Celebrating ten years of musical history, the band Justine, formerly known as Justine Never Knew the Rules , releases his new self-titled album. The album, marked by a process of reinvention and distancing itself from Eurocentric influences, features nine new tracks and features a collaboration with the band Wry . Released in partnership with the midsummer label madness , the album is a reflection of contemporary Brazilian reality, addressing themes such as pandemic, insecurity, loneliness and the rise of fascism, delivering a mix of dream and urgency.
What was the process of creating the album “Justine” like and what were the main inspirations behind the eleven new tracks?
Marcel Marques: It was very different from what we used to do. In the past, we created practically everything in rehearsal, played a lot and then recorded. This time, most of the arrangements were created in the studio from demos made at home during the pandemic. Only after everything was recorded and finalized did we learn to play the songs, think about how we would perform them live. It was really cool to be able to test tones and ways of recording without rushing. Some songs had several versions until reaching the final, there were some that we even recorded on K7 tape.
Mauricio Barros: Regarding inspirations, most of the songs reflect collective and individual feelings about the pandemic period.
What do you hope to achieve with this new work and how would you describe the sound and themes covered in the album?
Mauricio Barros: Life has shown me that, as an independent musician, any expectation other than doing work in which all musicians are happy with the result and have fun playing together can be a little frustrating. We’ve already waited a lot, but now we just want to have fun and be authentic: to be able to translate into music the impressions of what we’ve experienced or what we want to talk about in the best way possible at that moment. Anything beyond that is profit. The sound is based on solitude and plasticity. Despite being full of feelings, this atmosphere that permeates the entire album is purposely carried between tracks to reproduce the mood of the time in which it was composed.
You mentioned that the album is a partnership with the midsummer label madness . What was this collaboration like and what was the role of the label in the development of the project?
Mauricio Barros: The partnership with midsummer dates back to Overseas , our first album. In 2015, Rodrigo Lariú (responsible for midsummer madness ) was present at a show we did in São Paulo, we talked, the ideas came together and he invited us to join the label. Basically, Lariú is a facilitator for the distribution of our work digitally and a partner in the pressing of the physical album. In practice, it is also a great motivator in difficult times and a kind of psychologist to deal with the crazy ideas that arise until we arrive at something concrete.
How do you perceive the band’s sonic and artistic evolution over these 10 years of career and road?
Marcel Marques: I believe it is noticeable to us because of the patience we all have with the process now. This variety of arrangements, instruments and confidence in what we are doing. I no longer see us being unsure about a song or where we should go with it. We’re not afraid to take something away or redo it until it’s the way it needs to be. It’s quite curious because on this record it happened a lot that we knew what we wanted and, until it came out, we definitely didn’t stop trying or redoing it. I also see us composing, producing and playing better.
Mauricio Barros: I believe that we are no longer afraid to risk new approaches, we are no longer doing things in our comfort zone or totally stuck in just one musical style. Letting the music have a life of its own and finding its way without labels or strings attached, you know? I feel like this has more and more space in our routine.
What prompted Justine Never Knew ‘s name change? the Rules for Justine and how does this change reflect the evolution of the band’s identity?
Mauricio Barros: We wanted to have a name that made more sense for a band that sings in Portuguese and, at the same time, have a simpler name. 10 years ago it was cool to have giant names, but the reality is that few people can say the name in Brazil. It ends up sounding a bit elitist until you think about it.
You mentioned that you seek to move away from Eurocentric influences to connect more with national production. How is this change reflected in the sound and lyrics of the new album?
Mauricio Barros: I believe it is something that came, above all, from the need to create our identity as individuals, as a band. And this kind of thing only comes after a deep understanding of who we are, where we came from. I opened myself up to other musical styles with the aim of understanding new languages and finding new ways to understand this. Today I understand that it is a transitory state, but discovering artists like Itamar Assumpção, Paulinho da Viola, Tom Zé gave me new perspectives on art, on life. I believe this ends up being reflected in broader compositions. So, answering the question, this change reflects an album with a broader sound spectrum and, compared to what we did before, bolder.
The release mentions that the album addresses themes such as pandemic, insecurity, the emergence of fascism and death. How do these themes intertwine throughout the tracks and what was the goal behind this approach?
Mauricio Barros: The sequence of songs on the album has an interesting interweaving from the perspective of looks and thoughts. We had no objective other than the cohesion of art as a whole. As the cover already suggests, they are excerpts from an era. But in the end, the album, which begins with a lament, naturally seeks paths to a kind of understanding – not necessarily a solution, and new perspectives on how life in the post-pandemic world works.
How did the pandemic and the challenges of recent years influence the creation of the songs and how do you hope the public connects with these messages?
Mauricio Barros: As we were isolated and lived in different cities, most of the songs were composed using the instruments we had at home. Alone, guitar, lots of electronic drums and synthesizer. We didn’t intend to sound X or Y at any point. But, on the album, we tried to maintain the aesthetic of introspection, of isolation, to have a certain fidelity with the way the songs were conceived in an attempt to record the feelings and status quo of that period.
The band’s return after a hiatus of almost 5 years was marked by the single “Avalanche”. What prompted this return and what has the reception been like from fans and critics so far?
Marcel Marques: I believe that I miss being together and this artistic exchange that each one can put together when we meet. Soon after the start of the pandemic, we started sharing ideas again and organizing the music project with each person doing what was possible from home. As soon as it was possible, we started the process in the studio and, unlike the way we did it previously, we did everything in the time necessary without rushing or that euphoria of releasing the material as soon as possible. The reception at the shows and with the people who send us messages has been really cool. Everyone really liked the compositions in Portuguese, talking about the arrangements and that the evolution of the band is noticeable.
How do you see the band’s trajectory from the beginning to this moment, and what are your plans for the future after the release of the album “Justine”?
Marcel Marques: I think we did everything we should have done at the right time. It’s really cool for those who have been following since the beginning to analyze their entire career. As we have always done all the processes ourselves, you can see this path, how we have evolved from composition, recording, mixing, etc. In my opinion, we are in the best phase, enjoying this production process much more. Although we have always recorded ourselves, in the past I think we focused much more on playing as much as possible rather than being locked in the studio. This year we still have some releases planned and some shows too.
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