Interview with Tantric Vocalist Hugo Ferreira

By Sheri Bayne

On January 22nd Tantric stopped in Northampton PA to play at the Gin Mill.

Tantric is an American rock band from Louisville, Kentucky. The group was founded in 1998 by former Days of the New members Todd Whitener, Jesse Vest and Matt Taul, who added frontman, Hugo Ferreira, the following year.

Ferreria is the only remaining member of the band from the original lineup. The members have changed through the years but the heart of the band remains the same. Current lineup is Sebastian LeBar (guitar/vocals) and Jaron Gulino (bass/vocals ) entered the band in 2017.

Drummer John Loree is the newest member, joining in 2020. And of course Hugo Ferreira still as lead vocalist. They are currently on tour in support of their latest CD "The Sum Of All Things".

I was able to speak with singer Hugo Ferreira before the show that night. "I don't remember not having music. My dad and mom always had instruments around me. So I always remember knowing how to play at least a piano.

But I only stuck with it because it was easy for me to learn. To me it was something fun to do. Some kids wanted to go out and play baseball. I just wanted to play with my instruments. Only in my early teens did I think maybe I could do this to make money.

I was too stupid to know that I couldn't do it. So that's probably why I succeeded. In addition to piano I play guitar, bass and drums. I play enough so that I can lay down the idea of a song and then I get the other guys to pick up from there and have them play it better. My thing is to put melodies and songs together.

Regarding my influences I had many. Because I grew up Portuguese I grew up listening to Big Band, Latin, and European music. And since I grew up in Boston and Detroit I had some Hip Hop influence.

I'm also a big fan of Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, grunge, and post grunge. That all gets mixed up in your subconscious, whether you know it or not they are influencing stuff you're doing as you’re writing it."

Tantric played to a sold out audience that night. So that should speak for itself. As to how many people the music speaks to.

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