Interviews: MEDO

In this new occassion we have had the opportunity to interview the Hardcore  band MEDO from Portugal. Check out the interview and this band on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1.Where did you get the idea for the band name, you planned it or came out just like that? 

Rafael: It was more or less both. The idea was to have a meaning and we thought that MEDO ('fear' in english) could mean Máquina Educacional de Doutrinas Opressivas which means Educational Machines of Oppressive Doctrines. We thought that it makes sense in a way, so we decided to go ahead with this idea.

Ricardo: I use to say that there are two main feelings that rule the world: love and fear. That's why I loved the idea.

2.Why did you want to play this genre? 

Punk hardcore is the style that get us together... this is what we listen, feel, follow, like... it makes no sense to play anything else. Me and Ricardo (the singer) we always had a very strong connection within music (hardcore) and social / politic issues. So... everything made sense fast and easily.

Ricardo: That's right. And sing in portuguese makes sense to us because is a step forward to people get what we want to say. 

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed? 

Rafael: Yes, we were allbig friends before and that's why everything went well so fast. We have strong connections between most of us and making music with this guys is one of the best and easiest things in life. We are all connected and turned to the same side, so... everything goes forward very easy and naturally.

Ricardo: Sure. Personally, me and Rafael are friends for more than 10 years, and we share a lot of interests, so having a band together just made a lot of sense. 

4. Each band member favourite band? 

Rafael: This is a tricky question 'cause for me, at least, I listen to lots of different styles so it's hard to say. But I would say that my fave punk band nowadays is probably The Casualties and my fave hardcore band is Biohazard. I don't know about the rest of the team (ahahaha) but I know that Ricardo also likes Biohazard a lot. But I don't know about The Casualties (ahahah).

Ricardo: That's right. It's allways hard to say what's my favorite band because I listen to a lot of different styles, but in hardcore Biohazard is the one. 

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs? 

Rafael: I am inspired by the (true!) punk/hardcore bands that I listen to. They influence me a lot. 

About 'what' inspires me... I would say the world around me. Everything that happens socially or politically, the news, the environment, racial issues, discrimination between men and women, drugs abuse, apathy, i don't know... years are passing by and everything remains the same. That's why we are all the time preaching about the same things once spoken by our old influences... they defended the same issues back in the 70's, 80's, 90's... and we're still carrying this flag.

Ricardo: The world around us day by day and its social and political problems. 

6. Where was your last gig? 

Lisbon, Hell of a Weekend. 

7. Where would you like to act? 

Rafael: I would love to perform with this band in a squat. In the 90's it was really easy in Portugal but now we have few and it's not easy, I don't know why. And, of course, on another hand we'd like to play in medium sized festivals in Europe like Ieper Festival for instance.

Ricardo: Wherever people like to see us. Of course play in the festivals that Rafa said would be great and even a euro tour. 

8. Whom would you like to feature with? 

Rafael: I think with every band that share the same feeling / ideals that we do. We'd love to play with Biohazard of course but we just don't care. We do our thing with any band. This month we're playing with The Casualties, Slapshot, Knuckledust and No Turning Back, another band that I love and that have influenced me a lot. So... I feel like living a dream.

9. Whom not? 

Sell out bands and bands without a true message. Fuck them all!!

10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that? 

Rafael: I think we all have to passy thru it. It's normal. I still have it and I play since 20 years ago! I don't know. Not fright but... anxiety?! I think the tip is to close your eyes and let your heart flow. Everything will come up naturally and then it's gone :)

Ricardo: Well I'm stil a begginer.. I'm not a really nervous guy but for sure there is some anxiety until the moment I pick up the microphone and then that's gone. Just don't think a lot about it.

11. What bands have inspired you the most? 

Rafael: The 90's. Biohazard, Madball, Sick of it all, Warzone, Gorilla Biscuits, Cromags. But some more recent though like No Turning Back which I love a lot. And, of course, also the local bands that were here before : Punk-Kecas, Kontrattack, X-Acto, Censurados, etc.

Ricardo: Of course the classics Biohazard, Madball, Agnostic Grint, Bad Brains but also the locals like Punk-Kecas, Trinta e Um or Mata-Ratos. 

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for? 

Rafael: Have no idea, sorry.

Ricardo: An autograph. 

13. What do you think of your fans? 

Rafael: I wouldn't say fans but... friends. I love them all, they are the base of all of this. Without them we could still be the same but... it wouldn't be the same... if you know what I mean. They all make sense in all of this.

Ricardo: All said. 

14. What do you think of our site?

Rafael: Every way of communication and share is respectful so... well done! :)

Ricardo: Great job promoting bands! Keep on going and a big thank you for demonstrating interest in our band! 

15. Something add?

Rafael: As Chris Cornell once said: 'To be yourself is all that you can do'. Be true, be kind, be positive, share, learn, teach, give, take, spread the word but... never EVER stop being yourself! Our own is the most important thing in our lifes. And, to mention another idol, as Layne Stanley once said 'If I can't be my own I'd feel better dead'. Peace!

Ricardo: Stay true! As the portuese band Trinta e Um said "If I'm true to myself I will be a step forward"! Peace!