Out In Style is one of the most interesting
USHC-bands around right now. Here´s an interview
with them done in February 2023.
Please tell me a little history of the group,
members and what you do when you don´t play
music, what do you work and which ages are you
in?
-We started in 2016, when I (João Xavier) went
to Canada to meet Ricardo, our drummer, to
rehearse and record our first EP in the USA. We
did not have a guitar player, so I had to record
pretty much everything but the drums, which
Ricardo did. Later on, Marlos joined the group
to play guitar. When we don't play music, we
work a lot. We all work in different offices
with different roles. Today I am 29, Marlos is
34 and Ricardo 39.
Have it been the same members all the time, or
have it been many lineup changes? Please tell me
a little about every member? Earlier bands?
-The three of us played together in other bands
a few years before. At first, Marlos was not
going to join us with Out in Style. But later,
he heard the songs and liked a lot, and we also
needed a guitar player, so that was it.
Out in Style is the name, where did it came from
and you wasn´t afraid that some other group
would be named so?
-It is because of the song "Burning Out In
Style" by Lagwagon, which we were listening a
lot while on the road to record our first EP in
the USA. We searched through the internet to
check if there was already a band with that name
and we found nothing, so that was it.
You call you record for Letters never sent….What
does that mean?
-When I broke up with a previous girlfriend I
used to write a lot as a therapy, but never
ended up sending the letters. So I found that
they could be lyrics and created the songs.
Later I ended up burning all of the letters.
Is it important to give out the record as
physical releases do you think? Would it feel
like you have released a record if you only
release it digital?
-I personally love to collect physical records.
Love the artwork and reading the lyrics and
credits. Today it is kinda hard because no one
buys records anymore. We still have cds of our
previous records but I'm not sure how is it
going to be for the next ones.
Do you play any covers when you play live? If
you do, which then?
-Not anymore, but we used to play a lot of No
Use, Bad Religion, Millencolin, etc.
Please tell me a little about following songs
(You only sing in English or?)
(I´ll make it right)
This time It is a song about regrets and
learning from your mistakes.
(Save me)
It is about myself, where I wonder if I could
save my life from my own actions and thoughts.
(My reason to believe)
That one is about a heavy break up in a
relationship.
Is it important to get out your opinions in your
music, and is it a good way to get out
frustration too? Politics?
-We never talk about politics in our songs. It
is not that we don't care, on the contrary, we
all have strong beliefs on the left wing in
Brazil and that is no secret. The thing is I
only write very personal lyrics, more about
emotions and stuff that happens in my life.
Do you think that your lyrics can have effect on
other people who listens to them… any example on
it? Have you changed anyones mind?
-Absolutely. I hope some people can relate to
what I write and realize they are not alone.
That's what happened to me when I was growing up
listening to punk rock. I always get emotional
when some people say they could relate
themselves to our music.
How is it to play this sort of music in Brazil
(or where do you live?) and which type of bands
are you having concerts with? Which is the most
peculiar band you have been playing together
with?
-It is tough, I won't lie. We almost never get
paid, and most of people in Brazil are not used
to punk rock. They listen to other genres, and
consequently we have almost no support. We
usually play with similar bands from around
here. Sometimes when a foreign band comes to
Brazil we opened the shows (Belvedere, Satanic
Surfers, Antillectual, for instance).
How would you describe your music in three words
for people that haven´t heard you? Do you call
it punk or hardcore, emo or what?
-I don't really like to label our music, but if
I had to describe it, I would say we make very
sincere and honest music, playing from the
bottom of our hearts. If you like emo, punk or
hardcore, you might like our music. Bottom line
is, you'll have to listen to have your own
opinion.
I like beer and also make beer.. If Out in Style
do a beer, what would it be named and which sort
of beer would it be? Or maybe you´re
straightedge?
-I personally love beer as well. I worked in a
few bars for years, so I had the chance to
understand more about beers. Here in Curitiba we
have the most number of craft beers in the whole
country. I always dreamed of having the Out in
Style beer. Maybe an IPA with watermelon flavor,
if possible hahahaha.
And how is it to live in Brazil now? Racists,
Politics, covid?
