Interview Louvado Abismo

Louvado Abismo emerged from diverse artistic backgrounds to craft a fresh blend of heavy post-punk and industrial music. Learn how their eclectic influences shaped their debut album.

1.Louvado Abismo is a new formation but includes members from diverse artistic backgrounds. How did the band come together, and what inspired you to create this project?

Pedro Almeida: I had seven structures on drums composed and asked Hugo Conim if he could do the guitars, since we have known each other for a long time and he has that punk side, in addition to being a Rock’n’roll guitarist, that I really love. After that, Hugo invited Helder Luis, and he came up with some cinematic ideas and added a lot of grooves to complete the drum work and the rhythm section. After we composed the songs, I invited Patricia Andrade, and she agreed to work on an experimental voice session for one song but ended up recording vocals for the entire album. The inspiration came from an idea to create something musically fresh for us and try other things that we are not used to doing in our other bands.

Hugo Conim: Yes, we wanted to do something different and original, and I think we achieved that, and that’s a very difficult thing to do nowadays.

2.Your debut album is described as a blend of heavy post-punk and industrial with a modern twist. Can you elaborate on your musical influences and how you incorporated them into this album?

Hélder Luís: As far as I’m concerned, Swans' ability to create a sense of overwhelming power and emotional depth has been incredibly inspiring, and so has the raw, industrial assault of Godflesh as a cornerstone of the bass sound. Other influences come to the surface, even if unconsciously. To bring a modern twist to these classic influences, we incorporated contemporary production techniques. Ricardo Tawksuh’s work in mixing and mastering was fundamental in consolidating our vision, blending analog and synth guitar sounds. For instance, we used digital effects such as reverb and delays to add depth and texture.

Pedro Almeida: We listen to a lot of different music. Personally, I am a record collector, so you can imagine all styles of music in my collection. To get inspired for this album, I had a few records that I was listening at the time, like Christian Death’s Only Theatre of Pain, Siouxsie and the Banshees’ The Scream, Voivod’s Angel Rat and The Outer Limits era, and Godflesh’s Streetcleaner.

Patrícia Andrade: Like Pedro said, we are very eclectic. For this album, I was listening to Kate Bush’s The Sensual World. More than her voice being an inspiration, it was the feeling of the album.

Hugo Conim: For this album, I was listening to Celtic Frost Into The Pandemonium and Swans’ The Seer, in addition to the music of lot of underground new bands.

 3.The eponymous track “Louvado Abismo” has just been released with a video. Can you tell us about the concept behind the song and the video?

Helder Luis: The character in the video is overcome by an unwanted mental state or one over which they have no control, gesturing in the water and evoking a feeling of chaos and despair. The repetition of the phrase 'Que o mar revolva a tua saliva antes de poder mergulhar' and the use of movements that may be associated with some kind of ritual depict this struggle. This need for lucidity or inner peace is represented by turning to the sea as a purifying element. It can also be interpreted as a journey of self-discovery and transformation through immersion in the turbulent waters of the mind.

4.Patrícia, your background as a theater actress must bring a unique element to your performances. How does your theatrical experience influence your approach to music and live shows?

Patricia Andrade: Music has always inspired my work as an actress, directly or indirectly. I cannot separate music and theatre; they are connected.

5.The lyrics of "Louvado Abismo" explore deep psychological themes and use the sea as a metaphor. Can you delve into the lyrical themes and the symbolism behind them?

Pedro Almeida: The lyrics came together in the studio during our first voice recording session. We had the cover photo, which I took in the late ‘90s or early 2000s, of a friend who had been through some rough times. Patricia and I started discussing these states of mind, disturbed moods, and disfigured ideas that people with mental health problems experience. As an actress, Patricia knows how to embody the character in her voice, allowing listeners to deeply feel our songs. Therefore, we decided to make this the concept of the album.

 6.Your sound is described as a melting pot of different genres and eras. How did you achieve this eclectic mix, and what was the creative process like for the album?

Pedro Almeida: The Album was created by different personalities and individuals, which makes it different, as we all came out from different artistic backgrounds but we have something in common: we like to think outside the box. We had complete freedom to create everything over the structures that I have created, so each one of us recorded in their own studio, my drums were recorded in 2 different studios: Rock´n´Raw Studios and Erre Estudios. The voice and all the arrangements were recorded in Erre studios. Towkuhsh Razamod help a lot when we were recording the voice and some of the drums arrangements; he understood what we were creating and doing on each of the songs. Of course, the mixing and mastering helped a lot for the the álbum to grow as well.

Hugo Conim: This creative mix was due to the crazy mix of influences we all have, and it makes LOUVADO ABISMO a unique band.

7. Patrícia’s vocals are central to your music, sung in Portuguese with theatrical intensity. How do you think singing in Portuguese affects the reception of your music internationally?

Pedro Almeida: Patricia sang in Portuguese because we felt it that way, especially her, as she started creating the lyrics in Portuguese. From the beginning, we developed the band with a Portuguese name, Louvado Abismo. Even those who don't understand Portuguese can feel it because her voice is very expressive and can be felt like an instrument.

8. The album has been described as a conceptual work that plunges listeners into a black hole. Can you talk about the concept behind the album and how it’s reflected in the music and lyrics?

Helder Luis: Each song on the album explores different aspects of struggling with mental health, from feelings of hopelessness and despair to moments of clarity and triumph. The music itself is dark and intense, with heavy guitar riffs and haunting vocals that mirror the emotional turmoil of the lyrics.

Overall, the album takes listeners on a journey through the darkness of the mind, ultimately offering a glimpse of light at the end of the tunnel—or not… For decompensated minds, sanity may be merely an illusion.

9. With the release of "Louvado Abismo" on multiple formats (vinyl, digital, CD), how important is the physical format to you, and what do you think it adds to the overall experience of the album?

Pedro Almeida: Materialized and album for me always need to be available in physical format — CD and Vinyl — so people can touch it, play it on their vinyl or CD player, read the lyrics, appreciate the art and photography, and experience the kind of immersion that is often lost in digital formats.

Hugo Conim: As a music listener and collector, for me, the physical format — with the music, covers and lyrics — is the real rock ‘n’ roll experience.

 10. You’ve released a video for “Corrida Lenta” previously. Can you tell us about the story behind this track and how it fits into the album's overall narrative?

Pedro Almeida: “Corrida Lenta” was the first track of the album where Hugo Conim recorded the guitars, and its ‘80s aesthetic is notable. It’s the song that defined the guitar sound we aimed for. The lyrics explore hallucinogenic visions and reflect inner restlessness after a euphoric journey, transcending time. The song blends a Swans-like vibe with David Lynch atmospheres. The tribal drums in the chorus and at the song’s end draw inspiration from ancient Portuguese traditions.

We also invited Towkuhsh Razamod to contribute a dissonant piano arrangement at the song’s conclusion, adding further depth. Since I directed the video, Patricia and I discussed ideas for our first video. We agreed on a simple concept: filming Patricia singing behind a glass brick to convey a distorted mental state. Shadows dancing and singing were added to enhance this concept.

Hugo Conim: For me this is an important song, as it was the first time I recorded guitars for Louvado Abismo, and it shaped all the guitar line for the rest of the album.

11.What are your plans for promoting the album post-release? Can fans expect any tours, music videos, or special events in support of "Louvado Abismo"?

Pedro Almeida: We have the video for “Mundo” lined up for release on June 27^th and we are planning some shows by the end of September and October to promote the album. We are open for shows; just contact us if you want us in your city.

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