Fernanada Lira, Prika Amaral

Nervosa

The Thrash Metal scene is certainly a prominent one in our community. Brazil have become a promising breeding ground for some of the best new Metal since the birth SEPULTURA in 1984. One of the best upcoming bands from Brazil is Thrash Metal trio NERVOSA and to say they are storming the scene would be a huge understatement. Our representative Lotty Whittingham spoke to members Fernanda Lira and Prika Amaral about their sound, the Metal scene in Brazil, their European tour and being part of a male dominated.
By Lotty Whittingham
October 7, 2015
Fernanda Lira
First of all, for those who haven't heard of Nervosa describe your sound?

Fernanda:   We are a thrash metal trio, very inspired by old school thrash and death metal bands. We listen to a lot of stuff, but our sound is pretty much based on what we listen the most - bands like Sepultura, Slayer, Vader, etc.

Prika:  We are three girls that playing thrash metal with influences of death metal. We loved what we make and we want play around the world all the time. We loved metal, we loved play and we love the road.

How did you form and find each other?

Fernanda:  I had just been kicked out from my previous death metal band, after a while I stopped thinking about what I would do and how I would move on.  I decided to look for girls to start a thrash metal trio, because I was sooo into thrash at that time. It was a hard quest, it's difficult to find girls who want to commit the way I wanted, but after a while, Prika got in touch with me about this project she had. The project was named NERVOSA and they had guitarist and a drummer in a need of a singer and a bassists. I was a singer and a bassist looking for girls to gather up a Thrash Metal trio, so we kinda completed each other's needs haha!  After we met at a bar, I saw me and Prika had the same ideals and objectives and then we decided to join forces and that's when NERVOSA became an actual active band, recording songs, doing gigs, etc.

Prika: I began Nervosa in February of 2010, we were always was a band and never a project. Too many girls passed by this band, but all girls were not professional. The old drummer and I wanted play and make shows. We were tired of the non professional girls and we decided make a show. We had two shows but we didn't have singer and bassist, we would go to make the show only us.  In august of 2011 I found Fernanda Lira and called her for a bassist test and she said "let me sing too". We liked her voice so Fernanda became our vocalist and bassist, with luck we had two shows with her.

Who are you musically influenced by?

Fernanda:   I think each one of us have different influences, but I have to admit we all agree on Thrash and Death Metal. I am particularly very influenced by old school thrash and death metal bands like Nuclear Assault, D.R.I., Sepultura, Death, Obituary, Morbid Angel, Vader, etc.

Prika:   For me always was Thrash and death, never was different this, I'm not a eclectic person, only thing is different beyond of metal is the blues. Bands like Slayer, Cannibal Corpse, Testament, Vader, Exodus, Behemoth, Kreator etc... Brazilian bands like Sepultura of course, Krisiun, Sarcofago and Korzus are great for me.

Brazil is known for the birth place Sepultura; is it intimidating or inspiring coming out of the same scene that they formed and thrived in?

Fernanda:   I would say it's completely inspiring. I always say that Sepultura was the band that gave hope to Brazilian metalheads, they were the ones who showed us it was possible to be Brazilian, to play thrash and to live the dream. That's why it's very inspirational to me to be born where they were born, it naturally inspires me to follow their steps!

Prika:   Sepultura was the band that opened the doors for the Brazilians bands, all bands here was influenced for them. I have proud this, Sepultura is an awesome band and them inspired me all the time til today.

Do you still find it hard making it as an all female band in what is still considered a male dominated scene?

Fernanda:   I won't say it's a piece of cake because I would be lying. Metal is indeed a still male dominated scene numerically, it's a fact. And because of that, there are still some sexist metalheads around and that's what made things difficult for us on the beginning, because when you are a woman playing metal. It feels like firstly you have to prove you are also a headbangers and that you can also play, then you will earn respect, it's not easy. When we started it was a little hard time, but right now, everyone saw we came here to stay and we are just passionate metalheads doing what we love, so we already got the 'necessary respect'.

Prika:   I don't think about this, because for me is so natural, I always played with men and is normal for me, I have more male friends than female friends. This can be different but is normal.

If you weren't creating music what would you be doing?

Fernanda:   I would probably be involved on anything related to music, like doing soundtracks, tour managing, doing music videos, I don't know, but something involved in music. Or I would probably be involved in two of my other passions: movies and cooking.

Prika:   Music is my life, I can to be making other thing, but didn't never let beside the music. I love custom motorcycles, if I hadn't a professional band I would have a motor club and I would be on the road with my custom motorcycle. I like skateboarding, I made downhill for a time ago.

How did your European tour go? Particularly with Desolator (They're from my home town and great friends of mine)

Fernanda:   All the bands we played with were just awesome, we had LOTS of fun overnight, but the Desolator guys were probably my favourite,I fucking LOVE those guys! When we weren't laughing our ass off with stuff, we were talking about old school bands like Warlock and Razor, or talking about Monty Python! haha Lovely guys they are, I already miss them A LOT.

Prika:   I love these guys, Desolator are awesome! We had a good luck, because all bands that played with us was amazing. Desolator, Crisix and Methedras. They are great friends that I will take with me for rest of my life. Amazing persons and awesome musicians.

What does the rest of 2015 have in store for Nervosa?

Fernanda:   Before the tour to promote Victim of Yourself ends, we still wanna play some places in South and Central America and maybe the US. Right now we are finishing writing our new album, which will be recorded on the beginning of the next year. Then, it's gonna be hit the road again!!

Prika:   We are making a thing that I love that is writing new album. We are planning the next steps, in 2016 we have a lot of work to do and now is time for plan. But the shows don't stop, and soon we'll have some good news.

Thank you guys, it's been a pleasure!
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