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Famous Rapper Nazo Bravo about The Movie On Armenian Genocide and The Character He Embodies

12:25, June 24

Nazo Bravo is a known Armenian-American rapper. He is also an actor and has recently appeared in a movie called “Armenia, My Love”, where he embodies a man whose family struggles in the period of Armenian Genocide.

He has written the two soundtracks of the movie “Vigilante Diaries”, which will be premiered today, on June 24.

We have had a very interesting interview with Nazo, where he speaks about these movies and reveals  some news about his future projects.

-Nazo, speak about the “Vigilante Diaries”, please. 

-"Vigilante Diaries" will be released in theaters and online on June 24. I also have 2 songs in the movie. It stars several American actors and also Arman Nshanyan, and part of it was actually shot in Armenia. 

-Nazo, recently you had a leading role in the movie “Armenia, My Love”. Speak about your character, please. How it was to embody him?

-My character’s name is Grigor Orbelian, an Armenian intellectual living in 1915 before the Genocide takes place. He is a doctor and a community leader, and is among the Armenian intellectuals rounded up in Constantinople on April 24, 1915 (Red Sunday). The film is about my family and our journey during the Armenian Genocide.

It was a great honor to be able to play him. As an artist it is important for me to spread awareness about my culture and my people’s history through my art and position. Getting into character and trying to imagine the concerns and hope that the Armenians had during that time was very emotional, especially knowing that their hope was shattered by the tragedy that became the Genocide. While you can’t truly understand what it would feel like to go through something like that, playing Grigor gave me a small window into that world.

-Where the movie was screened and does the staff plan to show it also in Armenia?

-The movie was screened in multiple theaters in Los Angeles. I personally got a lot of good feedback from supporters who went out and watched the film. As far as it being screened in Armenia, I'm not aware of any plans at this point but I do know that people can watch it online and get the DVD through the website.

-Nazo, you’re singing, acting… which is closer to you- to be a singer or an actor?

-Music is my first love, but I actually love doing both. I think what I really enjoy at the core is being able to create and perform, and both of those take their own forms in music and film. With music, when I write and record a song, I’m giving the listener a window into my soul. When I perform a role as an actor, I’m giving the viewer a window into my heart. I’I also started writing screenplays for films and I enjoy that process too because you get to create a whole world and detail the interactions and relationships between the characters in that world.

-You’re doing a huge work in Recognition of Armenian Genocide. Have you noticed the reaction of foreigners who are listening to your songs?

-A lot of my non-Armenian fans have told me they never knew about the Armenian Genocide before hearing my music, and thank me for being able to learn something through my work. It's a great feeling, because Hip-Hop specifically is very focused on what you say, so it's a great platform to get the word out. The same way I've been able to learn about Black-American culture coming from an Armenian immigrant household through Hip-Hop is the same way I'm contributing my culture and heritage to the Hip-Hop community. That's why I say "Ayo" in my songs as my signature word, so Armenians all over the world will know that I am representing for them and at the same time it gives the non-Armenian community something new and fresh.

-One of your songs is called “James Bond”. What inspired you to write it? Would you like to play that secret agent? :)

-I love James Bond. That came from me just thinking about how to be unique and find my own niche. That’s why I often wear a suit or suit jacket in my music videos, interviews, red carpet appearances, and so on. The inspiration of the song also came from the fact that there are a lot of common elements between the rap world and Bond’s world, including fast cars, women, and danger, so I was able to connect to it and felt like other people would also connect to it.

-You visited Armenia in 2014 for the first time and filmed the documentary “Armenian American”. How was that experience?

-It was an amazing experience. I loved it! I was able to see the country, see where my parents grew up, and spend time with my family (including family members who I've never met before). At the same time, I was able to get familiar with the Armenian entertainment industry by going to different recording studios (one of which I met Ruben Hakhverdyan and I love his work), doing interviews at TV stations and working with Armenian rappers. I documented the entire experience and made an 8 episode YouTube documentary called "Armenian American" when I returned to America. I stayed for 3 weeks but I wish I could have stayed much longer! I hope to return soon.

Also I wanted to add that I'm grateful for this experience, especially because I was able to spend time with my friend Suren Tadevosyan who passed away earlier this year. I had done a song for his film "Before I Die" so we were promoting it together and now when I watch the documentary I'm able to see him and remember him. His passing was very unfortunate and he was a great friend to me.

-Do you have any other new projects you’re working at this moment?

I've launched my new t-shirts and we ship worldwide. I'm preparing my debut album also titled MIGHTY HYE and actually just launched a Kickstarter campaign to raise funds to help take the project to the next level. My goal with this album is to be able to compete with the top artists in the American market, and I'm excited to share it with everyone. We will be doing several music videos for this project. People can support here and I am truly grateful to everyone.

I'm also working on a few film projects. One of the movies is a romantic spy thriller that takes place in America and Armenia. We've gotten great feedback from a major American film studio so we're looking for a production company in Armenia to partner with. If anyone out there is interested you can contact us through my website. It's a great story and I love the thought of coming back to Armenia to film it once it would go into production. 

Syune Arakelyan


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