Former Sepultura and current Soulfly frontman Max Cavalera recently discussed his ongoing creative aspirations. He addressed whether there’s a music project he has always wanted to pursue in an interview with The Rockpit.
When asked if there is a music project he has always wanted to do but that has never happened, Cavalera reflected on the importance of continuing to chase new creative possibilities throughout his career.
“I was thinking about that the other day. I was actually watching a Paul Simon video. And it was really interesting because I’m a big fan of [his albums] ‘Graceland’ and ‘The Rhythm Of The Saints’. And when he wrote ‘Graceland’, he was in his mid fifties, I believe. And people had kind of written him off; they thought his best days were all over, which was the stuff with Simon & Garfunkel and all the hits he had before. And so he made a second life with ‘Graceland’,” Cavalera said.
The metal veteran drew inspiration from Paul Simon’s career resurgence as a source of hope for his own future projects.
“I love watching things like that ’cause it kind of gives me hope that there’s better things coming in the future. There’s ways to get other things. And nothing wrong with what I’ve done. I’m super proud of the works, all the Sepultura records and Killer Be Killed and Nailbomb, Go Ahead And Die, Soulfly — it’s great — but the chase is what makes it interesting, that you can still find the magic to do something that surprises even yourself. And that never gets old. The chase never stops. And that’s kind of a thing that it’s really cool, is that inspiration to always try to be inspired as much as you can whenever you’re gonna make a record,” he continued.
Cavalera’s admiration for Paul Simon runs deeper than just career inspiration. It reflects a long-standing artistic philosophy that has shaped his approach to metal music.
Encyclopedia.com reported that Cavalera has previously described himself as “the Paul Simon of metal,” stating “I will jam with anybody.” This collaborative spirit has been evident throughout his career. It spans from his groundbreaking work with Sepultura to his various side projects including Soulfly, Nailbomb, and Killer Be Killed.
The influence of Paul Simon’s Graceland on Cavalera’s work extends beyond philosophical inspiration to direct musical impact. BraveWords noted that Simon’s Graceland was the album that most inspired Sepultura’s landmark 1996 release Roots. This album marked a significant departure from the band’s thrash metal origins by incorporating Brazilian indigenous music and percussion.
Cavalera’s aspiration to become what he calls “the Paul Simon of metal” reflects his desire to break boundaries and collaborate across genres. Blabbermouth revealed that he has expressed wanting to become “the Paul Simon / Peter Gabriel of metal.” However, he noted that he “became the Bob Marley of metal by accident.”
This collaborative approach and willingness to experiment has defined Cavalera’s career trajectory. It spans from his early days with Sepultura through his current projects. His reference to Paul Simon’s late-career renaissance with Graceland suggests that despite his already extensive discography, Cavalera believes his most innovative work may still lie ahead.
