Interview: Quique Brown (Leptospirose)
by Ricardo Tibiu (tibiu@karasukiller.com | www.chiveta.wordpress.com)
Photos: Binho Preto
originally published in DOLL (Japan) #249
2008/04

Psychedelic Jazzcore
Formed in Bragança Paulista, in the country area of São Paulo, Leptospirose is a trio who sees no limits in music: they mix hardcore and jazz, alternating fast and psychedelic instrumental - that, not no mention the completely surreal lyrics. Last year they released “Invernada” through Läjä Records (Mukeka di Rato, Merda, Hellnation, Vivisick), gathered admirers of their unusual music and toured Brazil, going all the way to Argentina and Uruguay. Now, they have gone to Europe next to Merda, with whom they share “Lecker!”, a split CD released through Läjä and recently brought to Japan by Karasu Killer. We talked to vocalist/guitar player Quique Brown, who told us a little about this split, and their near-death experience during the tour.

Give us a precise, quick definition of Leptospirose's sound, so Japanese readers can understand what you guys are up to.
The other day, on another interview, I said that what we do is “pocket music”. Fast, really raw songs with no introductions, for a fast, really raw world with no introductions. The vocals are screamed, but not too much, the lyrics are surreal and the instrumental punch combines elements from hardcore, punk rock and rock'n'roll, along with psychedelia, jazz, progressive rock and more.

What are the expectations for the release of the split with Merda in Japan, through Karasu Killer Records?
Good expectations, sharing a split with Merda has been awesome for us, we really like them, as musicians and also as friends. And releasing it in Japan is colossal, it's the first time our work is released outside Brazil, so we're very happy.

In the split you recorded a Merda song, and they recorded a Leptospirose song. Why did you choose “Mamãe Costura Meus Patches” [Mommy sews my patches]?
I think the lyrics from “Mamãe Costura Meus Patches” are amazing, contemporary as fuck, simple, straight to the point, sarcastic… we've made a very garage/psychedelic version for it, I thought it turned out cool.

And what did you think of their version for your song, “G.E.D.N.”?
It turned out cool too, the guys came up with some lyrics that are totally Merda style, played the riff in a totally raw manner and so on… it was cool!

What can Brazilians who are already into Leptospirose expect from the songs in the split?
There are four Leptospirose songs and one version from Merda, which we have already mentioned. We opted for a totally garage recording, with oversaturated instrumental, really raw. Here is a brief illustration of each song:

1. “A música que fez aniversário” [The Song That Had a Birthday] - it has this title because it's such an old song, it sounds very rock'n'roll, I, particularly, fucking love it.
2. “Escrever se torna uma obrigação após o pré primário” [Writing Becomes An Obligation Ater Nursery School] - this one starts in a SUB-style punk rock and goes to a rock'n'roll chorus. I think it's fucking awesome to play this song live, the break between parts one and two breaks us. [note: SUB is a seminal Brazilian compilation released in 1983 featuring Cólera, Ratos de Porão, Psykoze and Fogo Cruzado.]
3. “Referências medievais se fazem urgentes” [Medieval References Show Themselves Imperative] - this is the crazy song on the record.
4. “Merda” [Shit] -besides the version, we also wrote a song with their name, and they wrote a song with our name. In the song: syncretism, blues, punk rock with a chorus and so on…
5. “Mamãe Costura meus Patches” [Mommy sews my patches] - our version for this Merda classic. Rock'n'roll, garage, psychedelia.

Between October and November 2007, you guys and Merda had 27 shows scheduled acrosso Europe, but only played 8 of them, after suffering a nearly fatal accident that resulted in multiple fractures and a premature return to Brazil. What was the audience's response up to that moment?
Dude, it was pretty cool! You could feel that the crowd saw a lot of rock'n'roll in our shows, and considering the purpose, which was exactly that, we can conclude it was awesome!!!

Now at home, calmer and next to friends and family, did the tour have any positive results?
Nothing is lost in life, right? I think we all got home with lots of things to think and re-think about life. Even though we spent such a short time in Europe I could see and feel many things I had only heard about, or read about, like the giant squats, the youth clubs, the organization they have and all that...

Was there enough time to see a reaction from people in relation to "Lecker!"?
Jaki, our tour manager sent me an e-mail saying that he liked it (laughs).

What's the soundtrack of a near-death experience?
That's a tense, complicated question. When I heard Jaki's screams I looked forward and saw the ass of a truck at rest, getting closer to us and BAM!!! (we crashed) like lightning, I thought it was a traffic jam, but music, well, music didn't come to mind, the whole thing happens very fast, we were concentrated in other things!!

Besides Brazil, Leptospirose has already played in Argentina, Uruguay and now Europe. What about adding Japan to the route?
As far as I know, what I've heard from Mozine (Mukeka di Rato) is that going to Japan is something really expensive. But it would certainly be awesome.

Besides Godzilla and Juspion what do you know about Japan? Any bands? Food?
I love Japanese food. I don't know many bands, mostly the ones Läjä releases here, Fuck On The Beach and Vivisick.

Thanks Quique, if you want to leave a message, make yourself at home!
Dude, we're absurdly happy to be releasing this split, in a partnership between Läjä and Karasu Killer, thanks Ricardo for the interview, thanks everybody, we see you all soon… that's it! Cheers!

Contacts:
www.myspace.com/leptospirose
cardapiounderground@hotmail.com