Interview with Brahiam Valero and Raymundo Cano of Hercobulus (Mexico)

August 06, 2020

Interview with Brahiam Valero and Raymundo Cano of Hercobulus (Mexico)

By Mick Michaels

COSMICK VIEW: Hello, Brahiam and Raymundo! Welcome to The Cosmick View. Thank you for taking some time out of your day to chat with me, it's greatly appreciated.

CV: Given so many major changes over the last several decades, is the music industry a viable and stable enough environment for new artists and bands to even attempt to make a successful career in your opinion?
BRAHIAM VALERO: The industry has the ability to adapt to any terrain in which it finds itself, just like music. In turn, we musicians must have the same perspective and adapt to changes. A clear example is the situation in which we live today, in which concerts are void and the internet is a great tool to work and give fans a new version of music, a new space where we can all be connected.

RAYMUNDO CANO: Personally, the industry has had changes, but not for the bands below, but for those who are above and still, the bands that are above have not known how to make music, I think they only do it to make it, for me not It is neither viable nor stable since it is constantly changing but for bad not to make good music.

CV: How do you see your band separating itself from just being another Heavy Metal act?
BRAHIAM VALERO: We have a style, a vision, and we make our fans.

RAYMUNDO CANO: Each band has its style and we have our style and vision well defined. We have a special spark that makes fans when listening to a song by us explode and give everything at the concert…they identify with us. Many bands do what people ask or is trending…we like to separate ourselves from that and make our own way. When it seems that we are standing in a place, we move to do something totally different…it is what we like, it is what we do and nothing else.

CV: Has the band's music and style of songwriting changed drastically since the group first formed?
BRAHIAM VALERO: Totally, it is about improving over the years, you cannot stagnate in one idea all your life, we have to do different things, experience sounds, make new lyrics,…if there are musicians who do the same thing every year and never change, it’s because then they live in a bubble, since you don't think the same when you are 15 or 20 or 30 years old, and musical knowledge is also improving.

RAYMUNDO CANO: Every year it has been changing and improving, in all aspects of the band, so that with each album or song, our fans like how or when they first heard our work and they like it the same.

CV: What do you see as the biggest change in the music industry since the band first formed?
BRAHIAM VALERO: There are many changes in general, but a big one has been that the CD in physical format is no longer that invaluable gem that it was before, now everything is MP3, they are downloads, it is streaming, and the industry has adapted very well to this modality…we musicians are doing the same even if it is difficult.

RAYMUNDO CANO: I agree with what Brahiam says.

CV: Has digital technology made everyone an artist on some level in your opinion?
BRAHIAM VALERO: Anyone who decides to take an instrument, a microphone, who wants to sing, who makes the decision to stand in front of an audience, is already an artist for me…because to do this you have to have courage and a lot of confidence in your work. Whether you are good, excellent, or starting your career, you already deserve the respect for the simple fact of being there.

RAYMUNDO CANO: I think that digital technology has been the grave for many bands since today they no longer buy records…everything is internet downloads.

CV: Has Metal, or even music in general, splintered into too many sub-genres? Why do think there are so many classifications of music types? Can this be confusing for the fans?
BRAHIAM VALERO: In my opinion it is thanks to what I mentioned previously…one as a musician explores different sounds, rhythms, lyrics, voices and that is when he makes those sub-genres that everyone is talking about. For me, it is music, it is Metal, it is an expression, it is what the artist wants to transmit and there is an audience for every genre…that is why a thousand sub-genres will be accepted by fans. I do not think it is confusing for those who listen; it is something fresh, new, innovative, taking reference from a Heavy Metal that is the base genre. People like it. As I said before, we are beings who change a lot over the years and this goes hand in hand with the music industry, which does the same thing…we all change and do things better.

RAYMUNDO CANO: I think that over the years the musicians trying to innovate and be something different have invented so many genres from South America etc, etc…but within that, it changes for me…they have destroyed good music.

CV: How would you define “iconic?” What do you think makes an artist iconic?
BRAHIAM VALERO: For me, iconic is one who represents something, an example, a genre, a crowd, a flag, a whole generation… I could say that it is iconic. An artist makes his own style iconic, because people follow him…for people want to be like him, they want to dress like him, they want to be where he is,…that's what an icon does. He dares to go where others don't even think about it and people will follow him.

