According to a recent press release: "Owl Company, a new band from São Paulo, Brazil will release their debut full length album Horizon on Friday, July 14th. “Riddles" is the first single. Owl Company consists of Enrico Minelli (vocals), Thiago Biasoli (drums), Fabio Yamamoto (bass) and Felipe Ruiz (guitar). The release of Horizon will be followed by tours of the USA and Europe this summer and fall.  It's hoped the album and tours will elevate Owl Company to a well-deserved place on the world stage and into the ears of heavy music aficionados everywhere.  One listen and you'll know that Owl Company is a force of nature and will not be ignored." We get singer Enrico Minelli to answer our 10 Quick Ones about the new disc, his influences, and more...

1. Tell us a little about your latest release.  What might a fan or listener not grab the first or second time they listen through?  Are there any hidden nuggets the band put in the material or that only diehard fans might find?

All the lyrics are based on personal experiences, my father is a great story teller.  He was born in 1926 in Italy, he lived during the second world war and suffered a lot with it.  All the lyrics are based on his stories, some are more literal and some are based on his personal perspective.

2. What got you into music, and can you tell us about the moment you realized you wanted to be a musician?

I was 13 when I decide to learn how to play guitar, something that I never really learned until nowadays.  But knowing a few chords I found out that I could compose and sing.  I grew up in the 90’s and, listening to those bands, helped me out a lot to grow stronger through tough phases in life. When I was 16, I decided that I wanted to do that for life.

3. Who would be your main five musical influences?

Black Sabbath, Alice in Chains, Pantera, Led Zeppelin, and Johnny Cash.

4. If you could call in any one collaborator to do a song with, who would it be?

Wow, if I could pick anyone probably would be Jimmy Page, one of the best musicians of all time.

5. How would you describe your music to someone who’d never listened to you before?

We’re a band that combines hard rock influences from the 70's to the 90's with modern rage and brutality to create a sound that is fresh, aggressive, and engaging.

6. What’s the best thing about being a musician?

I think it’s the feeling of knowing that you’re doing what you love, what drives you, likewise other professions as well for others.  Some people put money in front of passion and that could be very frustrating. The freedom of being a musician is indescribable.

7. When the band are all hanging out together, who cooks; who gets the drinks in; and who is first to crack out the acoustic guitars for a singalong?

Well, that’s an easy one. I love to cook, so normally I’m always the one at the grill on barbecues. Felipe Ruiz, the guitar, is the one responsible for drinks. Fabio Yamamoto, bass, is always carrying an acoustic and Thiago Biasoli is the one cracking jokes.

8. If you weren’t a musician, what would be your dream job?

I love history, if I could reattribute with something it would be teaching. For me it’s a beautiful profession and I have a great respect.

9. Looking back over your career, is there a single moment or situation you feel was a misstep or you would like to have a “do over”?

I tend to have a strong attitude among things I do not agree with. I know that this is a big flaw in my personality. I wish sometimes I could be more easygoing. There were many moments in my career that I could’ve dealt differently. But I do not have any regrets.

10. If you could magically go back in time and be a part of the recording sessions for any one record in history, which would you choose – and what does that record mean to you?

Probably Led Zeppelin IV, for me, one of the best albums of all time.  This album represents a very special time in my life, the first time that I went to US with my ex-band. I had the opportunity to play in places that I couldn’t imagine, met some amazing people, it was really surreal.

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