Interviews: Manuel Barbará

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Progressive Metal/Djent artist Manuel Barbará from the USA. Check out the interview and follow the artist on his FACEBOOK PAGE.

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

It’s my name – so blame my parents, I guess.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

I’ve loved rock and metal ever since a friend introduced me to the music in high school. I got into proggier music like Dream Theater as I was first picking up the guitar and it’s been downhill from there.

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

The band is essentially just me. However, there are a number of musicians I like to call on when I need something special added to a track. This particular EP features guest appearances on every song. Most of the guests are old friends and bandmates from college. I have also had the pleasure of studying with Jake Howsam Lowe, who is featured on track #2 – A Different Horizon.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

I’ll answer for myself: Tesseract. I sometimes don’t know how a human brain comes up with some of that music.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

A lot of my music comes about from me wanting to either play with a particular idea or capture a particular feel. I get inspired by listening to other people’s music a lot. I’ll hear something cool and think “I wanna do that!"

6. Where was your last gig?

Princeton, NJ. It’s been a while though. It’s a bit of a challenge finding gigs as a relatively unknown solo act.

7. Where would you like to act?

I assume this means “Where would you like to perform” Honestly, I’d love to play more gigs in my area of central Jersey. It’s nice to be able to get your friends out to a show and not have to drive too much to get there. Besides that, I miss playing in Boston.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

I would love to do guest spots for basically anyone – I have many friends in bands who I keep bugging to let me solo on their work. As for my music, I’d love to have Paul Wardingham do a guest solo sometime.

9. Whom not?

I’m sure there are people whose music I wouldn’t find inspiring enough to make me want to collaborate. I’ll entertain all ideas though and there’s nobody in particular I don’t want to work with. 10. Any of you has ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that? Oddly enough for someone as generally anxious as I am, I never get stage fright. I’m usually itching to get up there.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Pink Floyd and Iron Maiden were huge inspirations when I was a teenager alongside instrumental shred acts like Loomis, Wardingham, and MacAlpine. Nowadays, I get a lot of inspiration from DJent classics, such as Tesseract, Monuments, Meshuggah, Periphery, etc. I also have a deep love for more modern “classical” music. I get a lot of ideas from Debussy and Toru Takemitsu.

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

Well, my dear friend Mike asked me to play in his horror-themed death metal band. I think that counts.

13. What do you think of your fans?

I am deeply grateful to anyone who listens to my music – I hope you like it.

14. What do you think of our site?

I think it’s super cool. Anyone who spreads the word about new metal, especially the lesser-known stuff, deserves no end of praise.

15. Something to add?

Go check out the new music. I really think it’s my best work yet and I hope it’s the start of a lot of cool stuff that keeps getting better.