RAYMUNDO CANO: I agree with what Brahiam says. An icon is something that the masses follow.

CV: Should young artist even strive to become a “rock star” Is being a "rock star" even a relevant term nowadays? What are your thoughts?
BRAHIAM VALERO: Nicknames are given by people. One as a musician should focus on studying, on being better, on making music that you like first, so that you can transmit that feeling to the public. But answering the question more accurately…NO, you shouldn't focus on being a rock star, you should focus on being a musician and a singer on being a good singer…the study of music is something that in many genres has gone sideways and some are really good. Yes if they will focus on their instrument more thoroughly they would be monsters in music. I also don't think the word “rock star” is currently relevant. To end the question, the musician must strive to be better and not appear.

RAYMUNDO CANO: I think that more than being a rock star, one as a musician should try harder to make good music. Being a rock star I think goes within…but the main thing is to make good music for more fans and I would put as second term, the rock star.

CV: What message do you want your music to convey to the world?
BRAHIAM VALERO: Speaking of lyrics, what I would like to convey to the whole world is that they take the world situation very seriously. We are experiencing very strong and irreversible changes…we have spoken about this in some previous albums, so the lyrics speak depending on the global situation, As for music, transmit the taste for playing an instrument that, at present, the number of people who want to learn to play is decreasing. I would like my music to inspire others to be musicians, to renew the taste for wanting a guitar, a bass, drums, some keyboards…any instrument.

RAYMUNDO CANO: Our music covers many themes, but our main objective is that when they listen to our music they leave everything in the concert…they shout, jump and feel ecstatic when listening to our music. Secondly, I think there are many topics that we can talk about but it would be very extensive to be able to explain it.

CV: What's next for you? What can fans expect to see coming?
BRAHIAM VALERO: What follows is to improve music, improve lyrics, make hymns for people to sing, reach more people, adapt to changes in the industry…this is long term…short term is to release our next album “WORLD ANNIHILATION,” tour, bring that album to a lot of people and try to inspire them to make music too.

RAYMUNDO CANO: First of all the “World Annihilation” album and new tours in South America and let's also wait for the old continent. Be aware.

CV: Thank you again Brahiam and Raymundo for spending some time talking and sharing with our readers. It was a pleasure. I wish you all the best and continued success.
BRAHIAM VALERO: On the contrary, I thank you for the space to express my ideas and to all the electrodes a very special thanks for being there…you are the fundamental part of this, together we are all united and we add so that the Metal remains very current in all its aspects.

I leave you a big greeting, a hug for everyone and keep on the road… KEEP ON METAL, STAY HERCOBULUS!

RAYMUNDO CANO: Thanks to you for the space you have given us and say hello and hugs for everyone!

Check out Hercobulus at:
Youtube:
https://www.youtube.com/user/hercobulusthrashmty
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bnnkbe9Ni0U
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCb5rTlzUPA23cQdoiDMYfqg
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hercobulusthrash666999/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/Hercobulusthras
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/hercobulusthrash/
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/album/3z23zc6PbDrQFCmWi8FnID
Apple:
https://music.apple.com/us/album/thrashing-from-hell-single/1462239785?uo=4
https://music.apple.com/us/album/thrashing-from-hell-single/1462239785?uo=4&app=itunes&at=1001lry3&ct=dashboard
Google: https://play.google.com/store/music/album/Hercobulus_Thrashing_from_Hell?id=B2qxh3lryn5cuqxq7lzu3ktigv4
Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07RDW2LB3
Tidal: https://tidal.com/browse/album/108672305
Deezer: https://www.deezer.com/es/album/95491862
iHeart: https://www.iheart.com/artist/hercobulus-32974738/albums/thrashing-from-hell-72875093/
Napster: https://us.napster.com/artist/hercobulus/album/thrashing-from-hell

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My name is Mick Michaels...I'm an artist, music fan, songwriter, producer, dreamer and guitarist for the traditional Heavy Metal band Corners of Sanctuary. Writing has always been a creative outlet for me; what I couldn't say in speech, I was able to do with the written word. Writing has given me a voice and a way for me to create on a multitude of platforms including music and song, articles, independent screenplays, books and now, artist interviews. The Cosmick View is an opportunity to raise the bar and showcase artists in a positive and inspirational light. For me, it's another out-of-this-world adventure.