Thiago Bianchi & Ricardo Confessori of Shaman

orMetal Clube - Obviously your parents had a great participation waking your taste for the music, and because of their formation you probably grew listening a lot of MPB. Was this the first musical stile that you fell in Love? Tell us more about your initiation on the music, as a listener, not as a musician.


Thiago Bianchi – My mother is a Singer of MPB (Thiago is the son of Maria Odete Bianchi, famous MPB singer) and my father is a Samba Drummer. In home I growth listening to Gilberto Gil, Caetano Veloso, Elimar Santos, these people was always playing there. Because of that, the first musical stile that I fell in love was the well-played and virtuous music. When I was young, my mother always left me sleeping in the kitchen of the avenues that she played. From there, I’ve been always listening to those sounds that came from outside and thinks: “Wow! These guys are good”.

Like artist, the first one that called my attention was Michael Jackson, my supreme idol until now. One of the first albums that I got was from Jacksons Five. I followed well the release of Thriller. Even with very young, I remember that time. Finally I’ve been passionate by Rock n’ Roll when I get ‘Creatures of the Night’, from Kiss. Was when I sense that my life would change forever and I thought: “Rock n’ Roll is THE stile”.

And about MPB, some people ask me if, today I’m saturated from the stile because of my mother, my father. I’m not, but MPB is not a stile that attracts me on a visceral form. My stile really is Rock, even because He united the two things that most Impressed me when I was young: the virtuoso on the music and the visual stile, because of  Kiss. These two things, united with Michael Jackson’s vocal, have made me the Head banger that I am today, that sings with technique, is always changing the visual stile and all.

Metal Clube – You have a history as an illustrator, working also in Mauricio De Sousa’s studios, but your professional destine was really the music. Even That, this artistic background is still on you as a hobby?

Thiago Bianchi – I studied Five years in the “Escola Panamericana de Artes” (reference in the art and design study in Latin America) because of my mother. Like many people, my parents always wants that we make something that gives more money from what they do, or what they think is not cool. Because of that, she was very worried about my musical career, because in fact, it’s nothing easy. Brazil is a strange country. We don’t have wars, but we are much destroyed. But going back to the question, actually, I always Drew when I was a child, along with my grandfather who was carpenter. After that, I started to work with an engineer that draw fireplaces that, after a time, schism that I was a “genius of the fireplaces” (lol). And then, this Guy became impressed and told my mother: “Take this Guy to follow this area because he is good on it”. In the test that i made to enter in this school, that is much competed, I got a full bag with the test that I done. I really took it seriously, even with the music on the side, walking together.
My mother, that always knew these artistic guys, includes Mauricio de Souza, asked him for me to show him my test. He received, liked a lot of my stuff and gave me a giant almanac from “Turma Da Mônica” and asked me to draw everything what was there. I passed six months drawing that all and got back to him. He looked one Page and said: ‘Ok, you’re on’ (lol). At the same Day that I entered in studio, I received a Phone call from Chico (Dehira, guitarist), from Karma, asking me about the future of the band. That’s when I decided to go on with the music, because it is a thing that touches me more. My mother almost got a heart attack (lol)! After that, I’d never took a pen to draw again. Professionally, the only thing that I’ve done was Karma’s symbol. Sometimes I find myself drawing something, but I’m very self-critic, I always says “It’s horrible” and stop at the middle.

Metal Clube – Even you getting the Best curriculum as producer, the other members of the band still have some experience in production too. We can say that you were the main producer of ‘Immortal’, following only suggestions from your band mates, or it was a total collective job?

