Far from Alaska

Far from Alaska is a Brazilian rock band[1] formed in 2012 in Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, and based in São Paulo, São Paulo.

Far from Alaska
The band in May 2017. From left to right: Rafael Brasil, Emmily Barreto, Lauro Kirsch and Cris Botarelli. Eduardo Figueira is not shown.
Background information
OriginNatal, Rio Grande do Norte
GenresAlternative rock, stoner rock
Years active2012–present
LabelsDeckdisc
Websitewww.farfromalaska.com
MembersEmmily Barreto
Cris Botarelli
Rafael Brasil
Past membersEdu Filgueira
Lauro Kirsch

History

Formation and first performances (2012)

All members lived in Natal by the time the band was formed, but only guitarist Rafael Brasil and vocalist Emmily Barreto were born there. Keyboardist Cris Botarelli is from São Paulo, bassist Edu Figueira is from Mossoró (also a Rio Grande do Norte city) and drummer Lauro Kirsch is from Cuiabá, Mato Grosso.[2] Beside, all members have previously worked with other bands: Botarelli and Kirsch played together in a band called Planant; she also performed with Barreto in Talma & Gadelha; Brasil played in Calistoga and, together with Figueira and Kirsch, he was part of Venice.[2]

Far from Alaska was formed in 2012, initially as a project of Cris and Emmily for the latter to sing. They called the other three members and considered the band a side project only.[3] In that same year, they won the contest "Som Para Todos", which granted them a distribution contract with Deckdisc and the right to perform at Planeta Terra Festival in São Paulo.[4] That was their second live performance ever, after which they had the chance of speaking to Shirley Manson, vocalist of Garbage, who complimented them two months later.[2]

According to keyboardist Cris Botarelli, the band's name does not mean anything special; it was a mere suggestion of vocalist Emmily Barreto's mother[5] that ended up pleasing the band members after they failed to reach an agreement.[6] At the same occasion, she also explained that the band don't see a problem at writing English lyrics since the public from Rio Grande do Norte (the band's home state) has been receiving it well.[6][7] In another interview, Botarelli also said that singing in English was a natural decision given that the vast majority of the bands they listen to have English lyrics.[2]

First works: Stereochrome and modeHuman (2012-2014)

In October 2012, the band released their first EP, Stereochrome, with four tracks. It was pre-produced in Natal, recorded at Estúdio Tambor in Rio de Janeiro with Pedro Garcia as the producer and mixed by Chris Hanzsek at Hanzsek Audio in Seattle, United States.[2] In May 2014, it was released their first album by Deckdisc, modeHuman, containing 15 tracks including re-recorded versions of the EP's four songs.[8] One of the tracks, "Dino vs. Dino", was released as a single and received a video recorded at Dunas do Rosado, a protected desert area in Porto do Mangue,[6] 500 km from Natal. A second video was planned for a 2014 release.[6] The track "Thievery" also received a promotional video, and a video for "About Knives" was released in 2015.[5]

In 2014, they played at the FIFA Fan Fest event in Natal, during the 2014 FIFA World Cup.[9]

Moving to São Paulo and Lollapalooza (2014-2016)

By the end of 2014, Figueira said in an interview that the band was going to move to São Paulo for logistical reasons and in order to generate more opportunities.[10] By January 2015, part of the band had already settled in São Paulo.[5][7]

In 2014, they were announced as part of the line-up of the 2015 Lollapalooza Brasil.[5][11] Their performance at the festival was well received by the critics.[12][13]

On 12 March 2015, they announced a new song titled "Relentless Game", co-written and co-recorded with Brasília band Scalene.[14] In the next year, the song would be featured in the soundtrack of Rede Globo's telenovela Rock Story.[15] As of July 2015, some members still kept second jobs aside from music: Brasil was an art director at an agency and Botarelli was a lawyer. Figueira graduated in two universities (including a degree in Architecture), but by that time he was already living out of music only.[16] In August 2017, by the time of the release of their sophomore album, all members were already giving total dedication to music.[17]

In February 2016, they released another new song called "Chills", and also announced plans for a new album for that year.[18]

In March 2016, the band performed at the SXSW festival in Texas, United States.[19]

Unlikely and Download Festival (2017-present)

In the beginning of 2017, they released "Collision Course", a collaborative song with Ego Kill Talent.[20] In the same month, they traveled to the United States where they are expected to work on their second album, to be produced by Sylvia Massy.[21] In February, they revealed the album title, Unlikely,[22] and announced a crowdfunding campaign at Kickante to finance the album.[23] Also in February, they were announced as part of the line up of the French edition of Download Festival.[24] Their performance took place on 10 June, on the same day as bands like System of a Down, Five Finger Death Punch, Slayer and Alter Bridge.[25]

In June, they released Unlikely's first single, "Cobra".[26]

Awards

In 2012 the band won the contest "Som Para Todos", which included a concert at the Planeta Terra Festival in São Paulo and a distribution contract with Deckdisc.[4]

The band's debut album, modeHuman, and the track Politks won the Hangar award for the best album and track of the year.[27]

In June 2016, the band won the International Midem Award for the "We are the future" category (for new artists).[28]

Discography

Albums

EPs
  • Stereochrome (EP) (2012)

Singles
  • "Dino vs. Dino" (2013)
  • "Relentless Game (feat. Scalene)" (2015)
  • "Chills" (2016)
  • "Collision Course (feat. Ego Kill Talent)" (2017)
  • "Cobra" (2017)

