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Urias in Conversation with Ventura Profana

VENTURA PROFANA: I am really happy. I believe it's essential to witness excellence in our work. It is crucial to recognize the Olympic work being done by travestis, trans womens and trans racialized people who are free and living with excellence. It was an honor for me to receive this invitation from you Ode, whom I admire for your work and intellect. Thank you very much.

URIAS: I also appreciate the invitation from my sister Ode for this interview and the opportunity to have this conversation with you.

PROFANA: I just arrived home from São Paulo and I'm feeling euphoric. While I was meditating, I started thinking about you and your work. I paid attention to things that I had previously overlooked and was surprised by the power of certain sentences, phrases and prophecies in your lyrics. It dawned on me that you are a great prophet. I had never considered this before. However, I now realize that many of your lyrics contain prophecies presented in a very strategic manner.
Before I ask my question, I'd like to share a few quotes: “I will be so many / That they will never know who I am / Which ones do I pretend to be / I will be the one in charge / Because I even got rid of myself / Getting rid of you / There will be so many / That when they hear my voice / They will be afraid and tremble" (É Tudo Meu by Urias). This is perfect.
I would like to hear from you, a little about your composition process. What is the process of understanding the power of these words that are sung and emanated?

URIAS: To be honest, these quotes were created during a time when I wanted to express how much I do for myself. They reflect on many different things, as the reason I do what I do is because at some point one of these things had an impact on me. Some of them resonated with me and have stayed with me, while others helped me escape and avoid various things that were happening in my life. I'm glad you brought this up, as no one has ever stopped to pay attention to these lyrics. It's in this space where I choose which part of myself to show, giving me the power to control how I present myself.

When I started writing, I always had the strategy of writing something that everyone could identify with if they wanted, but that would be different when it hit people who are the same as me, trans, travestis and racialized women. That we would know what we were talking about, even those who are cis, and outside of our scope, understood in a more general way. We would know in this specificity what was going on.

I discovered this thing about the power of words during all of this too, before I knew a lot about the power of wanting. I want it all, I want it now. I believe that the limit of my desire was the beginning of the power of my words. I learned that even if I couldn't have what I wanted right away, I needed to start channeling my energy as if I was already making progress towards my goal. Everything kind of changed for me when I found myself in the role of a prophet. The power of the word came to me when the power of desire was no longer enough. This power has manifested itself in me and continues to do so.

PROFANA: There is an intellectual who I believe is invaluable to our generation, Leda Maria Martins. She developed her thinking in theater and performance and spoke extensively about the temporal concept, specifically the concept of spiraling time. Maria Martins breaks from the tradition of the chronology of beginning, middle, and end. She argues that we inhabit times where several spirals intersect, with the past, present, and future all intertwined. It's almost as if we were time travelers, and we build the future, present, and past together with each moment we participate in. As you were speaking, I thought of her and how she is relevant to our discussion.
I believe that when we feel the need and desire to imagine ourselves and express ourselves, we are participating in these times. Just by wishing, we are already there. The little Urias is just as fundamental in forming the Urias that you are today, as is the older Urias. This is something I would also like us to think about in a moment. I want to challenge you to think about who you want to become in the future, whether it's in a few years, 20 years, or 30 years from now. This is particularly important for travestis and trans women. It's an ongoing exercise, but it can be difficult as we often live with the fear of violence and death. Sometimes the idea of imagining ourselves at 60 seems impossible. However, it's important to remember that beauty can come without haste.
I'm curious to know how you perceive time. How do you relate to it? How do you manage your own time concerning all the other times that exist?

URIAS: I feel we experience a unique rush due to the constant presence of death. It seems like nowadays, we are always in a rush to get things done, as we are unsure of what the future holds. However, I have recently realized that I am not as hurried as I used to be. This has allowed me to have more time to contemplate, enjoy life, comprehend situations, and not just exist. It has been quite a unique experience that I haven't encountered in years, doing things without any particular reason, just because I want to. My perception of time has become more fluid, similar to a river, providing a sense of calmness.

