Doomed Confessionary: Juan, Pedro, Kostas & Pablo (Born Slave)
Born Slave is a rock band from Sevilla, Spain that combines its particular sounds by mixing influences from blues, rock and metal among others.
Formed in 2021, Born Slave consists of Pedro Valladares on guitar, Pablo Loredo on drums, Kostas Konstantinidis on bass and Juan Manuel Manzano on vocals.
In March 2024, their eponymus album »Born Slave« was reissued in CD format and on all digital platforms.
Currently, Born Slave are gearing up to release their new full-length album, »Raw Emotions«, which will see the light in October 2025.
Can you please say a few words about your band?
We are Born Slave, a rock band that started at the end of 2021. It all began with Pedro Valladares on guitar, Pablo Loredo on drums, and Kostas on bass, getting together to create our first songs with nothing more in mind than making music that moved us.
In 2022, Willy Sánchez joined as our vocalist, and with him we recorded our first album in 2023. Shortly after, he left the band for personal reasons and was replaced by Juan Manuel Manzano. That change led us to re-record the album and release it again in 2024, this time with the strength of his voice.
Today, we’re more motivated than ever: we’ve just finished our second album, »Raw Emotions«, which will be released in October on CD and across all digital platforms.
What was the biggest challenge for the band?
So far, I think the biggest challenge has been writing a second album while also pushing ourselves to improve on the first one. It hasn’t been an easy task, especially with an audience that keeps getting more and more demanding.
What can you be most proud of so far?
Having written and recorded a second album that, in our view, has greatly improved in quality, power, and sound compared to the first one is something we’re truly proud of. We’ve put a lot of work and heart into not only refining the sound but also the visuals – this new record carries a lot of art and a very clear concept behind it.
On top of that, being part of a band where the four of us share everything equally and get along so well makes the whole journey even more meaningful.
What was your biggest regret?
The truth is, we try to learn from our mistakes instead of regretting them – I think it makes the journey a lot easier to handle.
What was the best concert/tour so far and why?
Honestly, we’re happy with every show we’ve played so far, but if we had to highlight one, it would definitely be the concert we gave last November 2024 at Orpheus Rock. It was absolutely amazing – both in terms of sound and performance.
You can catch some of that show on our YouTube channel, where we’ve shared several videos from the night.
What was the biggest surprise on the music scene for you?
The number of emerging bands with such great quality today is truly impressive. It feels like every time you look around, there’s new talent bringing fresh ideas, creativity, and a lot of passion to the scene. It definitely raises the bar for everyone and pushes us to keep growing and giving our best.
What is currently in your heavy musical rotation?
Each of us has very particular musical tastes, and that’s really the foundation of our sound. Some of us lean more towards modern rock and metal, while others draw inspiration from a wide range of styles – from rock to flamenco, and even classical music and opera. This mix of influences is what gives Born Slave its unique character.
What was the best advice you’ve ever been given as a musician?
Humility – being humble – is the best advice you can give a musician. No matter how talented you are, you shouldn’t let it go to your head or let ego take over. That’s usually what ends up holding musicians and even entire bands back.
What are your guilty pleasures?
That really depends on which band member you ask (laughs), but there are definitely songs that deserve respect for what they are. Tracks like Rihanna’s »Umbrella«, Miley Cyrus’ »Flowers«, or Britney Spears’ »Toxic« might be considered “guilty pleasures,” yet you can’t deny they’re well-crafted and catchy – they have a certain magic that makes you tip your hat.
Can you say something more about the current music scene in Sevilla?
Honestly, it’s pretty tough, because there are so many great bands out there that unfortunately hardly anyone knows about. There are fewer and fewer places to play live with original material – you either do covers or it’s really hard to get your music out there. It’s a shame, truly, but we keep pushing to make as much noise as possible and get our music heard.
Where can we see you live this year (concerts/tours)?
Honestly, we’re pretty happy, as we already have quite a few shows lined up. Starting in October, we’ll kick off the tour to present our new album, »Raw Emotions«. For now, all the concerts will take place in Spain, and the schedule is:
• October 4 – ATB Rock, Las Cabezas de San Juan
• October 17 – Orpheus Rock, Mairena del Aljarafe (with Sibelclan)
• October 24 – Huelva Rock, Huelva
• November 1 – Angie Rock, Dos Hermanas
• January 31, 2026 – Jerez, La Guardia del Ángel (with Sibelclan)
What are your plans for the future as a band?
First, we’ll release the new album in October and support it live as it deserves, playing as many shows as possible. Once the tour is over, we’ll dive straight into writing new songs, recording the third album, and then back on the road again…
How can people best support your band?
By buying our albums and T-shirts, coming to our shows, listening to our music on streaming platforms, watching our videos on YouTube, following us on social media… and so on.
Do you have any message for your listeners?
We just want to thank them for the time they dedicate to us every day. For us, it’s essential that our listeners feel satisfied every time they hear our music – whether on albums, streaming platforms, or at our shows. Without them, we wouldn’t be anything. They are the driving force that pushes us to improve and keep moving forward in our career as musicians and as a band. THANK YOU SO MUCH.
Bojan Bidovc // music enthusiast, promoter, misanthrop and sometimes a journalist as well