Members
  • Emmily Barreto - vocals
  • Cris Botarelli - synth, lap steel, bass and vocals
  • Rafael Brasil - guitar

Ex-Members
  • Lauro Kirsch - drums
  • Edu Filgueira - bass

References
  1. Buli, Liv (4 June 2016). "Artists To Watch At Midem Festival 50th Anniversary In Cannes". Forbes. Integrated Whale Media Investments. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  2. Schwinn, Paulo (13 May 2014). "Far From Alaska". Portal Rock Press (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  3. Sobota, Guilherme (21 February 2015). "Banda Far From Alaska faz rock 'n' roll criativo e original". O Estado de S. Paulo. Grupo Estado. Retrieved 25 February 2015.
  4. Portilho, Osmar (June 5, 2014). "Ouça 'modeHuman', primeiro disco da banda Far From Alaska" (in Portuguese). Terra. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  5. Gonçalves, Crysthian (30 January 2015). "Far From Alaska e seu plano de dominação mundial que tem dado certo". Guitar Talks (in Portuguese). Agência FK. Archived from the original on 3 February 2015. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  6. Santos, Alessandra Braz (14 August 2014). "Entrevista: Far from Alaska (RN)". Porão do Rock (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 August 2014.
  7. Luan, Freires (30 January 2015). "Cris Botarelli, do Far From Alaska, comenta a participação da banda potiguar no Lollapalooza 2015". Veja São Paulo (in Portuguese). Grupo Abril. Retrieved 3 February 2015.
  8. "A novidade é Far From Alaska" (in Portuguese). Tribuna do Norte. June 6, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  9. "Sem jogos, programação da Fan Fest em Natal não abre nesta sexta-feira" (in Portuguese). G1. June 27, 2014. Retrieved July 8, 2014.
  10. Arruda, Renata (16 December 2014). "Revitalizando o peso". OGRITO! (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 22 December 2014. Retrieved 22 December 2014.
  11. Eduardo, Bruno. "Atração do Lollapalooza, Far From Alaska fala com exclusividade ao Rock On Board". Rock on Board (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 December 2014.
  12. Sobota, Guilherme (29 March 2015). "Far From Alaska confirma favoritismo e põe Lollapalooza no bolso". O Estado de S. Paulo (in Portuguese). São Paulo: Grupo Estado. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  13. Borges, Lucas (29 March 2015). "Lollapalooza 2015: Far From Alaska "enche público de porrada" e se oferece para voltar em 2016". Rolling Stone Brasil (in Portuguese). Spring. Retrieved 10 April 2015.
  14. Curvelo, Rakky (12 March 2015). "Exclusivo: ouça parceria inédita do Far From Alaska com o Scalene". Tenho Mais Discos Que Amigos!. Retrieved 12 March 2015.
  15. "Trilha sonora de 'Rock Story' tem Sandy, Tiago Iorc, Ludmilla e mais; confira!". GShow (in Portuguese). Grupo Globo. 29 October 2016. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  16. Schneider, Guilherme (10 July 2015). "Riffpedia #1 - Far From Alaska". Canal Riff. Retrieved 12 July 2015.
  17. Sobota, Guilherme; Bazzan, Alexandre (17 August 2017). "Refrão Estadão #14 — Entrevista com Far From Alaska Emmily Barreto e Cris Botarelli falam sobre o segundo disco da banda, 'Unlikely'" (audio). Estadão Podcasts. Grupo Estado. Retrieved 21 August 2017.
  18. Gentile, John (9 February 2016). "Far From Alaska: "Chills"". Punknews.org. Retrieved 11 February 2016.
  19. "Far From Alaska". Schedule.SXSW. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  20. "Far From Alaska e Ego Kill Talent se juntam para novo clipe; veja". Billboard Brasil (in Portuguese). BPP Promoções e Publicações Ltda. 13 January 2017. Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  21. Ribeiro, Lúcio (6 January 2017). "CENA – Far From Alaska vai gravar novo disco nos EUA. E a Popload conversou com a Cris Botarelli". Popload (in Portuguese). Retrieved 19 January 2017.
  22. Ferreira, Mauro (13 February 2017). "Banda potiguar Far From Alaska faz segundo álbum, 'Unlikely', nos EUA". G1. Grupo Globo. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  23. Medeiros, André Felipe de (15 February 2017). "Far From Alaska anuncia pré-venda de seu próximo álbum, "Unlikely" Participação em financiamento coletivo prevê recebimento antecipado do disco". Monkeybuzz. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  24. Aiex, Tony (2 February 2017). "Far From Alaska irá tocar em edição francesa do Download Festival". Tenho Mais Discos que Amigos!. Retrieved 18 February 2017.
  25. "System of a down, Green day, Epica... le festival de metal Download a mis le feu". Le Figaro (in French). Dassault Group. 12 June 2017. Retrieved 15 June 2017.
  26. Radic, Randy (23 June 2017). "Single Premiere: "Cobra" – Far From Alaska". HuffPost. Oath Inc. Retrieved 23 June 2017.
  27. "Prêmio Hangar elege os melhores" (in Portuguese). Tribuna do Norte. November 20, 2014. Retrieved November 20, 2014.
  28. "Banda potiguar Far From Alaska leva prêmio de revelação em Cannes". O Globo (in Portuguese). Rio de Janeiro: Grupo Globo. 7 June 2016. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
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