"No matter what you do in this life, you need to put your soul and your truth in it. Blues means truth and the real feeling you carry in your heart."

Luke de Held: Music Saves The World

Luke de Held is a Brazilian blues and Rock n’ Roll guitar player and lead singer. Born in  1968, in Londrina-PR  and  began to play in 1984, in Londrina-PR,  his hometown  with friends in school and his influences was Jimi Hendrix, ZZ Top, SRV, Led Zeppelin, Eric Clapton and Rolling Stones. He shared the stage with major names of Brazilian Blues scene like Alamo Leal, Decio Caetano, Igor Prado, Cristiano Crochemore, Flavio Guimarães, Otavio Rocha, Fernando Noronha, and Decio Caetano and some international artists like Mud Morganfield, Omar Coleman, Bex Marshall, Lurrie Bell and Gonzalo Araya.

"I´d would like to create music schools all around the world to teach for free our children and future generations. Music is life, happiness and good vibrations. All that we need is to save this world." 

Actually his main project is Luke de Held Trio, a hard blues power trio with Sara Delallo (Bass) and Rafael menezes (Drums).  The band recording his first album "Blues from Redland", that and will released in August 2014. Luke talks about the Brazilian blues scene, Mud Morganfield, Omar Coleman, Lurrie Bell and the truth feeling of Blues

Interview by Michael Limnios

What do you learn about yourself from the blues and what does the blues mean to you?

Well, There is no the blues without feeling, truth and soul in each single note you play. This is the greatest lesson that I’ve been taught in the last 30 years. No matter what you do in this life, you need to put your soul and your truth in it. Blues means truth and the real feeling you carry in your heart.

How do you describe Luke de Held sound and what characterize your music philosophy?

Intense. This is the first word in my mind when I think about our sound. Like a journey into your feelings. We try to bring, strong emotions, peace and happiness to the crowd. 

Why did you think that the Blues music continues to generate such a devoted following?

Cause the truth lives in the blues. You know, in the present time there´s a lot of false stuffs playing in radios and TVs. When you talk about the blues you’re talking about a genuine and pure American language and culture. 

"I think that the guitar players from the new generation need to stop for a moment end search end hear the great masters of the past. The most important is the song, guitars, harmonicas needs to work for the song.  Like they did in the past. There are no more great songs. We need to rescue the old way."

Which meetings have been the most important experiences for you? What is the best advice ever given you?

Play with Mud Morganfield and in the Mississippi Delta Blues Festival 2013 was great experiences that changed my life. Mud told me: “Man if you want play the blues, follow your heart and put it in every single note you play. And don´t forget: Have fun, ever!!!   “ 

Are there any memories from Mud Morganfield, Omar Coleman, and Lurrie Bell which you’d like to share with us?

Well, Mud is the eldest son and the genuine heir of the great Muddy Waters. His energy on stage is fantastic. And he is a very kind person. Omar Coleman is one of the greatest blues singers of new generation and he has an incredible energy on the stage. Lurrie is a real master of blues guitar. When he was playing there was six or seven great guitar players watching the show and crying. Lurrie touched the heart of the crowd with pure and genuine blues.       

What do you miss most nowadays from the blues of past? What are your hopes and fears for the future of?

Well, I think that the guitar players from the new generation need to stop for a moment end search end hear the great masters of the past. The most important is the song, guitars, harmonicas needs to work for the song. Like they did in the past. There are no more great songs. We need to rescue the old way.     

If you could change one thing in the musical world and it would become a reality, what would that be?

I´d would like to create music schools all around the world to teach for free our children and future generations. Music is life, happiness and good vibrations. All that we need to save this world.  

"Intense. This is the first word in my mind when I think about our sound. Like a journey into your feelings. We try to bring, strong emotions, peace and happiness to the crowd." 

Make an account of the case of the blues in Brazil. Which is the most interesting period in local blues scene?

I think we´re living the best period of Brazil´s Blues history. A lot great Blues Festivals all over the country, and a new generation with fantastic musicians in Brazilian scene. Decio Caetano, Igor Prado, Artur Menezes, Cristiano Crochemore, Marzio Lenzi, The Headcutters, Toyo Bagoso, Kiko Jozzolino, Elieser Jr. Alexandre França and many others are the future of Blues in Brazil. We still have old masters playing and recording in Brazilian blues scene playing. Names like Nuno Mindelis, Alamo Leal, Fernando Noronha, Marcus Ottaviano, Adriano Grineberg. Edu Gomes, Coie Lacerda, Flavio Guimarães, Andre Christovam, Otavio Rocha and  Blues Etilicos. We´re real  living a fantastic moment.

What are the lines that connect the legacy of Blues from States to Brazil?

You know, Brazil and USA received a lot of Africa influences in his music in the beginning of 20^th century.

In the 70´s you´ll find clear blues influences in individual styles of Brazilian guitar players like Luis Carlini, Celso Vecchioni  and Coie Lacerda, in 80s´s we had some great Brazilian masters going to USA and learning the real blues language, and the first brazilan blues artists like Blues Etilicos, Andre Christovan and Celso Blues Boy. In 90´s we had the beginning of Brazilian blues Festivals, and the opportunity to see names like Buddy Guy and BB King playing in Brazil. From the 2000´s till now, Brazilian artists become to lay with old masters of Chicago and L.A. Blues, names like Bob Stroger, Vasti Jackson, James Wheeler, Lurrie Bell, Eddie Taylor Jr., Mud Morganfield, Junior Watson, and many others.

What has made you laugh lately and what touched (emotionally) you from the local music circuits?

In my town, lately I have seen a lot of fantastic bands that toched my soul like  The Cluster Sisters,  Brownsound Vintage Rock Company, and Favelaria Blues Band.

"I think we´re living the best period of Brazil´s Blues history. A lot great Blues Festivals all over the country, and a new generation with fantastic musicians in Brazilian scene." 

Let’s take a trip with a time machine, so where and why would you really wanna go for a whole day..?

I´d like to be in Chicago in the middle of 50´s to see B.B. King in the beginning of his career.

Is it easier to write and play the blues as you get older? 

Certainly. As you become older, you can easily understand the life, the music and the world.

What is your BLUES DREAM? 

My blues dream is get a chance to play in USA, Europe and Africa and share the stage with musicians all around the world.

Happiness is…

Happiness ??....

Play some blues stuffs and Beatles and Stones´ songs for my little daughter while the sun goes down.

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