FMA 001b: Miguel Correia (More Than A Thousand)

Miguel Correia (More Than A Thousand)

...who is “the guy to go to if it comes to art” in MTAT according to Vasco.

So I sat down with Miguel in the backstage area after their set (which – by the way – was not as powerful or emotional as I hoped it would be since it was a farewell-show; just too much clean singing and routine for such a special tour).

As I explained the idea and concept behind FMA I mentioned that it is also based on the Positive Mental Attitude. When I asked Miguel if he knew about PMA he pulled up his shirt and just pointed at his belly: three letters inked right above his belly button - PMA.

That broke the ice – that actually weren’t there at all – and Miguel immediately sensed what FMA focuses on.


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Check out his individual efforts on Instagram and Youtube.

FMA 001a: Vasco Ramos (More Than A Thousand)

Vasco Ramos (More Than A Thousand)

MTAT were one of the first “bigger” and internationally touring bands I had the chance to do an FMA-video with. I caught them on their Farewell-Tour in early 2016.

Originally, I planned to do the interview with Vasco Ramos, the singer of MORE THAN A THOUSAND. At this early stage of “Fuck Money Attitude” I aimed to do all interviews - respectively most of them - with the vocalists since they are the person of a band the audience would recognize the most and easiest.

I introduced the topic and my project. We started but as Vasco realized that I would not ask any questions during the video he abruptly stopped.

It turned out that he would not be the right person to talk to on that night. This is not my judgment. He admitted that since he simply does not feel comfortable to talk freely and in detail without questions being asked. 

Nonetheless Vasco told me that there is quiet some anger and bitterness in the air due to the break up of his band which has been around for the last 16 years.

The reason for the break up? Money, of course.

Still it will be easy for him - and the rest of the band - to be creative since he is a producer who has his own recording studio.

Luckily, I did not go home without a video that night. To not let me leave empty handed Vasco introduced me to Miguel…

FMAnnouncement

“FMA – Fuck Money Attitude“ is inspired by and based on the Positive Mental Attitude (PMA) which firstly was introduced in Napoleon Hill’s book “Think and Grow Rich” in 1937 and has been spread by bands such as BAD BRAINS or H2O since then.

Furthermore, this project is based on the DIY-ethos (“Do It Yourself”).

FMA breaks everything Hardcore, Punk, subcultures and alternative life stand for down to 3 letters.

Why “Fuck Money”?

Veracious and touching art originates from an impulse, an emotion. Neither monetary motivation, nor financial fantasies catalyze such creativity.

Even if some artists may make a living and pay bills off their art still the soul’s gain outlasts the bank account’s.

What is FMA?

“Fuck Money Attitude” is a spontaneous, raw, uncut and unfiltered attempt of a counterdraft to the common craze of self-fashioning in the current cultural online-offer where the outward semblance does not equal inner Sein.

We have to stop pretending as if we were above-average intelligent.

Partly this is “Having no clue” and not knowing any better. It is unspent and honest.

Neither is spontaneity perfect, sleek or free of mistakes or disruptions, nor are art and creativity. They are resulting from the willingness of suffering and passion. Ardor adores ailment and anguish ain’t perfect. Otherwise art would not be art.

The videos

The videos themselves do not stand in the focal point in no way whatsoever. Therefore they will not be technically perfect. It does not take a high-class or costly technology for the purpose of this project. Signal noise, blur and imprecision are parts of every single moment and video.

What is FMA about?

The spotlight is put on artists whose passion of expression means more than plain monetary interests. People who are creative for the sake of art and education. Performers no one knows but everybody should know.

To me this focuses mainly on inner processes and satisfaction:

- Why are people creative?

- Is being creative indeed more satisfying than monetary profit?

- In how far do art and creativity help through life and thoughts?

- How do they support personalities?

- Does all this effort enrich lives?

What does FMA show?

Catharsis, sublimation, depth honesty, frankness, soul disclosure, self-awareness, self-reflection - seizable sentiments & individual anecdotes.

FMA shall be an example how hypersensitivity can be handled and creative work may support an easing of the entire personality. It shall be a sign that depression or suicidality can be canalized and surrender does not have to be the final step - create to relieve.

What is central?

Authenticity and sincerity.

Personal and subjective feelings.

The individual approach towards creativity.

The demystification of stage characters.

I counter a more and more superficial world where only the exterior is staged and paraded with its foundation and interiority. Veracity remains the supreme command.

We give a fuck about money.

This is not about fame, clicks, views, follower or me. Even Heinrich Böll wrote in “And where were you, Adam?” that money and success only blunder one through life[1]. It is solely about the content, the message. For the unsaid cannot be recognized or remembered.

I do not know if all this is meaningful to the world or if it even can be. Still this means everything to me and my world.

An attitude and world-view shall be spread. No matter if it reaches 1 or 1.000.

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[1] Böll, Heinrich (1978): Wo warst du, Adam?. S. 140. Deutscher Taschenbuch Verlag. 9. Auflage