Thiago Bianchi – The history of my curriculum began long ago. My mother set a Studio for me to set with Karma, provide that I administrate it. Luís Mariutti (Angra’s bassist in that time) gave me some hits about how to set a studio, about what equipments to buy. I followed his orientations and Angra became my first client, because they started to test there! With 15 years old I already had a studio. I became friend with Ricardo (Confessori, Angra’s drummer in that time), Luís Mariutti... I had more affinity with Andre (Matos, Angra’s vocalist that time) and with Luís. After a time with Rafael (Bittencourt, Angra’s guitarist), that some time after, produced the first Karma’s demo. So my curriculum is expense because of that, because I started too soon, even unwillingly. In that way, I met “Fumaça” (Fernando Quesada, Shaman’s Bassist). Soon I saw that He really had the way. He is very smart, learns fast and wants to do the things. And Léo (Mancini, Shaman’s guitarrist) was the first Guy that I’ve played seriously, In “Fest Valda” (Musical event of the “pastilhas Valda” company, that reveled Tianastácia in the edition of “Minas Gerais” in 1995 – they won in the category “Unprecedented” with the song “Cabrobró”). About the production of “Immortal” was well divided. We didn’t need the help of anyone to make an album and we are very proud of it. Even in the graphic part, Ricardo Confessori can sit in the computer and make something about it. In the musical part, like Ricardo is the founder member of the band, we took the ideas to him. So, this part of pre-production, we’ve done very well together, but with Ricardo guiding the pre production. In the production of performances of recording, letter heading and mix, they were in my hand. Who’ve masterized was Junior Rossetti (worked even in Reason).  


Metal Clube – You’ve produced albums of many important bands from Brazilian metal, Like Tuatha De Dannan, Eterna and even Angra, and solo projects from Kiko Loureiro, Rafael Bittencourt and Edu Ardanuy. How did these contacts happen?

Thiago Bianchi – They happened because of the studio. In test studio you end meeting many people, it’s a giant turnover. All day, all night, all evening there’s people there. In one of these, I met Bruno, from Tuatha de Dannan, Who is one of the craziest guys I ever met, though now He is more “relax”, he is father now, after all. I miss him so much because I’ve produced the first and the second albums from the band. They had a demo before, but “Tingaralatingadun” and “The Delirium Has Just Begun” are albums with my production. I’m very proud because I could collaborate with what Tuatha is today. Actually, today i have this stigma: people search me when they want to make a unique sound, because of the bands I produced in the beginning of my career, like Karma, Tuatha de Dannan and Eterna. These bands are very different between them, and each one of them have their peculiarity. And that’s how it came to me the thing of Kiko (Loureiro, Angra’s guitarist), for who I always spoke about made an instrumental album not of metal. I think that Kiko is a genius, but it is in this thing of Brazilian guitar fusion that shines his star. And with that, I ended producing his album, guitars and “mix” of “Universo Inverso”. And it’s one of the albums that I am more proud, because it has been praised all over the world.
Its review in the American Guitar Player was devastator, Kiko and I became very happy for the album and there’s no price for this kind of thing. Another álbum that I’m very proud, is the Eduardo Ardanuy’s one, the solo album, that’s just been released in Expomusic. One Day I was drunk, in home, listening to Dr. Sin, that is a band that influenced me a lot, and than, I called Edu and said: ‘Man, you MUST have a solo album’. I guess He was drunk too (lol), but responded me: ‘Yeah…I will, I will’. It took a lot of time, but it came out. And really, the album is a real pearl. Edu is a guy that must appear a lot in the world, because him, like Kiko, are great guitarists around here. And now, I’m doing the same “mental work” with Léo (lol), who is another guy that I think it’s ridiculous don’t have a solo as a  guitarist. One more that I had very pleasure to be the co-producer, was “Aurora (Consurgens”), from Angra, because I could spend a lot of time with guys that I like a lot to work: Felipe, Rafael, Edu and Kiko. Angra is a band that I always wanted to give some hints. It’s really not the best work of their career, but in terms of sound, it is the best. And I don’t say it with pride, because I didn’t mixed the album, but I think that, there was a real evolution of Angra as a band in that album, question of fix Edu’s voice in the right tones for him. I’m also very proud of it, of make Angra a heavier band, something that I always wanted from Angra.

And finally, another mark in my career, not counting “Immortal”, was “Ritual’s” demo. Only a few people know it, but I’ve produced it along with Ricardo around 1999, 2000... We’ve made the songs that I sing today, like “Freedom”, “For Tomorrow”, “Time Will Come”... I remember that “Freedom” was called “Be Free”, that today is the “Freedom” from “Immortal”. We’ve changed the whole song. That’s very cool, be participating of a project of the people that you are fan, and the álbum became marc. It’s great for me, to be participating of a project thar Ricardo created, we are very friends. And now I’m here, as the vocalist of that same band. I think it’s all a cycle. And a very crazy one (lol)!  

