Hello everyone, thank you for joining us today on the Virtual RGM Lounge. Grab a beer and take a seat.
Thank you for inviting me…I grabbed a brew and took a seat.
What made you decide that music was for you?
It always has been, and always will be. If you cut open a blood vessel, an indie guitar will emerge. I had no choice. It’s just part of who we are.
Please introduce us to you and your musical history.
Blindness & Light is an informal gathering of like-minded friends and family. We spread all the way from Anglesey to Yorkshire and many places in between. Post-punk is what drives us.
We’ve all been in various indie bands over the years. This setup is completely flexible, so it’s suitable for everyone. However, he’s only one musician featured on the new single, “We All Lose,” and that’s singer/songwriter/guitarist Colin M Potter.
What was your life like before you started making music?
I mostly pay my bills and get by on the weekends. Redundancy in 2022 and living on Anglesey gave us the space and time to flesh out our ideas and make them into digital history.
A solar flare is about to come and wipe everything out :-7
Hopefully, vinyl records will survive this apocalypse…and so will record players. Our debut album was released on all formats last summer and was played on over 3000 radio stations worldwide, but in order to at least break even and release two albums, we needed a limited edition I need to sell all of my records.n.d. album. (It’s available at Vinyl Exchange, Manchester, 81 Renshaw St, Liverpool, Hot Frog, Runcorn, Mud Shark, Bangor, Bandcamp).
What was the first song you heard that introduced you to music?
It is difficult. I can’t answer everyone because it would take a whole day, but for me (CMP) it was probably a mix of post-punk songs that really inspired me and made being in the band essential. Stars Are Stars from Echo and the Bunnymen, Revolutionary Spirit from The Wild Swans, and the whole Unknown Pleasures from Joy Division.
Where do you think you are in the music industry right now?
Somewhere in a dark, dingy corner, he’s holding out a bowl begging for a scrap from Spotify’s royalties.
What’s the biggest thing you’ve learned from others in the industry?
We realized how much we loved our job when our previous producer tried to force us to make purely commercial pop for financial gain. We have created ourselves now and are happier than ever. The music and authentic lyrics are important, but they may not satisfy the mass market.
Tell me two truths and one lie about yourself.
Two truths: We are mammals and we are sentient. Lies: We lie about lies as well as the truth.
If you could wish for one thing to help your career, what would it be?
Appropriate royalties from streaming platforms. Grassroots, original music doesn’t have a chance anymore.
Have you ever worried about people taking things the wrong way or cancel culture? Discuss….
We are amazed at how positive people are. To be honest, we were expecting more sniping. It can sound a bit sanctimonious when you start criticizing humanity for the same things we do. Deeply prejudiced people might be a little hurt by this single, or maybe they just like being subhuman…we doubt that’s the case!
Do you agree with conspiracy theories? If not, why not?
We don’t live our lives crouching in the shadows in fear of invisible monsters. We base our lives on our personal experiences, and there is enough there to deeply impact us…but that doesn’t mean we ignore the good in people. you can’t. This week, someone sawed off the head of a porpoise on the coast of Anglesey. Skulls bring a lot of money.
What happened to the world? I’m glad we still got a good enough result to keep going, but this was scary.
I have recently received several emails offering me membership in the Illuminati, but I think I am waiting for a better offer.
What is your worst experience on stage?
At age 9, he played “Silent Night” on an acoustic guitar in front of 200 parents at his elementary school’s Christmas show! It was probably the worst experience for them too.
Please tell us something you think people would be surprised about about each member.
Many of Blindness & Light’s songs were written and honed in the Styrian Forest near Graz, Austria.
What is the next step to reach the next level as a band?
song for him 2n.d. The album is currently being recorded on Anglesey. We decided to record the song before it was fully completed and use the recording process itself as a creative outlet. The four tracks were recorded this way, which seems to lead to a more natural and human sound. The mixing/mastering will be done in Germany as we have a new professional mix engineer who understands us and what we want.
I’ve noticed that a lot of bands don’t use X (Twitter), why do you think that?
Music seems to have found a home on Facebook and Instagram. I don’t think X will conflict.
We do token posts on X, but we don’t really get as much engagement as we do on FB or IG.
I heard you have a new single, could you tell me about it?
“We All Lose” floats a gritty anti-racist theme over a breezy guitar melody.
The cover art was drawn by Austrian abstract artist Gary Ranthaler. It is called “Der Schrei der Eule” (The Owl’s Cry).
What was the recording process like?
Recording took place on the island of Anglesey in North Wales and Warrington in north-west England. This was co-produced with:
Colin M. Potter and former producer Tony Denmade. The final piece was put together over two days at his Warrington studio and mastered with the help of Canada’s AI.
What was the biggest learning curve in writing new songs?
Colin realizes that the more he tries to write, the less he accomplishes anything. So his trick is that he doesn’t try to communicate what comes to mind. It’s not easy to develop an acoustic song with vocals into a full band, but it’s also the part we enjoy the most.
Now that it’s complete, do you want to change anything?
No, everything has already been sealed in time. Don’t look back, just move forward!
Is there anything else you would like to share with the world?
I plan on releasing at least four more singles this year. Maybe part 2n.d. I have an album coming out at the end of the year, so let’s see what happens. Please purchase the goods. This keeps us going.
If you really want a vinyl album but can’t really afford it, please email [email protected]. I will be giving away a few pieces in the UK.
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