Text by Joana Söt
Belo Horizonte, March 17, 2022. It hasn't rained for almost three weeks, and the first sunny Carnival in a long time is being recorded here. Sitting with me in the central region of this city surrounded by mountains is Gabriel – known to his friends as Gabras , or Laso . Since I first heard Magenta – the artist's first album – I've been incredibly interested in learning more about Laso's story. So I conducted this interview, intending not only to explore the visceral universe of Magenta and the new paths the independent music scene is taking, but also to share its wonders with the world.
Laso began his musical journey early, influenced by his metalhead father and an interest in music since birth. Even at age 6, the band Carcass was one of his favorites. By age 11, immersed in the world of metal listening to bands like Children of Bodom and playing Guitar Hero , Laso already knew that music would be a lifelong companion. His relationship with metal has always been well-defined: from a young age he understood that the scene had a lot of machismo and elitism at its core, and from there he began researching how to expand and blend genres that went beyond the metal box, while maintaining the same musical language. Djent (derived from progressive metal) showed Laso this path.
When I asked him about his main influences, a rich array of references was revealed: from Bring Me The Horizon to Nine Inch Nails , Bon Iver , passing through the notorious guitarist Tosin Abasi , from the band Animals as Leaders djent band Periphery , and ending with various Brazilian sounds. The reasons are multiple: production references, use of synthesizers, musical influences with 8-string guitars, and so on. Laso even made a selection of four songs that symbolize the barrier he has broken between genres: “GOAT”, by Polyphia, “nihilist blues”, by Bring Me The Horizon , “swipe up”, by Odeon and “Hero”, by Issues . All this and much more helped Laso in the production of Magenta , released in 2019.
The depth of Laso's work begins with the album's title: Magenta . "It's one of my favorite words," Laso said. "Magenta is an illusory color; everyone sees it differently. What some people call pink, others see as purple, while others understand it as magenta. It's plural; a spectrum, open to infinite interpretations." The album cover is a pink agate, also known as the stone of love. One of the many objects that are part of Laso's life, he simply scanned the stone and made it the cover of his illustrious debut album, inviting people to delve into their own interpretation of the fractal world that surrounds them. "Magenta comes from a place of rupture, internal, made from the things that surround me," says Laso. "It's important that people feel open to creating their own meanings from the music, but I can say that the album is imbued with my experiences and life events, in an abstract way that reaches everyone."
"What does Magenta mean to you?" I asked. "It means the beginning of what I want to do for the rest of my life. The whole process – from creating the music universes to production and release – has taught me and greatly expanded my world." And indeed it has. The Laso universe goes beyond sound. During our interview, we talked a lot about producing art with the concern of delivering an aesthetic experience to those who consume it. Laso expands the experience of his art beyond music: he is also a videomaker and stylist, producing his own music videos and merchandise. Regarding clothing, the concern of making everything he produces accessible to everyone is palpable: "In clothing I found a place to talk about issues like fatphobia and non-binary identity. I try to make clothes that break down these barriers of body standards, unisex pieces, with new measurements." Laso is a world-centered project that seeks above all a sense of inclusion and connection for people, not only through the mix of various stimuli, but also through visual direction, fashion, and of course, lots of music.
For 2022, Laso's plans don't leave any of that aside: The artist expressed enthusiasm when talking about the release of the remaining music videos from Magenta, thus completing the album's visual universe. "In addition, I plan to release an album of experiments this year with songs from Magenta and other demos, made with the participation of some special guests. The idea is to give the songs a new feel." Laso also spoke about performing shows in new environments, complementing the overall concept of the project. Working on the visuals of the shows, on the complete experience for those who attend, from the sound to the venue, is definitely one of Laso's post-pandemic plans. We eagerly await his return to the stage and news from this universe that the artist has created. Magenta is available now on all streaming platforms.