Metal Clube – Still about production, the arrangements of Shaman always been very "full" and continued that way in the last album, but alive, you guys seems to use a more direct line. You want, or ever wanted to use more eletronic means to recreate with more fidelity the sound of studio or wants that the songs being played only by people?

Thiago Bianchi – Man, if I remember well, the first serious discussion that we had as a band was about it. There was who defended the use of MDs (Multimedia Discs) and things like that, and there were those who don’t. I was one of the people who, because of Karma, that were a sound super “full” and all liked the idea of the sound alive be the same of the CD. As you said, the album is super “full”. But alive, we reach the conclusion that the energy of the band don’t came from these things. Who pass the energy is the musicians. So, taking an MD or something like that, you just concern the musicians to a metronome and concern the public to a sound that seems the CD playing in the stage. Although I am a big fan of bands like Queensrÿche, that is perfect alive, it’s not what I want for my band. I think that the coolest thing that Shaman have alive is that “punch in the ear”. And that just happens beacause our sound is us and the punblic: There’s no “magic”, there’s not MD playing, and today it’s something that I’m very proud, even being one of those people who defended the MD. Ricardo really was the guy who said “No”. And now, I think He was right.

Metal Clube – After many shows and a good divulgation of “Immortal” album, what is the first result that you take of the fans?

Thiago Bianchi – Look, we are still in the middle of the divulgation tour, now there is the Latin-American part. We’ve been seen in each show that the people have been involved more and more... I don’t know how to explain, but seems like the thing started as an spiral, that have been growing, growing, until became a constellation (lol). I already heard to comments of people that listened to the album that emotions me, and sometimes I heard comments that made me think ‘My god, he didn’t listened to the album, it’s not possible’ (lol). But this is normal; everybody passes through it, besides, in my opinion, every unanimity is stupid. I think that the result is really positive. Our shows are always partially full, except in the places where the people didn’t even know that Shaman is back. In my opinion, the divulgation of the album was very bad. We bet in a new Label (Thurbo Music), that today is doing a great job, but with the products that they have there, that are not segmented like our job, we didn’t reach the public how it had to be. Anyway, all I can say is that we are very happy for the way the band is going. You see in our tour book: now with these Latin shows, we are going to 50 shows, which is a great mark for an album today. We have plans to play with an orchestra of turkey, in Europe, in June next year, and we already have requests for shows in China and Japan, and of course, we have the release of our new DVD. The band is in a celebration moment, and the people are following well it. I think that Yes, the result is positive.

Metal Clube –Shaman hás passed through a great reformulation, with the exit of André Matos, and of the Mariutti brothers. The fans have created a great expectative about who would be the new members or even if the band would continue. All this expectative of the fans and all this repercussion about the future of the band weighed for some of you in the time to take the post left by the ex-members? Tell us about how was the invitation.

Thiago Bianchi – For us, like band, job is job. I don’t have problem with boss, with hole, this things... If I’m doing my job badly, you come and tell me, and I’ll see how I can be better. I don’t see things that the people says, I don’t search for “it” in Orkut and I don’t have problems with critics. I think that critic is something that everybody is free to make. My friendship with the guys has facilitated everything. Andre has sung in my first album, Rafael have produced my first band, Luis is a guy that i have a great friendship for a long time, Kiko... In the middle of this shooting between angra and shaman, I always could be “immune”, and also help a friend of mine for the charge, Felipe Andreoli. I don’t have rivalry with nobody, and I want to be like this forever. Nobody in the band have problem with nobody. We are a very united band – not everybody knows, but we don’t have a manager in Brazil: everyone in the band stay in front of the computer searching for workshops, shows, agents, producers. For me, I’ve entered in a job, and like everything that I’ve done in my life I give 110%. I always lived bleeding for my ideals, for the things that I believe everyday. I don’t give a damn for these things like ‘somebody told me that somebody has told’, because they are people that I still find in the conventions, workshops, shows, and are people that are still smiling for me and embraces me. So, I guess nothing has changed.  

Metal Clube – In your opinion, Shaman today is seen like a new band of metal because of the great reformulation or there is still that image of "the former band of Andre Matos"?

