An Interview With the Brazilian SKA-Punk Band, ABRASKADABRA!

Brazilian ska-punk band Abraskadabra recently released their new album Welcome and will be making the trip to America to celebrate.

Here’s a link to the music video for the single “The Dream”: https://youtu.be/wHjjee9leq8

Welcome delivers the band’s own vision of the ska punk essence and has been featured on Alternative Press, New Noise Magazine, Punktastic, and many more. Less Than Jake’s Vinnie Fiorello says “Despite a slightly off putting name, the blend of skate punk, ska, and pop punk really is balanced and executed flawlessly. Tight horns, fast drums, flashy runs, all tightly wound by good melodies.“

Learn more about Abraskadabra in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! Besides this interview, what else do you guys have on tap for today?

Thank you, my name is Eduardo (guitar/vocals). We appreciate the time over here! Today we drove from Austin TX to Phoenix, pretty long ride but the sightseeing was awesome!

How has being from your hometown in Brazil influenced this band and the kind of music that you make today? What is the music scene like there these days? How has it evolved over the years?

To be honest we grew up pretty much listening to Fat Wreck and Epitaph bands. There were a few good ska bands back on the 90’s like Boi Mamao and Skuba. But there’s not that many now a days, unfortunately.

Punk rock it’s still pretty strong so that’s a good thing. We always try to squeeze in the punk rock and hardcore concerts. But sometimes we miss an all ska festival or something like that.

How did you all meet and form this band? Can you remember the first moment where you thought you could be in this band together and make music?

We started as high school pals, we met in school and I believe right at the beginning we knew what we wanted to do and here we are 15 years after doing what we love.

Was it difficult coming up with your band name? What were some of the other names the you considered?

To be honest we were kids when that name came up, it was a friend’s idea. And since a lot of ska bands use to put “ska” on their names we thought it was cool also.

How do you think this group has grown over the years? What has remained the same?

I think our main idea of how we do music it’s still the same, of course we improved technically but besides that I don’t really believe that much has changed.  

What it like putting together your latest collection, “Welcome”? How do you think it is different or similar to anything else that you have released over the years?

We had a great time recording ‘Welcome,’ spent 14 days together doing what we like and how we like it, it was made all by ourselves so that makes it a lot more special to us. I would say the main difference between the last album and the first one is that the first one was a 9 year compilation of songs as opposed to ‘Welcome’ that we spent about 6 months on the creation process. I would also say that ‘Welcome’ is a little faster than our early work.

How has your tour been going? What have been some of your favorite venues and crowds? Where can people see you perform live next?

It’s been amazing!! Everybody it’s been so nice and the hospitality has been great. So many nice people along the way. About the gigs so far, In my opinion all of them were great in a different way but Boston and Oklahoma City were really special.

Where do you think you are all happiest- in the studio recording new music, on stage performing or elsewhere?

Oh man, there’s nothing that compares to the gigs, recording is cool but playing is why we do this, getting the energy from the people is the bomb.

How do you think being a musician and in this band gives you all the most joy in life today? With everything going on in the world today, how do you think your music is a reflection of these times?

I would say it’s one of the few good things going on still haha. Brazil has been fucked up political wise, but you know what? Sometimes good music comes from that, if you know what I mean.

Who are you all listening to these days? What artists have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future?

We tried to mix it up a little bit, since we are driving pretty much everywhere here in the States. But of course, there’s a lot punk rock and ska music going on. We’re really digging  Frenzal Rhomb right now.

I would love to work with all major ska bands around, there’s not many ska bands down in Brazil.

What advice would you give to a young band just getting started today?

Believe in what you do, if you don’t like your music or just kind of like, it is never going to happen.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourselves or your music?

If you like fast and melodic ska punk songs come and check us out! We are having an awesome time in the USA so far and most definitely it’s going to continue to be rad!