Rafael Miranda
Thu 23 March 2023
Hey guys!
It's that time of the week again, and today's blog is about Black Wolf Blues' history so far: a rock n' roll story..
The founder and envisioner of Black Wolf Blues, ever since he was a little kid studying guitar in the early 2000's, was singer and guitarist Rafael Miranda, the one who writes to you now.
Even though a lot of people are part of the Black Wolf Blues story, as the only constant member in the project from the beginning until now, I'll be telling that story from my perspective today.
I was involved in a number of musical projects throughout my life, and eventually started playing with bassist Freed Henrique de Souza in 2015 in Sao Paulo, Brazil..
We would play together in blues jams around the city, as well as in other short lived projects, until in 2018 we recruited drummer Jean Sandoval, and Black Wolf Blues started to take shape.
Once we had a setlist properly rehearsed, having played as a trio for some time, we then recruited Giordano Pires on guitar and Daniel Sozzi on keys, outstanding musicians who were also our friends..
That was officially Black Wolf Blues' very first line up, considering that's when the band came to actually be called Black Wolf Blues, in late 2018.
From left to right: Freed Henrique De Souza, Rafael Miranda, Daniel Sozzi, Giordano Pires and Jean Sandoval
In that same year we played in a number of events, some of them private parties we would organize ourselves, with the band recording a series of music videos of covers of blues classics at the Alckman Studio..
We were heading into 2019 with plans of recording an album, on which I had been working for many years, and so it was ready to be recorded. However, because of other professional commitments, sadly Jean Sandoval, Daniel Sozzi and Giordano Pires had to leave the project in early 2019.
A couple of months later, Freed and I recruited Nelson Olivera on drums, an old friend who had played with us in other short lived projects, as well as Luke Rizzo on guitar and Daniel Plothow on keys, two excellent professional musicians from Sao Paulo. And a photographer and sound technician as part of our crew, Rafael's long time friend Giovanni Bruno Perrotta. Black Wolf Blues was back on track!
In 2019 the band would play regularly at popular venues in Sao Paulo and most importantly, we would finally come to record the band's debut self-titled album, Black Wolf Blues, at Foguetown Records.
It was an amazing experience for the band, with the final result and the public's response to it much better than expected. With the album being released on all digital platforms, and the band attending many promotional events for the album, radio shows and interviews, etc.
From left to right: Luke Rizzo, Rafael Miranda, Daniel Plothow, Giovanni Bruno Perrotta (in the back), Nelson Oliveira and Freed Henrique de Souza
In early 2020 due to a series of events I had the opportunity to move the project's base of operations to London, and unfortunately the remaining members of the band could not follow, due to other professional and personal commitments in Brazil.
It was a difficult decision for myself personally, but definitely the right one professionally.
However at the same time I arrived in London the COVID pandemic hit Europe, and London was on lockdown for roughly a year and a half, with no chances of putting together a new line up during the time.
In late 2021 with the restrictions finally lifted, I started auditions for new band members.
London is a city with some of the best musicians in the world, and I've had the privilege to get to know many of them in the process of finding a new line up for the band. But being part of a project involves many factors, and both for the musician and for the project finding the right match isn't always easy.
So the band then had a number of short lived line ups, until in early 2022 I met Jake Storey, an amazingly talented guitarist who had just graduated with a degree specialising in Guitar from the university BIMM London. We had a chat and I knew it then and there he was going to be Black Wolf Blues' new guitarist.
Jake would then introduced me to his brother, Cameron Storey, and their friend Liam Hutchinson, both of them outstanding musicians as well, who would become respectively Black Wolf Blues' drummer and bassist. Black Wolf Blues was back on track again!
From left to right: Jake Storey, Cameron Storey, Rafael Miranda and Liam Hutchinson
From there many great things started to happen, 2022 was definitely a watershed year for the band and 2023 has been even better..
With new blood pumping through the fresh line up, the band got to work: we got our setlists rehearsed to perfection, created our website, started working hard on our social media presence, and since then we have had the opportunity to play regularly in some of the most iconic rock venues in the city, as well as working with some of the most experienced professionals in the rock industry in the UK.
It's hard work, that's for sure, but just like with anything else hard work eventually pays off, and we are happy to be able to see more and more great results everyday.
As ACDC very wisely said, "...it is a long way to the top if you wanna rock n' roll...", and we are happy to be on this way, for as long as we can!
Every interaction matters, and we are proud to be able to take our music to our fans all around the world.
And most important of all: we are having a blast doing it - every step of the way!
So from the bottom of our hearts, a big thank you to every single person who's been in any way a part of Black Wolf Blues' history so far.
A special thank you to Michael and Karen Storey, Paul and Della Hutchinson, as well as all of the Black Wolf Blues family.
As to the past (and current) band members, not only are they some of the most talented musicians I've ever met (don't forget to check their social media as well), they are also among the best friends I've ever had.
Check out our Instagram, Facebook and YouTube for more. A new video is uploaded to our YouTube channel every Tuesday, so don't forget to like and subscribe so that you don't miss out on new content weekly..
We also publish a new blog every Thursday, and next week's will be one of a kind. So stay tuned, rock on and have an amazing weekend!
Black Wolf Blues Rafael, Jake, Liam & Cam
Comentários