Thiago Bianchi – That is a question that I don’t remember of we stopped for discuss, so I can’t tell it for them. Spooking for me, I say that we just go there and play. I can’t say very well about it because I don’t have a public eye for it, only they can say it. Comparisons will always exist and maybe with the time we can overcome it.
The Best bands in the history always had changes in their line-ups and the most part could go on normally. Iron Maiden is an example of it. I get a “Ritual” (Shaman – Ritual, 2002) with the same pleasure than when I get, for example, a “Killers” (Iron Maiden – Killers, 1981), at the same time that I listen to a “Powerslave” (Iron Maiden – Powerslave, 1984), and even an “Immortal” (Shaman – Immortal, 2007). All these albums that I’ve mentioned are good, understand? (Redaction note: Thiago quotes first the albums that have been recorded by the first formation of the bands, and than quotes other albums of the same bands with another formation). We don’t care. We do our shows and the people apparently likes... After a show we want to go to a ballad, go out, and meet the people of the city... I think it’s very cool the fact of we look like a band o boys. The Making-of of the DVD that is coming out, man, it’s a kind of Jackass: are all crazy things all the time, nobody with closed face, no fights. My band climate with them is a dream, each one with their stile, kind of figure. I’m not a millionaire guy, but I know that Money comes and goes, the friendship stays.

Metal Clube – In the Belo Horizonte’s show, the band has been honored by the project Rockwalk Brasil, the sidewalk of fame of Brazilian rock. Have good memories of that night? How it was for the band been chosen to receive that permeation?  

Thiago Bianchi – That night was crazy, all of that will be in my mind forever. It can look silly, but it’s the top of the recognition that you can have. It’s like you gain the Oscar. And Belo Horizonte was the Best place for it: war where we played for the first time as a band, we’ve been graced here like we’ve been only in a few shows. Nobody wanted to know who we were: they wanted to know if we would play right and represent the name well. Besides, I have great friends here.  

Metal Clube – This same Project honored names like Lobão, Paulo Ricardo, Ultraje a Rigor, O Rappa, Jota Quest, Roupa Nova, Sepultura, Pepeu Gomes, Mutantes, Guilherme Arantes, Kiko Zambianchi, Charlie Brown Jr, Eduardo Araújo. Disagree of any of these names?

Thiago Bianchi – No, never. I guess that for this generation some of these names don’t make sense, but my mother have been very emotive, because my name was in the side of Cauby Peixoto, who is her idol. So sometimes, for us some of these names don’t make sense, but what is THE Rock? Rock is attitude. And all these names are Rock, man... wanting or not. Rock is a sound of “paudurescência”. And who is more “paudurescência” than Lobão, man? He rose in Clodovil’s table and kicked everything there, was amazing! Even if He wasn’t a musician, he would be Rock n’ Roll! This honored could make me have the Lucky to say to my mother: ‘Look, mom, even if everything is over now, I’ve make something to make you proud’. For me, the most important thing in my life is my mother, and sees her crying by proud touched me very deep. And was through this Project that all this happened. Only the initiative of all this already deserves reverences, and I guess that we have to support it.

Metal Clube – We can say that Sepultura and Shaman represents the national Heavy Metal in this project? Any other band deserves this honored?

Thiago Bianchi – In the Heavy Metal, its unbelievable don’t have Angra or even Andre Matos, who is a guy that opened many ways. I think that Krisiun should be there too. If even Ronnie Von can go, Krisiun can go too, and I said that to one organizer and he promised to analyze the idea.  

Metal Clube – The band was present in Expomusic too. How were the things around there? The band’s show got the presence of the Brazilian vocalist Gustavo Monsanto (former Adagio and now in the band of the former stratovarius, Timo Tolkki, Revolution Renaissance), isn’t it?

Thiago Bianchi – Great. I’ve make three workshops; we’ve done a autograph section and a show. Fernando makes workshops everyday, even with the participation of Luís (Mariutti), just like Léo and Fabrício. And was emotive, everything that we’ve done there, was full. I think that the band is in its best form. We don’t stop to male shows, since we play or make workshops almost all weekend. We’ve done the closure of the event and who was there knows that it was memorable. One of the best things that we’ve done in our career, people crying, people out of the place, firemen taking people out of the place, was with no previous. In relation of Gustavo, He is a friend of mine of long time ago. He is a guy that I saw starting. I’ve produced Gustavo in the first time that he entered in a studio; we’ve done an album that was a tribute to Dream Theater. It was one of the works that he sent to Adagio (Prog. metal band very important in all Europe), the guys liked and he entered. Some times you give support to someone and change the person’s life. He is a guy that I have a great affection, was a guy that I was present when He “spread his wings”. And how he was in Brazil in the convention’s time, I said him: ‘Come and sing something with me, even if it is “Atirei o Pau No Gato”’ (lol)!  

