Ajna is a great industrial thrash metal band
coming from Brazil. Krepuskulum interviewed the legendary TIBET (Vocals and band
leader woman) that called with us about your metal way and your new album "The
Mirror".
Before creating AJNA, you passed for several other bands, besides for notorious MADE IN BRAZIL. Do talk us a little about your musical trajectory??
I’ ve been making Rock'n Roll since 17 years old. I started with bands of that time named "Made in Brazil" and "Tutti-Frutti". I belong to the time of brilliant persons who made the scenery, like Janis Joplin, Hendrix, John Lennon, Jim Morrison, Mick Jagger, Robert Plant and Page, who influenced the new generation and changed the course of history of mankind
On those years in what you were involved with the Brazilian metallic scene, do you think it developed??
In the beginning there wasn't technology, we used imported instruments, but they were very expensive and we had to pay a fortune, that´s why it was difficult the access to make up new bands. I think the bettter moment for metal scene in Brazil was in the 80's, when bands like Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath, Deep Purple and others had appeared. In the early of 90's, we could continue, but now it's too hard, let’s say it’s almost impossible!!!
The BRAZIL possess hundreds of good bands in all the styles and tendencies of the metal. It still possess several magazines (how DYNAMITE of the which was editor) and stores dedicated to the style, What does lack for we possess a circuit of shows and festivals??
Brazil is a granary of good bands, what a pit this goods is spoiling in barns. Excuse me, I wasn't Dynamite's writer, but I was chief editor with Pomba, for 5 years, besides I gave the original idea, and the first two editions of Dynamo's Fanzines were made by myself. As chief editor I had the opportunity to listen to all CD's and Demos about this Wonderful Brazilian Bands during five years. What is missing in this country is sponsor of radiophonic media. Another point is the brazilian mentality. They’re able to spend R$ 80 for watching a terrible show like the last presentation of Metallica in São Paulo, but they don’t pay R$ 10 to watch a good national band.
Talk us a little about the creation and the wayof AJNA to the recording of the new CD " MIRROR ".
Ajna started in 1991, with another format among the musicians,and we had a great guitarrist, Lippo, who played with Made in Brazil too. We 'd embarked in Dama Xoc, this is closed now and we played in important showhouse in SP, RJ, SC, PR etc.
You are also famous in the underground from São Paulo because your occult mystic side, having thrown now in partnership with JUMA (old drummer of the GENOCÍDIO that is also illustrator) the book" GOTHIC TARÔ". Speak to us about your work with oracles and on the release of that book.
This work is my big esoteric heritage to the man, actually it is a anthroposophy treaty, through which I trace a parallel among the Christian's dogmas and pagans, like the ORDEM DOS TEMPLÁRIOS, the Gnosis and Rosa Cruz in Gotic Era, also Called "Dark Period", It’s a 170 pages book and 78 laminated taro cards (beautiful cards). They are famous renascentist work like Raphael, David, Michellangelo, Botticelli, Van Eyck, and also the modern Giger, who makes a link between the classic past and the modern future. More information and sale http://users.sti.com.br/tibet" THE MIRROR " is a very interesting work, where you got an amalgam among Thrash metal with pinches of industrial and death. How was the process of composition of the CD??
I love heavy metal!!! This album is the great result of 9 years of band. I usually write the lyrics that I suggest it to them, and also partake in musical composition because I play guitar, when I played in the beginning of Ajna. Years later Saulio joined us and I preferred let him play, because he could face any kind of music!!!!!!
How went work with Marcelo Pompeo (KORZUS) how producer??
Pompeu is very cool !!! He is a great professional. Everything started when I showed him the second Ajna's album "Mind Revolution". He liked the band and he thought we had potential, he did some critic about the kind of mixagem and saturation of guitar in this work, and said he would do his best, and really it became wonderful! The "mixagem" by Héros Trench (Korzus' Gutarrist) was great, recorded at "Mr. Som Studio".
In the special participations in " THE MIRROR ", we found notorious LOOP B, one of the icons of the Brazilian electronic music. When did you meet him?
I know him since I was 17 years old. We were neighbor and we made sound together, voice, guitar and percurssion, we lend discs and partituras to each other and we studied music together. He is brilliant, I love him!!!
The letters of the CD are short and incisive. Which were your inspiration to write them?
Sometimes few word say more than a lot. I think this Ajna ‘s Album reflects the agressive time of my life. I put a little of my personal conflict in the lyrics, my disgusting, and obscure things I was passing by. A period that made a scar in my soul!
In your opinion, which are the 10 more important albums of the metal's history ?? And which the 5 more influential bands??
The band that give me more influence was Black Sabbath, Slayer, Led Zeppelin, Iron Maiden, Deep Purple and the moderns: White Zombie, Pantera, Biohazard, Suicidal Tendence, Rage Agaisnt the Machine. And all these bands’ album. Beyond the very special album for me, the White Album of Beatles, and the Black Album of Metallica.
The AJNA have two women in its formation (TIBET, vocalist and leader and the great drummer Pitchu Ferraz). Do you believe that finished the prejudice against the women in the metal?
Since 70’s I’ve been fighting against the prejudice and also against the women’s musical incompetence in Rock. However women like Pitchu Ferraz (Ajna), Marielle Loyola (Volkanas), Cherry (Okoto), Rosana (Mosh), Alê (PinUps), proved how brazilian woman can be competent in heavy metal.
Give your brief opinion on the following themes:
GOD- The other face of Devil.
DEATH-Just my legacies will be eternal, but sometimes I‘d like to become a vampire, to conquer the eternity. Any vampire can do it?????
TAROT- A way to enter in people’s subconscience using the archetype mistic symbology.
LIFE- Drink it in one swallow.
LOVE- Anima e Animus.There’s no love, you just project yourself in other and when one doesn’t answer your expectation you suffer.
WAY- Free will.
ARMAGGEDOM- The milenium finished, the planet just recycles its ideas and the humankind survives.
LIBERDADE- The communism ends in Europe, the fall down of Berlim wall, the important happens in this final age. It miss freedom for Tibet. Free Tibet http://members.xoom.com/sostibet tibet@mailbr.com.br
MUSIC- Vibratory sounds and frequence of the planetary movement, waving through the universe.
Which is your opinion on these bands:
SEPULTURA- One of the best among Brazilian bands.
METALLICA- A terrible sexual disappoitment!!!
NINE INCH NILS- Performatic, modern, brilliant!
BIOHAZARD- One of my greatest influence.
DIMU BORGIR- I don’t know.
THE CURE- A coolness that was nice in that time.
AMORPHIS- A pure rottenness.
CELTIC FROST- Essential heavy.
DEICIDE- Glenn Benton has put a deadline to himself and his group to end up by suicide when he’d complete 33 years, but this time has already passed.
PINK FLOYD- This is a Great Band that must come to Brazil.
MANOWAR- I hated their show in SP, my concept about the band decreased too much...the men are ridiculously posers.
ANGRA- Every band that works hard, deserve my respect.
How did it go to reception of THE MIRROR for the fans?
Everybody who listens to the ""Mirror" enjoy it. I hope that those who love AJNA give us a support buying the CD sold by DESTROYER shop at Rock’s Gallery, São Paulo. Call (0xx11) 221.5474.
Which the plans of AJNA for the future?
The Ajna’s future plans are to keep scores in music market, in musical scenario still slow and weak!!!
Contacts: tibet@sti.com.br