Earth Drive / Montijo, Portugal
MIR: Thank you for taking the time to do this. Please introduce yourself to the readers. How did you get started on this adventure?
Hermano : Hi dear Bobby, First of all thank you very much for the opportunity to talk about the band. It is always a privilege to have this kind attention.
The band started around 2007 when I tried to reconnect with some friends to continue working on original music and have a healthy outlet to express myself via this artistic way of life. Music was always a big part of my life and after other projects that did not work out, I tried to give another chance and Earth Drive started to take shape.
Q: If you could go back to the day you started and give yourself one piece of advice, what would that be?
Hermano : I just whisper to my ear to continue trusting in myself, in my artistic vision and to keep on going being resilient.
Sebastião Santos : More cowbell :)
Q: What is something that you have adopted that brings value to your process?
Sebastião Santos : Highlighting our biggest strength musically which is Sara's vocals and expression and finding the best way to support her message.
Hermano : In terms of attitude I believe that the humanistic and empathic approach that Earth Drive always had is one of the things that kept us doing this in the most authentic way. So in that regard I guess this human value in the process is fundamental. Regarding more practical stuff, I believe that the process of trying to record every riff, every instinctual idea, every practice gives us the chance to always have material to listen to, analise and transform into demos that facilitate the process of creativity and composition.
Q: Please highlight some of the things you enjoy most about what you do.
Hermano : To be in a band is a rich environment to develop a lot of human relations skills, communication and assertiveness . The potentiality to learn a lot about ourselves through art and the processes that push you to grow as a person and artist. It is a cathartic process that helps you to be balanced and all the other possibilities and contexts that this way of life provides are great. The relations with the band, with other bands, labels, PR, promoters, venues, journalists, technicians and all the agents in the music industry is something that always is an extraordinary way of gathering know-how and adds value to yourself because you learn a lot. So all the contexts of being in this industry are very interesting. From being in the studio practicing, recording, doing art work for the band, editing videos and all the other things related to the band is something that I love.
Q: What are some of your current goals? Things you may hope to achieve in the next 12-24 months or further.
Hermano : First of all the main goal is to keep the band together with a good environment for us to keep building our “chemistry”, building our team and to keep doing this with a good spirit, purpose and meaning to continue this adventure. It is always a great plus to have a plan and strategy to keep having goals to achieve. So we are planning to start having live shows to promote the record as the main focus at the moment and it is also a goal to connect more with our audience hoping that they find meaning in the band and that this can help them with their internal processes of balance with our art. We hope that we can build an authentic following that also helps us keep doing this as much as possible.
Q: What is an unpopular opinion that you subscribe to or a popular opinion that you disagree with?
Hermano : This is the harder question to be honest :) . There are always a lot of polemic topics in this industry and in the world in general that provoques conflicts and disagreements, that is part of life and I accept that. But in this moment with a lot of polarization in society in general I rather not express anything that promotes divergence. I believe that Is fundamental that today we can express words of love, unity and light so we can balance in a good way with the shadows that are damaging humanity, animals, the planet and the cosmos in general.
Q: Is there anything you want to mention as we close?
Hermano : Following the thought about the previous question I just want to express my deep gratitude for this opportunity to connect with you, your audience and our possible new followers. I wish that you all can find in our music something that resonates with you and helps you to connect with yourself in order to keep growing into the best versions of yourselves. Please keep listening to music, to listen to yourselves, to listen to others being empathic as much as possible, to speak freely about your mental health, to be tolerant, respect your shadow, learn from that but express the love and light that you all have inside.
MIR: Thank you for your time and I appreciate what you are doing. 
Listen to Light Code by Earth Drive at https://earthdrive.bandcamp.com/album/light-codes
released September 23, 2024
"We are stardust, my friend"
(O)