Metal Clube – In nowadays it’s normal to see releases of great bands going out in the internet, being quickly distributed for people all around the world, through the MP3. Something to say about the MP3? You think it’s a prejudicial factor for the bands?

Thiago Bianchi –Like everything in life, it haves its pros and its cons. This new generation is a little strange, they sit in the computer and “f**k of" everything else, they have a second life in the computer. Beginning by this principle, everything is easy. Like example, I quote the album "The Divine Wings of Tragedy", of Symphony X, that I wanted too much to listen but there wasn’t in Brazil. I got a Bus, a subway and a train and got in the “Rock Gallery” (São Paulo) and asked for the new CD of the band, then answered me: Oh, you have to order it, I don’t know when it comes'. I had to leave a signal, take a paper and wait for it. I’ve call there a lot of times to hear that it has not arrived yet, until it arrives and the said: Look, it arrived, but it is the Japanese version that is three fold expensive'. And there you go sell your sound, trade shirts with a friend and here it goes. That was the way to get a Heavy Metal CD. When I got that album of  Symphony X, I went home, and my world stopped: I locked the door, take the phone out of the base, took the pullout, a chocolate bar, a soda, press the play and... (Sigh). Man, that was my life, listens to a real album. The kids today don’t remember very well of the albums that they have access. Why? The process to reach its sound is very under the process of making a sound and that’s what makes the musicians angry. Make na album is a real “kick in the ass”. And some people don’t want to listen to your album well because they press a sh*t of a "Download This File" and it’s over! They over to listen the album superficially, saying that they don’t like and passing to another one. It’s a thing that I don’t accept. I even download some albums, but I listen with patience, and if I like, I buy. This happened with the new album of Metallica. I’ve downloaded “Death Magnetic” (New Metallica’s album) to listen because I was very sad with the band, that is my favorite in the world along with Pantera. And then I listened to the new and I cried, healed the sadness. I felt like I was 15 listening to the “Ride The Lightning”. That is music. I’ve ordered my import album, because Universal has made a sh*t of CD for Brazil. And they don’t want to have piracy. The American is pretty, comes in a digipack, now the Brazilian haves a bad production and its R$33. Anyway, I support the MP3, I support the Youtube, but the artists have to receive for what He is investing, and the people have to honor their work after. This wave of MP3 is changing. The people understand with the time. Internet is just a tool, not you brain

Metal Clube – In an interview to the website CuritibaRockNews.com, you’ve been questioned for a “call” to the Brazilian Metal in a testimonial in an show, where you speaks about the union in the scene and between public and band. Can you explain a little better for us?  

Thiago Bianchi – The scene needs help from the people, the Heasbangers. These stories from these internet conversations, from the “Said He Said Me”, watch the bands only from Youtube, download albums; anyway, all this contributes for the distortion of the Heavy Metal. We must stay together. We’re in a moment that we have the biggest number of bands in the story of the Brazilian Heavy Metal. I don’t remember of so many bands “exploding” here, Like Almah, Hangar, Eterna, Hibria. Taking out the “Dinosaurs”, we have a lot of little bands appearing. I know that the public is dispersing; there is still the Pim, That don’t do anything for the Heavy Metal. There is the Specialized Pim, void and the “gringos”. We don’t have a Globo, a Bandeirantes, a Rede TV, nobody supports Metal. MTV Brasil should have a special program of Heavy Metal, because is a Following that most fills shows in Brazil with some others. All they could do was Massacration, kidding. When the MTV told the kids that Heavy Metal was a joke, Metal fells a lot. What they did was brilliant and funny. The problem was when they started to take it seriously and the public too.

Metal Clube – Quote a positive and a negative point in the Metal in Brazil.

Thiago Bianchi - a week point, the Pim. A strong point, the music

Metal Clube – Let’s speak a little about Karma, one of your first projects. The album “Leave Now” is a great marc in your career, isn’t it? What you have to say about this work?

