Before the shows on June 7 and 8 at Best of Blues and Rock, musician tells Rolling Stone Brazil about democracy, music as refuge, peace and a lot of hope
With three decades of road, millions of albums sold and a legion of passionate fans, the Dave Matthews Band landing in Brazil for two performances this weekend, on the 7th (Saturday) and 8 (Sunday), as the main attraction of the Festival’s first weekend Best of Blues and Rockin Ibirapuera Park, in São Paulo. The event celebrates the fusion between guitars and consciousness, and this year also brings Richard Ashcroft (ex-The Verve) and the Brazilian veterans of Red baron.
More than a band, DMB It is an artistic collective with political, environmental and deeply connected to the present. Over the years, the group not only shared the American alternative rock of the 1990s with its mix of folk, jazz and jam sessions, but also built a solid reputation on social and ecological activism. Its foundation, the Bama Workshas already supported hundreds of social and environmental projects, and their tours adopt measures such as biofuels use, reduced carbon emissions and environmental compensation actions.
“We have a responsibility with what we put in the world,” he says Dave Matthews in an exclusive interview with Rolling Stone Brazil. “And music is often our common field.”
Throughout the conversation, Dave It alternates political reflections and moments of tenderness with a charm that seems tailored to the Brazilian public. Asked about the creative process behind his latest songs, many of them with strong political burden, he says that inspiration can come from within or of what surrounds him.
The music ‘Singing from the Windows’for example, it started as something that looked like a love song. Then I read about the Italians who, during the pandemic, sang to each other on the balconies. It touched me deeply. I turned into a song about the fragile moment we live in, and how we need to value our time here.
Then the conversation plunges into more urgent themes. When talking about the track “Madman’s Eyes”, Dave associates the letter with the culture of armed violence in the United States. “We have a tolerance for violence that is very difficult to accept. And it seems that it only increases, whether with weapons or political attitudes.” When asked about management Trump And the migratory question in the US, he doesn’t hold: “It’s scary. Such an explicit violence … I never imagined, five years ago, that I would be thinking all the time if there will be another election or another fair election.”
Dave It also reflects on the polarization that dominates current politics: “They just want to find enemies, whether trans people, immigrants, refugees or any minority. Any enemy serves. It’s all about power and exploitation.”
“All the things I loved when I was a child about the US: Rock and Roll, Jazz, Civil Rights Movement, Hippies, Peace, Science, Go to the Moon, National Parks … All of this looked amazing. Jimmy Carter”, He says with love.
But today all this seems to have been replaced by hatred, selfishness, cruelty and bullying. Worse, these are the things admired by our leaders.
Despite the critical tone, his vision is crossed by tireless hope, especially when he speaks of music as a union tool.
We have to put joy in the world. Music is something that connects people. No matter where you go, people love to dance, they love to listen to music. This is universal.
Remembering his previous passages in Brazil, he is particularly thrilled: “I’m excited to find friends like Carlos Maltaan amazing flutist. And this time I will take my daughters for the first time. I want to listen to music in small and large places, Brazil is one of the most magical places in the world… and take some caipirinhas! ”.
The chat also went through a nostalgic territory. We ask Dave How he sees the transformations of the music industry, after all, the band came in the golden times of MTV and alternative radios in the 1990s, and today the scenario is dominated by streaming, social networks and 15 second videos. What does he miss that era? What do you think has improved?
“We found ways to make music. I arrived with the vinyl,” he recalls. “Then came the CDs. Now it’s the streaming, the Tiktokthe Instagram. There is something cool in this: artists who may never be discovered now have a chance. But the system is still unfair. I hope that one day the artists will win more than the platform owners, but this was also happening at the time of vinyls and CDs. ”
For him, music has always found ways to survive, even if business models are moving. On the impacts of this on your career?
Nowadays, more people tour because they can’t make money from recordings. More people do commercials, I wouldn’t. But that’s it. I miss the simplicity to put a record and listen. We can’t stop Rio. At most, slow down the flow.
To close, we launched the classic question: What advice would you give your younger self? He smiles briefly like a well -fitted chorus: “Enjoy the journey.” And adds: “Maybe I would do nothing different. Or I wouldn’t be here. And I’m happy here … at least now, a little.”
This weekend, the Brazilian public meets an artist who was never afraid of mixing tenderness with criticism, introspection with groove, and politics with poetry. On the stage of Ibirapuera Park, between trees and amplifiers, Dave Matthews It will remind everyone that, despite the difficult times, the connection still exists, and it can start with a song. What is yours?
SERVICE:
Best of Blues and Rock
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Date: 7 (Saturday) and 8 (Sunday) June 2025
Location: Ibirapuera Auditorium External Auditorium: Av. Pedro Álvares Cabral – Ibirapuera – São Paulo/SP
Classification: 16 years (minors may attend accompanied by legal guardian)
Tickets: Lot 1 from R $ 300,00 (half price).
Sales: Here
Official Ticket Office: (No convenience rate): Morumbis (box office 5, near Gate 15 – Av. Giovanni Gronchi, 1866).
Operation: Tuesday to Saturday from 10am to 5pm (does not work on holidays and holidays.
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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.
