It’s not often you hear a drummer with a global legacy speak about success without mentioning numbers. But for Igor Cavalera, yes, that Igor, the one who helped shape the sound of Sepultura in the ’80s and ’90s, it’s clear his compass points in a different direction these days.
When he talks about music now, there’s no boasting. No list of awards or big-name collaborations. In fact, you almost get the feeling he’d rather skip that part altogether. What matters to him isn’t what the world thinks of his legacy; it’s whether he still feels like himself when he sits behind the kit.
Cavalera’s perspective comes from experience, the kind you only get by sticking around long enough to see the industry shift and shift again. While some chase visibility or cling to past success, he seems more interested in staying grounded. He’s quick to admit that the excitement of being on stage or releasing something new is still there, but the motivation behind it has changed. It’s not about climbing higher. It’s about staying honest with himself.
Over the years, he’s moved through several musical projects, some heavy and loud, others more experimental, even electronic. Not all of it was designed to be a hit. That was never the point. The aim, as he sees it, is to make something that resonates personally. If it clicks with others, that’s great. If it doesn’t, that’s okay too.
He also spoke about collaboration in a way that felt refreshingly human. In a field where many compete for space, Igor Cavalera seems to prefer a more level playing field. For him, working with others isn’t about proving who’s the best player in the room. It’s about trading ideas and feeding off each other’s energy. He says that’s where the real spark comes from, and maybe that’s why his work continues to surprise people, even after all these years.
There’s another layer to his drumming that often gets overlooked: its roots. He grew up surrounded by rhythm, not just on stage, but in the streets of Brazil, where percussion lives in the background of everyday life. That upbringing didn’t just shape his sound. It shaped his whole approach. To him, the drums aren’t just about keeping time. They’re about communicating something deeper, something raw.
What stood out most, though, wasn’t what he said about music. It was how plainly he talked about success. There was no buzzword-heavy explanation. Just a quiet insistence that real success, the kind that lasts, has more to do with feeling fulfilled than being seen. He doesn’t look back with regret, nor does he rush to reinvent himself for the next trend. He moves forward, on his own terms.
In the end, Igor Cavalera’s version of success might not fit neatly into the usual industry mold. And maybe that’s the point. He’s still here, still creating, still pushing forward—not because he has something to prove, but because he still has something to say. And in a world that often values volume over meaning, that kind of quiet confidence might be the most powerful beat of all.