This time, we get to know N.A.S.P. (Not a Side Project) AKA Alex Santos. "A mix of dark and light, war and peace, high peaks and fluid valleys, where silences become loud and the blend of guitar and drums carries the listener in a sublime trip through this ominous atmospheres."
N.A.S.P. is a one-man band from Portugal with heavy metal influences such as Sepultura and Megadeth
The track "Through Muddy Waters II" is featured in the New Artist Spotlight Family of Playlists.
Link To New Artist Spotlight Playlists:
1. Tell us a little about where you are from and what you are currently doing.
I'm from Porto in Portugal and I'm currently picking up the project from a 2-year break by starting to produce new music again.
2. What inspired you to start playing and making music?
I've always liked to listen to music since a young age, I could just sit in my room doing nothing but listen to music and drift away so at a certain point I thought that it would be really cool if I could make my own music for others to hear.
So, like most people, I got my first guitar and started from there.
𝟯. Who are your biggest influences?
Definitely big metal bands like Megadeth, Sepultura, Pantera, Metallica, and so on. But not just Metal, I also got my influences from bands like The Prodigy, The Cure Gorillaz...
And I kind of dig some Psy Trance as well, (I don't like the term but you can call it my "guilty pleasure") so at a certain point, this is an influence too.
4. What are your goals in the music industry?
I don't really have goals for my music in the industry. But I guess it would be cool if my music could be featured in video games and movies or something like that.
5. Tell us about your creative process when you make new music.
I don't have a line or a guide when it comes to creating something. It can come to me and start from anything, anywhere. A melody, a feeling, an image...
Once I get that first impression I start to build the sound image around it.
6. What is your all-time favorite song?
I have a few, but it changes due to time and circumstances so I can't really name ONE. But from my own music, I'll have to say "Through Muddy Waters II", just because I think I really captured what I was feeling and turned it into sound. And because I think it is my best creation at this time
7. What is the best advice or council you have either given or received in terms of music?
I've received lots of advice regarding music making, and lots of it contradicts itself. But I always like to give the advice to "keep it simple".
8. Proudest accomplishment?
As a solo artist, I don't have and/or expect many accomplishments regarding my music.
Getting feedback from people saying good stuff about my music, mostly on social media is good for me. And most of the time that's what I'm getting and I'm good with that.
9. What is something about you that might surprise someone who knows you the best?
(laughs) well this question, I think, could be a little too personal if interpreted someways lol. But I think most people don't know this one thing about me that is I never had any musical training in my life.
𝟭0. Tell us about your highest and lowest points in music so far.
I (as a one-man band) don't have much to say about ups and downs regarding my music as I don't play live and all that, but I'll say that the lowest, I guess, was the lack of motivation to continue doing music. My highest was both my first and my last published tracks.
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GREAT find!! I love the influences. And I am so jealous of the Portugal roots. I so badly want to visit Porto one day.