"We´re not trying to sound American. We just want to avoid sounding typically German."
This statement by guitarist and band leader Fabian Zimmermann is symptomatic. The current (and original) BLIND line-up got together in 2002 and have consistently followed their vision. In this, the band from Koblenz on the Rhine/Moselle confluence have not always opted for the easiest, but always for their own way!
There had never been any doubt: everything had to be just right on their first album, regardless of the consequences. After all, this could be a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.
BLIND kept refusing recording contracts, changing producers several times even during the demo stage because most of them lacked commitment and enthusiasm. "We have an almost athletic ambition," Fabian laughs. "Why should we be satisfied with only ninety per cent? Higher, faster, wider!"
The time factor was secondary. Instead of rushing their debut, the quartet consciously took enough time to develop their own identity and hone their material.
Their patience has paid off: over the years, a diverse and independent style at the interface of power pop, alternative rock and modern metal has been allowed to develop naturally. And every little detail matters. "We are obsessed sound tinkerers," comments front man Steve. "We try everything, experiment with the craziest instrumental combinations, rip everything apart, only to put it together again in different ways. This process takes time, a lot of elements fall by the wayside, but what we get is one hundred per cent. It’s a little like a car manufacturer testing a new prototype: several years of hard work are condensed into a few days. The surviving material is fit to go out on the road."
"Test runs" of their material have taken the band all over Germany in recent years. "Wherever there was an electric socket, we put up our gear and tried to get people with our songs. If the reactions were positive, we kept it. The rest was discarded, and we started all over again." Along the way, BLIND have grown into a mega tight live act on their tours of Germany’s club land. The explosive ambition that they have displayed writing their music has a tendency to detonate live in a most spectacular way.
This is not least the merit of producer Vincent Sorg, who accepted the challenge of casting the band’s exceptional musical vision into a perfect form. The result speaks for itself. Hits such as the rousing anthems Today I Break Loose, These Are The Days and You, the catchy alternative People, the dynamic full-throttle rock track Break Away and the heart-rending piano ballad Every You Every Me easily live up to those frequently quoted "international standards".
All those who have a penchant for solidly constructed songs and powerful, contemporary rock music and are into live acts that pull out all the stops will be delighted to discover that BLIND are a band who deliver peak performances in every category.
Guitarist and songwriter Fabian Zimmermann about RME
A few years ago I started to set up my own homestudio, and so I tested a lot of stuff of different companies, and every day I had lots of problems putting all these pieces together. Since I switched to RME, I can completely concentrate on what I want to do, to make music.
Nowadays I use a RME Fireface400 which I can use both at home with my PC and on the road with my Apple Mac Book Pro.
We decided to use RME on stage as well. We run a Notebook with a Cardbus-Interface and a Mulitface II, a second system with a Digiface is connected to the digital outputs of our InEar-Mixer, so we can record our live shows as simple as it can get.
We are very satisfied because of the easy installation process, extremely stable drivers, tons of possibilities to use all of the equipment and the fast and credible service.
More Information:
www.blindpage.de
www.myspace.com/officialblind
RME Products at Catacan Pro Audio Canada
