A Chat with Principe Valiente (04.05.22)
Known for their dramatic, engaging and enchanting melodies, Swedish post-punk group Principe Valiente are back on the scene with their new album Barricades. We speak with vocalist Fernando Honorato about the new album, his bad habits, discovering new music and future plans.
OSR: Principe Valiente has had a four-year break from making music together. Why did you decide to re-form and release new material?
Honorato: We’ve done music all the time actually, or at least me and guitarist Jimmy since 2018, one year after the release of Oceans. After that, we’ve been working on demos as much as we can in between touring and family life. Then after having concrete stuff to present for the band, began to more properly decide in which direction to take this. That could take one evening with a song or two weeks or two months, depending on when all members in the band were available. So, things took time and I’ve been very picky about how I wanted things to sound too.
OSR: What do you hope people take from your music?
Honorato: The sensuality and the hope? The feeling that it’s ok to have different emotions in one song. In my opinion, some tracks can have quite mixed ambivalent feelings, frustration and also softer and more balanced emotions. An extension of myself really, and if the listener can resonate with what I’ve done.
OSR: Is there a backstory to the album Barricades?
Honorato: No, nothing to do with the pandemic or with politics. Just feelings, emotions and theories from my own life and observations in general. In an honest way, musically and lyrically.
OSR: DId you face any challenges when recording Barricades?
Honorato: Yeah, the sound of this album is a bit more clearer than before. So, somewhere it felt a bit more exposed. I’ve also experimented more with the female vocalists and tried different ways and mix it with my own backing vocals. I’m very happy with the results.
OSR: If you could change one thing about the album, what would it be?
Honorato: Well, maybe to record more together or fly over to Chicago to be in the mix room with Adam who mixed, just to have that great experience. But, due to the pandemic situation, we couldn’t do it.
OSR: What or who inspires you to make music?
Honorato: Everyday life, relations, love, fears, and Bowie, always. Also current internal bands, lots of them.
OSR: What do you think is the best way to discover new music nowadays?
Honorato: Actually, Spotify is a quite fine way, the Spotify Weekly function. Or to listen to Mixcloud mixes from DJs you appreciate. Or from TV series/movies as well. Sometimes like, “wtf was that song?” – look it up and then you may have a totally new artist and album just discovered. I actually found both Alex Cameron, SRSQ and Jack Ladder through some mixes out there on the net.
OSR: If you could spend the day with any celebrity, who would it be and why?
Honorato: Nick Drake. I’ve been very curious about his life and short career since my high school years in the 90s and it would be a dream to spend a whole day and ask him stuff. If he had the patience with that of course.
OSR: What is your most annoying habit?
Honorato: I actually pick my nose a bit too much. Embarrassing, I know. In the studio when I’m concentrating and everything. People just look at me and never say anything, but I’m aware of it a bit more now.
OSR: Do you have any future plans as Principe Valiente?
Honorato: Now that the album is done and out there, get out and tour and write some new songs. I’ve already done some demos that I’m quite fond of to develop more with the band. Also got some solo stuff for the future. But mostly tour again at the moment especially now in May that we just got confirmed we’ll be supporting The Sisters of Mercy for six shows in Scandinavia.
Many thanks to Fernando Honorato for speaking with us. For more from Principe Valiente check out their official website, Facebook, Instagram and Spotify.
