SUNNY SLAM - Ditch Fake, Stay True ! (Portugal - HardCore Punk - Interview with Ben Silva).

Hello! Can you introduce yourself and tell us how it all began for you — your encounter with this musical universe, what appealed to you, what fascinated you, and what made you want to get into music?
Hi there!  My name is Ben Silva, and I play bass and do backing vocals in Sunny Slam.
My journey into music actually started because of a skateboarding injury. I was stuck on crutches, incredibly bored, and at the time I had a friend who played guitar. He told me that bass was easier to start with, and it seemed like a reasonable idea. We thought, "Why not start a band?" !
I've always been fascinated by the idea of performing in front of a crowd. The energy, the connection, and the sense of community that comes with live music really drew me in. Getting into music felt like a natural step from there.

Tell me about the band... How did you meet, what's the current line-up, what were your past experiences, and above all, why the need to form THIS band?
First and foremost, Sunny Slam is a family.
We all knew each other in one way or another, through childhood friendships, playing in other bands, sharing stages, attending shows, and being part of the same scene. Life brought us together at the right time, and forming a band just made perfect sense.
The first few years were quite a ride, with several lineup changes before we found the chemistry and stability we have today. Every challenge helped shape the band into what it is now. We're from the south of Portugal, a region that has contributed a lot to the underground music scene over the years, producing influential bands such as Pointing Finger, Lockdown, Devil In Me, and many others.
We felt we had something meaningful to contribute to that legacy and to the underground spirit that we all love, support, and fight for.

Describe your sound and explain why I should listen to YOUR band at all costs ?
Aren't you tired of hearing the same fake songs on the radio and seeing fake people telling you what to think and how to feel?
We're not here to tell anyone what to do. But if you're looking for something honest and real, just type "Sunny Slam" into Spotify, turn the volume all the way up.

Lyrical and musical inspirations/influences? How important are the lyrics for you? Are there any specific messages or thoughts you try to develop and share through your lyrics?
Our influences are incredibly diverse. They range from Descendents to While She Sleeps, from Deftones to Dilated Peoples, and everything in between.
Lyrics are extremely important to us because they're the vehicle for the message. When meaningful lyrics meet the right soundtrack, it's a match made in heaven.
We believe that if you're not true to yourself, you can't bring truth to anything else. That's why we write about our own experiences, struggles, and emotions. We talk about dealing with anxiety, depression, and the challenges of modern life, while always trying to maintain that positive mental attitude and push forward through it all.

Tell us about your latest release ?
At the moment, our latest release is our self-titled EP, which was released on March 27th, 2025. It was recorded at Leviathan Recording Studios.
The artwork has a funny story behind it. One day, while one of us were at work, he spotted a van completely engulfed in flames. He filmed it and immediately joked that it would make an incredible album cover. Turns out, it was.
The EP is available digitally on Bandcamp, and we still have a few physical copies available. You can pick one up at our shows, or simply send us a DM on Instagram and we'll sort you out with a copy and some stickers too.

Future plans?
By the time this interview is published, we'll be in the middle of a series of shows, including our first Iberian tour.
After that, we'll be taking a short break while our lead guitarist undergoes shoulder surgery. During that time, we'll focus on putting the finishing touches on our upcoming full-length album, New Tides.
Once the album is ready, we'll be preparing a proper release run with shows across Portugal, Spain, and hopefully several other European countries.

What would be your most insane dream with the band?
Honestly, we're already living it. We've had the opportunity to share stages with bands that inspired us and helped shape who we are as musicians and as people. That's something we never take for granted.

Your BEST and WORST concert as a band — and why?
Picking a best show is difficult, but there are two moments that really stand out.~
The first was Rock na Ribeira in Pechão. It was the first festival we played, and it was one of those moments where we truly felt we were born to do this.
The second was sharing the stage with our hometown friends M.E.D.O and Devil In Me, alongside nuestros hermanos Lust. Playing with bands we admire so much, in front of our own community, made for us an unforgettable weekend.
As for the worst show... honestly, that one hasn't happened yet.
We've had a few minor technical and electrical issues here and there, but overall we've been fortunate enough to have great experiences at every show we've played so far.

Next live appearances?
We'll be playing Soulbreak Festival on June 6th, sharing the stage with Portuguese hardcore legends and great bands such as Trinta & Um, Last Hope, Deadly Mind, M.E.D.O, Pulso Eterno, Above The Hate, and Veteranos.
After that, we'll hit the road for an Iberian tour with our brothers in Dead End, running from June 12th to June 14th.

Some words on your local scene - bands you're friends with and you'd like to name ?
Stay local and go global, just try to support your local scene at all costs, we are all a part of the same movement despite what you label it, we all need each other.
Just listen to these legends: M.E.D.O, Cold Sweat ,Cx ,Devil in Me ,Diabolical Mental State ,Fear the Lord ,Cleric Beast ,Lust, Fix ,Dead End, Not Without Fighting, Saida de emergência ,Cicatriz, Mau Olhado, Prayers of Sanity, Soul Crusher, Mordaça , Deadly Mind, Det Saw Coyote , Vaneno, Man Eater, Against them All, Uncrown, Deadly Mind, Above the Hate, Last Hope, Worst, Bad!, Neighborz !!!