Stone Temple Pilots celebrate bossa nova and discard grunge: ‘Invented word’ [ENTREVISTA]

One of the attractions of Summer Breeze 2023which takes place this weekend in São Paulo, at Memorial of Latin America, Stone Temple Pilots had a strong association with grunge, but the band was much more inspired by bossa nova.

That was what the bassist Robert DeLeo said in an interview with Rolling Stone Brazilin addition to celebrating the musical genre, recalling the group’s more than 30-year career and commenting on expectations at the festival that was born in Europe focused on rock.

In 2022, the group’s debut album, core, turned 30 – and much has changed for musicians. “After 30 years, I feel like the core has evolved gracefully, and after all this time, it’s still fun to play these songs and think about the memories that go along with them,” he said. DeLeo.

About origins, Stone Temple Pilots has always been associated with grunge, which became popular around the world with Nirvanamainly with the track “Interstate Love Song,” from the album purple (1994), but the origins of the song are quite different.

I never felt that our music was considered grunge music when we wrote it. Grunge was a made up word, it wasn’t part of our language when we were writing songs. ‘Interstate Love Song‘ was originally written as a bossa nova, while I was driving on tour, on a nylon string guitar.

In fact, bossa nova appears as an inspiration for Robert DeLeo long before he entered Stone Temple Pilots. “Bossa nova played in my house when I was a boy. That’s when I really learned to love music: it’s a language that I understood from an early age and still appreciate very much,” recalled the musician. people like Tom Jobim, Joao Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto It is Paul Desmond incorporated bossa nova into their jazz.”

Of course, from the first time the musicians came to Brazil, they felt an almost instant connection: “It was really inspiring to go to Rio de Janeiro and really see the inspiration that came with the music. It meant a lot to me.”

I’m really looking forward to going back. For all the music listeners out there, there is so much heart, soul and spirit that goes into the music being written and listened to.

Furthermore, Robert DeLeo took the opportunity to say what Summer Breeze fans and audiences can expect from the band’s concert at the festival. “I know that playing this in Brazil, everyone is going to be there to really enjoy the music. I hope, and I hope that everyone looks forward to, a great night of songs that they can sing and listen to and enjoy and join us for a very special night. fun. I really can’t wait. Looking forward to it,” he said. Read the full interview below:

Their debut album, Core, turned 30 last year. Thinking about it today, how did these songs evolve with the band – especially ‘Plush’, which also turns 30 as a single in just a few days?
After 30 years, I feel like the core has gracefully evolved, and after all this time, it’s still fun to play these songs and think about the memories that go along with them.

Many concert attendees today are young people who weren’t there to see the early days of some of the biggest bands of the 90’s like yourselves. How to connect with this audience – the Gen Z crowd?
There are so many ways to connect with music now, digitally, the vinyl renaissance… I think from social media and all these avenues of music, it’s reaching out to younger people, who are interested in going back and discovering a little bit of music. past. I know that’s what I did when I was younger and I went back, to different artists. It’s really cool to see younger people doing this, with a lot of love and affection for music.

In a recent interview, Robert said he wasn’t sure if “Interstate Love Song” was in fact a grunge track. Instead, he is said to have written it as a bossa nova song. Where’s the bossa in her?
I never felt that our music was considered grunge music when we wrote it. Grunge was a made up word, it wasn’t part of our language when we were writing songs. “Interstate Love Song” was originally written as a bossa nova, while I was driving on tour, on a nylon string guitar.

Speaking of bossa and Brazilian music, which artist or influencer would you point out as a reference for you?
Bossa nova played in my house when I was a boy. That’s when I really learned to love music: it’s a language I understood early on and still appreciate very much. People like Tom Jobim, João Gilberto, Astrud Gilberto and Paul Desmond incorporated bossa nova into their jazz. Currently, I really love Rosa Passos and other artists too. I think it’s just the language, like I said, which I really love and I think it’s beautiful.

Stylistically, despite always evolving, the band’s latest album, Perdida, seems to move in a whole new direction. How was the decision to go down that path – and how was the decision received by fans?
Perdida was an example of where life can take your music, and how much life influences what you write. This was a result of life. The listeners of this album and the band really appreciated the journey we took on the album.

This is obviously not your first visit to Brazil. What memories of our country do you carry?
With so much love for Brazilian music, it was so inspiring to go to Rio de Janeiro and really see the inspiration that came with music. It meant a lot to me. I’m really looking forward to going back. For all the music listeners out there, there is so much heart, soul and spirit that goes into the music being written and listened to.

Talking about your upcoming show here, what should we expect?
I know playing this in Brazil, everyone will be there to really appreciate the music. I hope, and I hope everyone looks forward to, a great night of songs that they can sing and listen to and enjoy and join us for a really fun night. I really can’t wait. Looking forward to it.