Text written by Indy Lopes, Joe Ribeiro and Dênis Lapuente, from the Preto No Metal collective.
"One Musician a Day" feature from Preto No Metal started out somewhat innocently, and I'd even say a bit clueless.
I'll explain…
First, what is " A Musician a Day"? The segment's sole purpose is to celebrate and promote non-white artists. UMPD aims to bring the public closer to bands that wouldn't normally have visibility, and it works very well, as the feedback we receive is always positive.
It started a while ago, and in the beginning we had the idea of posting every single day, but we soon realized it wasn't that simple.
Posts are made a few days a week, but it's very difficult to get artists available. Research is necessary, and when that's done, we often find a lack of information about the artists on their pages, not to mention a lack of response from them. This, of course, doesn't stop us from continuing the work, which is basically the responsibility of our member Joe.
In the beginning it was Lohy and Indy, but with Joe joining us we can dedicate ourselves to other things while Joe does his research. Of course, we receive material and help from followers, but it's not much; the work is basically internal.
Preto has already revealed, according to the latest update, 190 national and 201 international players. It may seem like a small number, or a large number, but we count on your support to grow even more.
In the underground scene, one of the most frequently questioned topics is: can quality and professionalism kill the movement?
The underground is a very strong movement based on the "Do It Yourself" (DIY) concept. Within this movement, this concept encompasses not only artists, but also photographers, merchandise, music venues, technical teams, websites, social media pages, and recording studios. These are all important parts of the movement and are always interconnected.
Currently, with the internet and social media, promoting a band's work has become more accessible to everyone, from the public to the press. However, there is an issue that many find difficult to understand or believe doesn't belong in the underground scene.
Professionalism in the music industry is becoming increasingly common, however, it is still rare to see in smaller bands.
Bands still don't know what an EPK (an acronym for electronic press kit) is, let alone how to make one. Even so, having something like that is essential. A record of the work done. This helps the band, the press, and the production team.
Despite all the difficulties, we managed to surprise many people: whether they were fans or musicians. And that makes us very honored by the journey and the friends we've made.
We collected some testimonials from friends we've shared, giving their opinions on the importance of Black in Metal and the "A Musician a Day" :
Bruno Teixeira – Heartless
"I think actions aimed at promoting the diversity of Black culture are fundamental. We've been in rock since its foundation, but we are systematically erased from its history. More important than pointing out the problems are the actions and attitudes we take."
Initiatives like "A Musician a Day" are very important for creating space within a scene that isn't always friendly to us, as structural racism permeates all areas of our society. It used to be much worse, but we must continue fighting to crush racism. For anyone reading this, remember that representation is important, but it cannot be empty. We are in a continuous learning process, but we cannot lose focus and must always strive to raise awareness among those around us about the importance of the anti-racist struggle.
Many people died so that we could be here today, alive and able to do what we love. We will continue fighting as long as necessary to guarantee space for new generations of Black musicians within metal and culture in general. A big hug to the Black in Metal collective.”
Chaene da Gama – Black Pantera
"Black in Metal is a necessary collective not only for the powerful name it carries, but also for what it represents."
Being part of "A Musician a Day ," especially as an openly anti-racist/anti-fascist member, etc., greatly contributes to the dissemination of ideas and ideals that are so rarely present in the current, very reactionary, political landscape.
Clemente Nascimento – Innocents
" A Musician a Day is one of the most important initiatives for Brazilian rock. It's about making it a life mission to promote and spread underground musicians and music. Congratulations Preto no Metal!"
Hanna Paulino
"It's invigorating to see Preto no Metal showcasing how vibrant, truly alive, and full of new names emerging the scene is... celebrating those who have been around for a long time and promoting those who are just starting out! That's what makes it so strong!"
Natalia Matos – Mahin's Fist
“Preto No Metal” is one of the pages that gives prominence to us, black people who branch out into various aspects of rock.
The Preto No Metal page discovered Punho de Mahin as soon as we started promoting the band in late 2018/early 2019. Since then, I've been following their promotional efforts and growth.
"I affectionately call it Quilombo do Rock."
Larissa Pires – Ethel and Neptune
‘A Musician a Day’ segment greatly helps in promoting and recognizing musicians around the world. Highlighting not only bands with Black members, but also fostering a dialogue between cultural diversity, perspectives, and various musical styles, is what enriches this segment.”
Follow Preto no Metal on social media:
Website: https://www.pretonometal.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pretonometal/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/pretonometal_coletivolivre/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@pretonometal9056
Link to the latest news about Preto no Metal in the media: G1 RS
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