-Fortunately, the last president lost the
elections. He did a lot of bad things around
here, such as delaying the vacination of covid,
which killed a lot of people. He was radically
of the right wing, so he had a lot of racist and
fascist thoughts. Unfortunately he influenced a
lot of people around here, but hopefully with
the new president we can have more peace in
Brazil.
Which is your own favorite song among your own
songs? And which song is the people choice?
-I like all of them, can't say just one now. But
if I had to take a chance that would probably be
"Looking For You", which was our first music
video ever. The people's choice I would say
"Lucid Dream", cause a lot of friends ask us to
play that song.
What´s the biggest difference when you play live
nowadays if you compare when you first started
to play in a band?
-Well, today we're better and we are used to
play with better gear hahahahaha. Besides that,
there's not much difference at all.
And have you opinion about punk changed through
the years? What do punk mean to you, only a
musicstyle or a lifestyle?
-To me personally it means everything. I had a
few ups and downs while growing up, and punk
music actually saved my life, so I will always
be grateful for that. It may have changed the
way it sounds, but its true essence will never
change. I really hope that teenagers nowadays
appreciate more its lifestyle and music.
What do you know about Sweden? What is typical
Swedish? And what is typical Brazilian?
-Well, a lot of music and football pretty much.
I was a big fan of Henrik Larsson. About Brazil,
that's a pretty huge country, so we have a lot
of different cultures over here. I'm gonna say
more about my city, Curitiba, where we like to
eat barbecue, drink beer, and of course watching
our major football team, which is Coritiba!
Have you ever been here? Any good bands from
Sweden that you like?
-Never been there, but we really want to. A lot
of our favorite bands are from Sweden, such as
Millencolin, Satanic Surfers and No Fun At All.
Your audience when you play live, which type of
people comes, age?
-Usually punks or emos in the mid 20s or 30s.
What´s the best of playing live?
-To make people feel what we have to say through
our music looking in their eyes and feeling
their reactions.
Please tell me a funny thing which have happened
during a livegig with your band?
-We have a lot, but I'm gonna say one that
happened in Prague, where we smoked a joint on
stage, because it is legal there and we couldn't
believe it!
Is there any good bands in Brazil today? New
bands which is good? Old bands which is still
good?
-Absolutely. I'm gonna say one new band which is
called "Cinza", from our hometown Curitiba.
Which is the record that you always must have in
the tourbus?
-Can't say just one, but pretty much a lot of
punk rock.
Do you buy much records, or is it only Spotify
and those type of things to listen to music? Is
there any good record shop in your hometown?
-I personally love buying physical records. I
have hundreds in my home. In my hometown the
stores don't sell new cds anymore, so you must
go to pawn shops or places like that.
Which was your first record, the latest you
bought and the most expensive you have bought?
-The first one I bought with my own money was
probably Splinter by The Offspring. The latest I
got was Catalyst by New Found Glory, and the
most expensive I think it was More Betterness by
No Use For a Name.
Do you care about reviews? Which is the most
peculiar you ever had, with this band or any
other band you have been to?
-We appreciate a lot. There is not one in
particular, but what we enjoy the most is the
fact that people from many parts of the world
(Japan, Serbia, Italy, USA, etc) have made
reviews about us.
If you could choose five bands from the past and
the history and nowadays and both dead and
living bands to have a concert together with
your band. Which five have you been chosen?
-No Use For a Name Bad Religion Millencolin
Lagwagon No Fun at All
And if you been paid for do a cover-record with
four songs, which four songs have you done then?
-Punk versions of: Yazoo - Only You Gigi
D'agostino - L'amour Toujours Roxette - Listen
to Your Heart Backstreet Boys - As Long As You
Love Me
Futureplans for the band? And for yourself?
-We're releasing a new split with Fankaz.
Hopefully, we'll be releasing new music videos
as well. As for myself, I'm recording a new solo
album, and hope to play live as much as I can.
Wisdomword?
-Luckily, there's always one guaranteed weak
link in any security set up: The human heart.
Anything more to add to the interview?
-Just wanna say thank you for the opportunity of
the interview, and tell people to follow us
through social media and digital platforms.