Thiago Bianchi - A marc in my life. It’s an album that I’ve done in the middle of chemotherapy – for who don’t know, I had cancer. I was in the third chemotherapy and was an album that made me survive. I’ve been diagnosed with six months of life left, because the “thing” was already big and the doctor told me that it was a very aggressive cancer and depending on the stage, it haves no cure. One thing that always come in my mind when I speak about this album it’s that I remember that, if I died, my legacy in earth would be “Inside the Eyes” (Karma’s first album). Not that the album is a piece of sh*t, I was 16 that time, so I felt that I had more to offer. Was when I thought: “I have to run, with six months I’ll make this album”. I think it’s funny because it makes me survive. The chemotherapy is a very degradation process in your body, it prevents the cells to reproduce, and because of that you lost hair. You cut the finger and the wound stay there. If makes it with your body, imagine what it makes with your head? That time, still, my whole Studio has been stole, and a girl that I’ve been dating for 9 years broke up with me. There were three things in a single moment. I needed to make this album and throw everything in the music. This album has a very special taste. There is nothing heavy, nothing depressive, everything is up. The album talks about believe in the people, I’ve done a song for my mother that marked me a lot. It’s a very deep work. If the people give it the attention it deserves, they will see that it’s a very interesting album. Lyrics, images, the clothes I wear, the stile of the photography, everything means something.  

Metal Clube – The fans are very curious about the plans for Karma. We knew that there is a Project with Edu Ardanuy, really?

Thiago Bianchi – Karma is a band that introduced a lot of people for Metal. If you think well, the group has Fabrizio (Di Sarno, keyboard). Every album that have keyboard today, Almah, Rafael Bittencourt, Edu Ardanuy (solo), “Aurora Consurgens”, “Immortal”, I mean, the cream of everything that has happened in Brazilian Heavy Metal, the man is Keyboardist! Incrível! In the drums, we have Marcell (Cardoso), one of the most complete drummers that I ever seen. Me, I ended up going to one of the biggest bands of Metal and Felipe Andreoli that ended up going to Angra. Chico (Dehira, guitarist) recorded with Paul Di’Anno. This band exploded sending one for a Project that ended right. When we join to play its very funny, we’re a family. It’s a band that can’t end, we like too much each other. I speak with Marcell every week, Fabrizio I speak everyday, and Felipe, sometimes. About the project with Ardanuy, it really exists. Not about he enters for the band, because we don’t even know if we go as a "band" really. But the next album is ready.

Metal Clube – Workshops with other instruments, like guitars, drums, happens every time and maybe because of that are discussed very advanced and specifies techniques. But workshops of vocal are very rare in Brazil. You have from the beginning the Idea about what you will say or just let the people’s questions guides you?

Thiago Bianchi – I don’t think in a roadmap. My life is a single improvise. I tried to make a roadmap in a Workshop in a workshop in Manaus, took a lesson book, there was a giant screen. But man, a sh*t. Was very cool in this sense, but the people wants you to sing, that is the true. You explain what the people want to know, explain what they don’t know and should know and sing. Sing explaining the techniques that you are using. Workshop is improvised. The coolest things in my life were in a “gentleman” way and the best way to be a gentleman is try to let the people around you feeling free, relax.

Metal Clube – Tell us a little about the plans for the future.

Thiago Bianchi – We have the Latin tour coming soon, plans for an European tour in June and July next year, like I said, something with an orchestra of Turkey, we have the Masters Of Rock Festival in Czech Republic booked. We have also a possible oriental tour. There is our new DVD ready, I even received the covers, and it’s very cool. The shows don’t stop, we have a lot of things booked for Minas Gerais, Rio de Janeiro, Northeast, in January, a show in Salvador... The people can wait that it will be very different. The workshops are exploding, Ricardo is finishing to marc a tour of workshops and I have some to enter in the book. I am also producing a band named Vanquish, another very cool band named Bardo, from Campo Belo, in Minas Gerais. Léo is making a solo album finally and some workshops. Life doesn’t stop!

•    An album: Thriller (Michael Jackson)
•    A band: Pantera
•    An influence: My mother
•    An Idol: Ricardo Confessori
•    Revelation of Metal in 2008: Tempestt
•    Define your career in one word: Hope