our kind of music and style, as there was and there is still prejudice over metal and metalhead. Recently , on a TV talk show Fernando was a guest with a known writer and eventually she interrupted to express her surprise for Fernando’s eloquence !! To her mind the pattern was distorted! She couldn’t match a good intelligent speaker with a rocker.

Back to the question, for me it wasn’t scary . I knew we were young enough to get life back if things wouldn’t work. When we got the opportunity of doing this life style , I never hesitated!

-  Is there an artist or band that you like but are too embarrassed to admit it?

I listen to a lot of different music styles and I can’t remember to feel embarrassed about anything… maybe U2… I really love a lot of songs from U2. I also think all musicians are really creative, specially the drummer and the Edge are so original in the way they use their instrument. I don’t talk too much about them or play it in the studio or on the road because they are a hated band too. They’re not unanimous , specially not in the metal scene, so even though I don’t feel any shame for loving U”, I don’t raise any flag for them in most occasions.

- Some listeners have already dubbed the new album "the Moonspell's saddest album". Do you agree with that?

Moonspell was never meant to create happiness and our music was always dark. To be the “saddest” album , in this context, sounds like a compliment to me!

If I’m allowed to disagree, I don’t think HERMITAGE is our saddest album, I think that one is DARKNESS and HOPE. Our new album is maybe the deepest…

- Can you call your new album a new milestone in Moonspell history?

Yes. But which other albums are? I have to admit that this album might be the beginning of Moonspell’s last chapter. It’s another stage on our lives and career. At the moment I feel this is our best, but I hope to have this feeling again about the next one!

- I heard that Fernando Ribeiro is interested in Russian culture. Any plans to sing in Russian language?

No, there aren’t any plans to sing in Russian. That doesn’t mean it won’t happen ! You never know, with Moonspell…

- Any plans to release a biography or collection of memories, hilarious stories and Moonspell photos? Over the years, you must have accumulated many interesting stories.

There is a biography - “Wolves who were men” by Ricardo S. Amorim. Available in Portuguese, Spanish and English. We actually were dealing with a Russian translator, but the CORONA changed a lot of plans…

- What new things have you learned in 2020?

I’ve learned some video editing, to answer objectively ! I’ve learned also that a virus can give a lot of problems…

- 2020 can be called "the year of online concerts". Now we have a big problem with live performances because of covid19. Imagine a situation that this problem will remain with us for several years and musicians have the opportunity to give only online concerts. Will you agree to this condition or will you decide to leave your musical career?  

I would have to think longer about this dilema but my first reaction is “ I’ll do anything to have half of what I had”, meaning, I wouldn’t mind to do only online concerts to support me to write new songs and new music. I love to play live! Maybe I couldn’t bare with not doing that! But I wouldn’t just quit without putting a good fight! And this is actually Fernando’s quote, so it’s our moto - we won’t give up without putting a fight!

- Which band would you like to hear a cover of one of your songs from? 

Dead Can Dance. Anneke . Any band or artist away from our area of sound and instruments. But I’m  always honoured to see any band covering Moonspell! I just think that our music can sound really interesting played out of the rock standards. We did a tour in 2012 with the show consisted on playing our own songs in almost acoustic / traditional versions with new arrangements together with 4 cellos, 1 percussionist and 3 female singers . The show was a success . It’s called SOMBRA, which means shadow.

- Does it upset you that listeners do not always understand the meaning and message of the song and interpret the song in their own way? Do you get the feeling that you are misunderstood by your audience or society?

Yes and no.

No , I don’t get upset by misinterpretation. I actually believe it’s interpretation ! Art doesn’t ends itself on the , let’s say final product. In Music the art isn’t finished without the listener. Only when the receiver creates his own feelings about the piece of art, the art is accomplished. We may meet a lot of people that feel the song like I do, but there’s for sure a lot more that do it in their own way. I’m glad for that!

Yes, I get a lot of feeling I’m misunderstood by the audience, which is alright and expectable, and by society. Maybe that’s why I’m an artist…

- Many fans say that Moonspell is a "rather dark and mystical band". Do you believe in mysticism or in church doctrines or in the presence of a soul?

Just the believe is by it self problematic. What is believe? Is it a conscious feeling? A person decides to believe? Or you believe when you just don’t think about your believe? To believe is such a problematic issue for me. Every time I think about if I believe in something, there’s none left. But most of my actions are based on an unconscious believe in something.

Church is not my thing yet. I still feel very uncomfortable in any rituals of the kind that happen in churches.

Unfortunately I have no faith. It’s worthless…

- How do you feel about censorship? Have you had any problems with censorship?

Usually I’m completely against censorship. But there must be limits. If an artist puts up a giant screen in the middle of a busy street with hardcore porn on it…

I think in freedom you need to know that you can feel offended and that must not have any consequences on the source of the , so called, offence. If a newspaper releases a cartoon about me that offends me , I’ll have to live with it, if I want to have freedom.

We had two cases of censorship. One in Germany where a teacher tried to cancel our show because of our song OPIUM, which, according to her, leaded people to consume drugs.  And there was another case in Poland, in this case for anti christian subjects…

I admit it’s tricky. If Nazis become a party and have conferences and promote meetings… should we censor the anti freedom speech. We all agree to censor racism, sometimes even when its not racist at all. I think this is going to be one of the most important dilemas in the next years. With all the internet connections, fake news, extreme organisations, etc. Will the freedom have to give up a bit and start to censor too. Uff, I have more questions then answers.

- Does your family or children listen to your music? Who is your main critic?

My wife likes music in order to dance. She likes concerts even if seated. My oldest boy doesn’t care about music and the young likes it. But none play an instrument, even though they are surrounded by some. No problem for me.

The main censor is the band obviously. By far. And there’s usually one or two friends that I take their opinion in consideration.

- Are there any taboos in art for you?

You really like deep hard questions. My instinct says no, I have no taboos in art. Of course if the art envolves a lot of pollution, human mistreat or … I don’t, anything that takes too much freedom from anyone, maybe  create sa taboo for me…

- Do you have a feeling that you have left your mark on the history of music?

It sounds arrogant, but yes, I definitely believe we are a Marc both for be one of the gothic metal pioneers, well documented in the most notorious books and reports over metal, and for being the band that for a long time, plays the most abroad. For a country like Portugal, to have a band like Moonspell? Oh yes, we are a mark. The state even did some oficial mail stamps with Moonspell on it!

- As a creative person, do you ever feel fear (perhaps subconsciously) that one day you will run out of ideas?

Not every day, but frequently. I can imagine most creators have this anxiety, in less or higher level.

- Now our society has accumulated many social, political and economic problems. What would you like to say to people who are going through "dark times"?

I wouldn’t like to say anything. Words are vain in these situations. Either I take actions or shut my mouth! One thing you didn’t hear from us are complains. We are very aware there are a lot of people in worst situation even though artists aren’t in a good position.

- What advice can you give to young musicians who have just started their journey?

Follow your heart. Music in particular and art in general need study and resilience but don’t let technique overshadow your feelings, your guts, your instinct. That will make it unique. And you need to be original! Why listen to copies?

- What would you like to say to your Russian fans?

We miss you. We want you. We’ll be back!!

Jenet Bonishi