PROFANA: I feel that your current work reflects a less warlike stance. Even though disputes are a part of everyday life, there is a concern for well-being that is evident. I took a surfing lesson recently and it made me realize that we need to be open to new experiences and possibilities. I never thought that I could surf before, but I discovered that my body is capable of it. It was a magical experience being in a place with the sea, surfboards, and classes. This made me realize that it's important to challenge ourselves and be open to things that seem impossible. We need to change the way we perceive time and make the most of every moment. It is important to believe that the impossible can become possible.
I am curious to know how you perceive things that cannot be seen, but that exist and flourish as they are nourished by the fruits of your labor. In one of your lyrics, you say: “If the branches reach / Where I still can't see / Nothing stops me from growing" (Blossom by Urias). You talk about something very precious, which is the process of flowering all the time. I wanted to know how you relate to what you can't see, but which exists.The branches are there, they are growing. You have been that tree, you have grown, you have reached places, you have reached hearts, you have reached lives around the world.

URIAS: This song is very significant to me because it was born during a time when my femininity was being questioned. It represents the beginning of my journey towards self-discovery, understanding and acceptance. I realized that this journey requires patience and perseverance, but I was determined to embark on it anyway. I didn't know where this journey would take me, but I knew I had to start. It's all about taking that first step towards finding our place in the world and making a positive impact.

Knowing that even though I'm not there, my branches will grow and they will reach more and that I need to take care of myself, take care of everything, understand that I am sprouting and for that, I need to take care because these branches get there. While it can be exhilarating, we must also be cautious as the world can sometimes be harsh. I always try to move forward and show people the opposite, that things can be better. Over time, my perception of life has changed, even in social situations, and I now realize the impact that I can have on the lives of people I don't even know. This realization is refreshing, but it also comes with a sense of responsibility that is not mine, yet I embrace it nonetheless. It gives me strength and motivates me to keep moving forward.

PROFANA: What did you sacrifice in order to blossom, or rather, to take advantage of the hook in the Ode film, in order to ascend and enjoy the ascension?

URIAS: Lately, I have been sacrificing many mundane things to make room for the good things that are not mundane, and that keep me on the right path. This helps to balance out the feeling of having to give things up for the sake of my protection and preservation, while also avoiding overexposure. Going out into the world means a lot to me, and I have made many sacrifices to be able to do so safely, but when I can enjoy these things, they have a much deeper meaning. It's about finding a balance, like you mentioned earlier with dribbling. I believe it also involves strategy.

You mentioned our obligation, and I think sacrifice is a part of it. However, sacrifice doesn't necessarily have to be violent. I believe it's more about finding pleasure in it. Sacrifice can be a pleasurable experience. It's all connected to the spiritual aspect we discussed earlier, about giving and receiving, and how it's a necessary exchange to be good to ourselves and the world around us. This understanding has helped me feel much calmer about the idea of sacrifice.

PROFANA: Finally, I'd like you to take some time to meditate and reflect on your experiences with love. Answering the following questions may help guide your thoughts: How did you first discover love? What is your earliest memory associated with love? When do you typically think about love? More importantly, when did you realize that you are loved, even though you already love yourself? Self-love is important, but it's essential to recognize and appreciate the love that others have for you.

URIAS: I believe that I first experienced love during my transition. When we go through a transition, we discover ourselves and others, and we find where we fit in. My initial experience of love was when I started to feel comfortable with myself.

From an outsider's perspective, my understanding of love began when I realized the unspoken pact and respect we have within our community. It is not something that is discussed, signed, or agreed upon, but rather felt and understood. The way we respect our elders is unique. No older travesti and trans woman comes to you and says " My dear, this is how things are done". Hahaha! You look around you, you read your environment and you understand. Love is a crucial component in our survival. It is something that we cannot live without.

Everything we do is for the sake of love. Because we are thirsty for love because we are hungry for love. And because we also have a lot of love to give. I think love is abundant in us. It has been stored for a long time. So it's a lot. We're full of love.

ODE: Yes, we're full of love… Thank you so much for accepting my invitation to go to the spiritual dimensions and offer something so beautiful to Divine. I love you both.