The Brazilian artist who did SEPULTURA's 'Dante XXI' artwork abot the fans.

YOU MADE THE ARTWORK FOR THE PREVIOUS SEPULTURA ALBUM - “DANTE XXI”, HOW DID IT ALL HAPPEN?

I was a friend of Igor Cavalera already and he had been telling me about the whole Dante project. I am big fan of the band and a big fan of Dante’s book too.  You know, the "Inferno" and everything, so when the idea for the record came, that was really smooth – it just fit perfectly.

WE KNOW THAT TODAY YOU ARE MORE BUSY THAN EVER BEFORE, BUT PLEASE TELL US WHAT HAS BEEN YOUR BIGGEST ACHIEVEMENT AS AN ARTIST SO FAR?
Well, I just released a new book – my first monography and also a short documentary film. So this is really a good moment for me right now – I am touring a few cities, promoting the book and the film.

I just got back from New York and I am now going  to Los Angeles as well, so it’s a really good moment for me.

WE KNOW THAT YOUR PARENTS ARE BULGARIAN, PLEASE TELL US MORE ABOUT THEM..
Sure, my grandfather came from Bulgaria after World War II. And he used to tell us a lot about Bulgaria but I never had the chance to go there really . But maybe this year you know, with the book tour…

WAS YOUR GRANDAD ALSO CALLED STEPHAN?
No, he was called Isaki. I was named after someone in another part of the family.

BUT ARE BOTH OF YOUR PARENTS BULGARIAN?
No, only my father. My mother is from Brazil.

YOU HAVE NEVER BEEN THERE BUT DO YOU KNOW ANYTHING ABOUT BULGARIAN ART – PAINITNGS, ROCK’N’ROLL, MOVIES ETC? 
No, I don’t know much about Bulgarian culture. We don’t have much access to Bulgarian culture here in Brazil. But I ‘d love to learn more.

YOU SAID YOU HAVE BEEN A BIG FAN OF SEPULTURA’S MUSIC BUT WHAT KIND OF MUSIC ARE YOU INTO THESE DAYS?
Well I listen to a lot of punk rock in general. I have always been a fan of punk hardcore like Minor Threat, Bad Brains, Black Flag, 7 Seconds – all these old school bands. I am into metal and hip hop as well.

DID YOU GET CALLS FROM LOTS OF OTHER BANDS AFTER DOING THE SEPULTURA ARTWORK?
Yeah, so many bands man. It’s really impressive how huge Sepultura is. I felt that when I did this work for them. Sepultura have fans everywhere. – in Japan, in Africa, South America, everywhere.

WELL LIVING IN BRAZIL YOU ARE IN A POSITION TO GIVE US AN INSIGHTВ  - IS THE DEPARTURE OF THE CAVALERA BROTHERS DEEPLY REGRETTED BY THE FANS IN THEIR HOMELAND?
Well a lot of fans seem to be unhappy with that but the true fans respect that choice you know. And they are back together now.

I MEAN THIS IS THE ORIGINAL LAND FOR THE BAND SO WE NEED TO KNOW WHAT THE ORIGINAL FANS THINK….OK – YOU RESPECT SOULFLY AND THE CAVALERA CONSIPRACY AND SEPULTURA WITH DERRICK GREEN AT THE SAME TIME?
Yes of course! You know, Derrick is my friend, so I love his work but I also think that we have 3 different very good bands now. They all came from those roots. So it’s good I think.

YEAH, ROOTS BLOODY ROOTS!

rights Tangra Mega Rock