1.For those that have never heard of you before, can you tell us a little bit about the musical project?
It's predominantly a solo project at the moment, but who knows in the future. It started really from a jam session I had with some friends at the time nearly 10 years ago now. Nothing ever came of that initial jam session until the last year or so, when I decided to pick up some of the ideas and develop the sound into what it is today.
2.You have a new album in the works, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Yes this will be the first album from this project, currently featuring 8 fairly lengthy songs. The sound could be described as slow-tempo doom metal but with alot of experimentation, layered keyboard sounds, drones, feedback and discordant riffs. The vocals are mostly sung but sometimes aggressive. The drums are all programmed but organic sounding, the overall sound I'm trying to create is heavy and dark but also psychedelic and shoe-gazy. I wanted to create a crushing, overwhelming and claustrophobic wall of sound for this project.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the you explore with your music?
I would say fear, feeling trapped/crushed, paranoia, and other psychological/spiritual themes are some of the themes on this album. It's mostly about fear and depersonalisation which I've struggled with for years. Depersonalisation is something like post-traumatic shock but it's a constant feeling of detachment and un-reality. I tend to do alot of soul searching when I write lyrics, that tends to mean I write only about what affects me and whether people can relate to it or not I don't really think about. I don't write with an audience in mind, or to portray a particular image of myself. Or to construe some kind of grandiose intellectual idea, all that is just bullshit to me. Basically I have alot of inner negativity, bile and negative emotions, that this music is an outlet for. Music has always been about that for me. It doesn't necessarily always need to be negative and gloomy, that's just the way I feel alot of the time. Not so much of an escape, rather a release of something inside.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Gift of Blindness'?
I got the name from an old song title for another musical project of mine from years ago. The meaning is personal to me but can be applied universally. It's paradoxical. Wishing you were blind because the reality is too painful. I hope people can relate that to a situation or view they hold in their own lives.
5.With this project you record everything by your self, do you feel this gives you more freedom with your musical sound?
Yes I do feel that, although oftentimes great ideas come from jamming with other people and opening your mind to other's ideas. With this project I knew the kind of sound I wanted to create, but with lack of time and availability of collaborators it's been easier and quicker to create everything by myself since I have the skills also being a sound engineer by trade.
6.The album will be released by Blindsight Records, are you happy with the support they have given you so far?
(Blindsight is my own label) I've decided to release it on Blindsight mainly due to time again, because I don't have the time to scout for other labels. And since I already have the infrastructure in place to release my own stuff, it's just easier. I don't really care if alot of people listen to it or even like it, this music definitely isn't for everyone. But I hope that the few people who do stumble across it can relate or get something out of it.
7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal that have heard it so far?
I have only had a few feedbacks but it's been generally positive so far. The common thing people mention is that it's "dark".
8.Are you also involved with any other musical projects?
Yes my other band is called Abandon, it's a post-rock / slow-core kind of band. Also a cleaner sound, there are some common elements with Gift of Blindness such as atmospherics and slow tempos. I sing and play guitar in that band, joined by my friends Christopher Marshall and Simon Tierney on bass/guitar. I also have other projects on and off, including Bicycles With No Riders which displays my acoustic side, Absence which is ambient music and Old Ghosts which is a new instrumental loop-based guitar project I'm working on.
9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I'm not too sure at the moment, we will see. Maybe I might wan't to make the next release even more extreme, but I always like to push the boundaries and do something different so it will be a development for sure. I might not even feel the need to do another release. I don't really plan things that far in advance, if it feels right at the time I will pursue it.
10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I'd say with this project some of my main influences have been Godflesh, Neurosis, Swans, Killing Joke, Warning, Voivod, Burzum, My Bloody Valentine, Today Is The Day... alot of stuff lol. Also I'd the last heavy band I was in (Xmas Lights) influenced the keyboard sound, as I used the same keyboard sound in that band. Nowadays I listen to a wide variety of music depending on my mood... but lately alot of electronic music, post-rock, metal and ambient music.
11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Working too much? I don't really have that many non-musical interests. I've always been addicted to all things music. I do love films too, but hardly have time to watch them these days.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
The album should be out before the end of the year. Not too sure on the formats as of yet, definitely digital download and perhaps a CD release.
It's predominantly a solo project at the moment, but who knows in the future. It started really from a jam session I had with some friends at the time nearly 10 years ago now. Nothing ever came of that initial jam session until the last year or so, when I decided to pick up some of the ideas and develop the sound into what it is today.
