The musician has been sober since 2016, when he almost failed to perform with Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa
For many years, Nando Reis He struggled with alcohol and drug addiction. Sober since 2016, the artist recognizes that he used substances in an attempt to increase his creativity when composing, while self-criticism would be reduced.
Today, the formerTitans completely disagrees with his own opinion from years ago. In an interview with Look, Kings He denied that there was any kind of improvement in his ability to compose when taking drugs.
In fact, the album A Mysterious Star (2024) was the first in his career that he recorded completely sober. There was no difficulty in creating the material. Nando stated:
Historically, drugs were associated with an issue of creativity. However, in my case, at no point was being altered guaranteed that this break in consciousness produced something of quality. It’s a myth to say that drugs make you creative.”
According to the singer and multi-instrumentalist, self-criticism was always very harsh, but alcohol and drugs curbed this perception. In a press conference (via CNN Brazil), the musician explained:
Alcohol, drugs, they have nothing to do with creativity. I used it to disinhibit myself, because my self-criticism is very severe and, often, paralyzing. I’ve never published anything that I hadn’t checked twice, three, four, five times sober because it’s easy to deceive yourself.”
Nando Reis’ sobriety
THE Look, Nando Reis revealed the moment he realized the impossibility of continuing in that way. Two of his biggest idols, Gilberto Gil and Gal Costaare directly related to this. The musician recalled:
It was in 2016, at a show with Gilberto Gil and Gal Costa. They are my pillars, my idols. At the rehearsal, I was completely drunk. I was scared because I could never go on stage with them like that. It would be my death. It gave me a slap. I stopped soon after. My last day was October 3, 2016 — and I plan to keep it that way.”
Even with the current phase, Kings does not consider himself cured. The artist attends Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) meetings and believes this has been beneficial for his condition.
I’m an alcoholic. He had been drinking since he was 13 years old. Alcoholism is not something that can be cured. It’s a disease. It’s not a moral problem. I’m not lazy or irresponsible. I’m a sick person. I’m a member of Alcoholics Anonymous, and an amazing thing about AA is meeting other role models and having the solidarity of your peers. This has a magnificent restorative power.”
To Nandosobriety was also fundamental to the success of the tour Titans Gatherwhich brought together between 2023 and 2024 the classic formation of Titans. The artist was one of the founders of the band, in 1982, and remained until 2002, shortly after the release of Last Week’s Best Band of All Time (2001).
Collaborated: André Luiz Fernandes.
Source: Rollingstone
Earl Johnson is a music writer at Gossipify, known for his in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the industry. A graduate of USC with a degree in Music, he brings years of experience and passion to his writing. He covers the latest releases and trends, always on the lookout for the next big thing in music.
