Brazilian metal band NUNGARA blends ethereal melodies with raw intensity, crafting music that’s both powerful and deeply emotional. Their latest video, North Star, explores resilience, personal growth, and embracing life’s journey.
1. Your
new music video for "North Star" just dropped. Can you tell us about
the concept behind the song and the visual storytelling in the video?
"North
Star" is about finding meaning and joy in the process, rather than being
fixated solely on the destination. We wanted the video to reflect that sense of
wonder, struggle, and constant pursuit. Filming by the sea symbolized the
vastness of life and the endless journey of following our dreams and desires.
The stormy sky and clouds background scenes represent the struggles and
obstacles in our path. We also used a projector to cast galaxies,
constellations, and black holes footage, tying back to the North Star theme. It
represents the idea that while we may never fully "arrive," we can
let our passions and aspirations guide us, like a star leading us through the
unknown.
2. The
song carries a strong message about embracing the journey rather than just the
destination. Was there a specific personal experience that inspired this theme?
Absolutely.
I often catch myself feeling impatient or discontent, thinking I’ll only be
happy once I’ve reached a certain goal. When we were making the EP Reflections
in Stillness, for example, I struggled a lot. It was a long and painful
process, trying to find our sound, write music that I could truly be proud of.
I was so focused on the end result that I forgot to appreciate the act of
creating itself.
"North
Star" is my reminder to embrace the process, to feel okay with making
mistakes and learning from them, and to find real joy in the journey, not just
in ticking off accomplishments. I know I’ll always be chasing something. There
will always be a new goal, a new dream, and like the North Star, it’s not only
about reaching it but letting it guide me in the right direction through life.
I shouldn’t wait for happiness to come only when I achieve something. Life is
happening now, and that’s where true joy lives.
3. You
released the video on the eve of International Women's Day. How important is
this moment for you as a band, and what message do you hope to share with women
in the metal scene?
Yes, it’s a
very meaningful moment for us. In extreme metal, there’s still a long way to go
in terms of female recognition and representation. When I started playing
guitar back in 2009, seeing other female guitarists in the scene had a huge
impact on me. It inspired me and made me believe I could be an active part of
the scene too. I hope to pass that on and show women that they belong in metal,
not only as fans but also as composers, performers, and frontwomen. There’s so
much strength in embracing who you are and expressing yourself through music
you love, and I would love for every woman in metal to feel empowered to do
just that.
4. Noelle,
you mentioned crafting a handmade macramé top for the video, spending 23 hours
on it. What was the inspiration behind this piece, and how does it tie into the
song’s themes?
I’ve been
exploring macramé techniques, making decorations and accessories for myself for
a while now. In Nungara we really value the DIY aspect of being an artist.
Doing things ourselves makes everything feel extra special and unique, so I
decided to craft my stage outfits using macramé, and I really enjoy it.
The process
of making it by hand, knot by knot, feels symbolic in a way. Creating something
meaningful takes time, patience, and trust in the process. Making that many
knots almost felt meditative at times. But it was also quite a challenge. I
made mistakes that set me back hours of work, I had to undo parts and start
over. There were moments when I was on the verge of tears. Still, in the end,
it was totally worth it. It’s a piece I’m proud to wear, one that carries a lot
of emotion and the effort I put into it. Plus it’s completely unique and made
to fit my body.
5. The
video was filmed at the Baltic Sea in winter under tough conditions. What was
the biggest challenge during the shoot, and how did you push through it?
Those were
definitely the most challenging scenes in the entire music video. The hardest
part was staying in character while facing the icy winds. The temperature was
around 0°C, but with the wind, it felt like -5°C. Thankfully, our director Anil
from Kumar Productions had his car parked nearby, so we took a lot of breaks to
warm up, which really saved the day. Seeing how incredible the footage was
turning out really motivated us to push through, and the crew was amazing at
keeping spirits high throughout the whole shoot.
6. Your
band name, NUNGARA, comes from the Tupi-Guarani language and means 'equal' or
'similar.' How does this meaning connect to your music and artistic vision?
For us
Nungara meaning is about balance within duality. We like blending heavy and
soft sounds, clean vocals and growls, and that contrast feels exciting and
interesting to me. Also, one of our core beliefs is that even though we might
have different skin color, country of origin, gender, and so on, we’re still
equals. We’re all humans. We’re connected and we shouldn’t forget that. Nungara
is about duality, but also about unity at the same time.
.JPG)
7. Your
sound blends ethereal clean vocals with brutal growls, which creates a unique
contrast. How do you approach balancing these elements in your songwriting?
I really
love playing with the contrast between aggressiveness and softness in our
music. Some emotions can only be fully expressed through a visceral growl, but
at other times, the song needs to feel more mysterious, soft, and mellow, and
that’s where my clean vocals come in. I try to let the song and the lyrics
guide me and dictate what’s needed. It’s always a conversation between light
and dark.
8. Your
EP Reflections in Stillness explores deep themes of personal
struggle and philosophy. How does "North Star" fit into the larger
message of the EP?
A couple of
songs in Reflections in Stillness are about personal
realizations I had through delving into philosophy, especially Stoicism. I’m a
very emotional person, I’m quite optimistic most of the time, but my lows can
be really deep lows. Stoicism helps me stay grounded and lean more into the
logical side of things, which helps me balance my emotions. “North Star” ties
back into the idea of mindfulness, that the only thing we truly have is the
present moment. The past is gone, and the future is uncertain. Even though
we’re constantly chasing goals and working toward things we want to achieve, we
should be present enough to enjoy the now.
9. As a
Brazilian band based in Berlin, how has this international perspective
influenced your music and identity as a band?
Being a
Brazilian band in Berlin definitely gives us a unique perspective.
Interestingly, moving abroad has made me see and experience our own culture
with fresh eyes, understanding our roots on a deeper level, but also feeling
more like a citizen of the world. At some point, I just felt this strong need
to tell our stories, to bring our myths and legends into metal. Our next EP is
gonna be a concept album diving into one of the most famous and tragic tales
from Amazonian mythology, and I can’t wait to share it.
10. Your
debut single "Sumaúma" focused on the Amazon Rainforest fires. Do you
see NUNGARA as a band with a strong social or environmental message?
Yes, we
care deeply about our planet, and the environmental issues we’re facing right
now are extremely concerning. This little blue planet is our only home, we
should take care of it, remember how to live in harmony and thrive together.
It’s devastating to think that we, as a so-called intelligent and conscious
species, are the ones causing so much destruction and causing the extinction of
other species. It’s really sad. We need to take responsibility and do better.
There’s so much wisdom we can learn from the native peoples of the world, and
we need to remember what it truly means to live in balance with the nature
around us. If we can inspire even one person to be more aware of these issues
and their impact on the world, then we’ve done a good job.
11. Looking
ahead, what’s next for NUNGARA? Are there any plans for new music, tours, or
collaborations?
We’re
currently working on our next EP, which will be a conceptual one, exploring a
tragic Brazilian legend. We’re also preparing ourselves to go on tour with our
friends from Serapis Project. We will play 14 dates in Germany, Poland and
Czech Republic in the Co-Headliner European Tour “Ascension to the North Star”.
We can’t wait!
12. For
those discovering your music for the first time, what’s the one thing you hope
they take away from listening to NUNGARA?
That music
can be powerful and raw, but also quite beautiful and emotional. We want people
to feel something when they listen to Nungara, whether it’s strength,
catharsis, or just the urge to headbang to music they really resonate with. And
more than anything, we want them to know they’re not alone in their
struggles.
Post a Comment