2.You have a new album in the works, how would you describe the musical sound that is presented on the recording?
Yes this will be the first album from this project, currently featuring 8 fairly lengthy songs. The sound could be described as slow-tempo doom metal but with alot of experimentation, layered keyboard sounds, drones, feedback and discordant riffs. The vocals are mostly sung but sometimes aggressive. The drums are all programmed but organic sounding, the overall sound I'm trying to create is heavy and dark but also psychedelic and shoe-gazy. I wanted to create a crushing, overwhelming and claustrophobic wall of sound for this project.
3.What are some of the lyrical topics and subjects the you explore with your music?
I would say fear, feeling trapped/crushed, paranoia, and other psychological/spiritual themes are some of the themes on this album. It's mostly about fear and depersonalisation which I've struggled with for years. Depersonalisation is something like post-traumatic shock but it's a constant feeling of detachment and un-reality. I tend to do alot of soul searching when I write lyrics, that tends to mean I write only about what affects me and whether people can relate to it or not I don't really think about. I don't write with an audience in mind, or to portray a particular image of myself. Or to construe some kind of grandiose intellectual idea, all that is just bullshit to me. Basically I have alot of inner negativity, bile and negative emotions, that this music is an outlet for. Music has always been about that for me. It doesn't necessarily always need to be negative and gloomy, that's just the way I feel alot of the time. Not so much of an escape, rather a release of something inside.
4.What is the meaning and inspiration behind the name 'Gift of Blindness'?
I got the name from an old song title for another musical project of mine from years ago. The meaning is personal to me but can be applied universally. It's paradoxical. Wishing you were blind because the reality is too painful. I hope people can relate that to a situation or view they hold in their own lives.
5.With this project you record everything by your self, do you feel this gives you more freedom with your musical sound?
Yes I do feel that, although oftentimes great ideas come from jamming with other people and opening your mind to other's ideas. With this project I knew the kind of sound I wanted to create, but with lack of time and availability of collaborators it's been easier and quicker to create everything by myself since I have the skills also being a sound engineer by trade.
6.The album will be released by Blindsight Records, are you happy with the support they have given you so far?
(Blindsight is my own label) I've decided to release it on Blindsight mainly due to time again, because I don't have the time to scout for other labels. And since I already have the infrastructure in place to release my own stuff, it's just easier. I don't really care if alot of people listen to it or even like it, this music definitely isn't for everyone. But I hope that the few people who do stumble across it can relate or get something out of it.
7.On a worldwide level how has the feedback been to your music by fans of doom metal that have heard it so far?
I have only had a few feedbacks but it's been generally positive so far. The common thing people mention is that it's "dark".
8.Are you also involved with any other musical projects?
Yes my other band is called Abandon, it's a post-rock / slow-core kind of band. Also a cleaner sound, there are some common elements with Gift of Blindness such as atmospherics and slow tempos. I sing and play guitar in that band, joined by my friends Christopher Marshall and Simon Tierney on bass/guitar. I also have other projects on and off, including Bicycles With No Riders which displays my acoustic side, Absence which is ambient music and Old Ghosts which is a new instrumental loop-based guitar project I'm working on.
9.Where do you see the band heading into musically during the future?
I'm not too sure at the moment, we will see. Maybe I might wan't to make the next release even more extreme, but I always like to push the boundaries and do something different so it will be a development for sure. I might not even feel the need to do another release. I don't really plan things that far in advance, if it feels right at the time I will pursue it.
10.What are some of the bands or musical styles that have had an influence on your music and also what are you listening to nowadays?
I'd say with this project some of my main influences have been Godflesh, Neurosis, Swans, Killing Joke, Warning, Voivod, Burzum, My Bloody Valentine, Today Is The Day... alot of stuff lol. Also I'd the last heavy band I was in (Xmas Lights) influenced the keyboard sound, as I used the same keyboard sound in that band. Nowadays I listen to a wide variety of music depending on my mood... but lately alot of electronic music, post-rock, metal and ambient music.
11.What are some of your non musical interests?
Working too much? I don't really have that many non-musical interests. I've always been addicted to all things music. I do love films too, but hardly have time to watch them these days.
12.Before we wrap up this interview, do you have any final words or thoughts?
The album should be out before the end of the year. Not too sure on the formats as of yet, definitely digital download and perhaps a CD release.
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