In the course of being an insatiable music fan, I oftentimes find myself looking in the deepest corners of the Internet for a sound that moves me a certain way. For the most part, this is for my own enjoyment, since my personal musical preferences lay a good ways out of the mainstream. But just this once, I came across a band that has a fantastic sound, and is not only capable of having mainstream success but would go a long way to renew my faith in popular music.
The band’s name is Blind Divine, and you may have heard their music. The name not ringing any bells? The music has been licensed for use on VH1 and MTV, the soundtrack for indie flick “Orphans and Angels,” and the DVD release of mainstream film "Taking Lives.” Blind Divine is best described as “trip-hop,” which is characterized by a blend of simple hip-hop rhythms and relaxing, generally female, vocals. Blind Divine is unique, however, in that they add influences ranging from electronica, to classical, to Tori Amos, making for a rich, deep blend of styles that is nothing short of beautiful. I was lucky enough to get in contact with the band for an interview:
PS - If you had to describe your sound, what would you say?
BD - When you break down our sound we are coming from more of a classical approach. The chord progressions and voice leading are really quite traditional. The element that changes the style to a trip-hop or alternative sound is the arrangements. Our live sound is different from our studio sound, which keeps it interesting. Those that have heard both have expressed that there is a common thread that runs through both sounds. As far as the mood that we create, one can say it is spooky, ambient, and hauntingly erotic, with sultry female vocals and strange landscapes- a cure for chronic insomniacs, hypochondriacs, and patients of psychotherapy.
PS - What are your main influences?
BD - Portishead, Massive Attack, Cocteau Twins, Dead Can Dance, Debussey, Radiohead, The Cure, Vivaldi, Air, Doves, David Sylvian, Bach, Mexican music, and 70's and 80's pop and rock records, to name a few.
PS - Which do you prefer, playing live or in the studio?
BD - We love writing and recording, but there is nothing quite like the energy of playing live. There is a euphoric feeling when you are creating, which we do while we are recording. We try hard not to let the technical aspects of recording become too stifling. Many times it's the unrehearsed first take at three in the morning that is the most real, so we keep it. With playing live there is always only one shot so you have to give it your best every time, which creates a sort of electrified anxiety. It's always exciting.
PS - One of the interesting characteristics of the band, as you listen, is how the vocals are so smooth that after awhile you generally forget to be listening for words, and more for sounds and ambiance. This is a characteristic most commonly associated with English shoe-gazers My Bloody Valentine, and makes for a refreshing diversion from traditional lyricism.
Are your lyrics there to be analyzed and considered, or are they simply words strategically placed to convey a mood?
BD - I think bands such as My Bloody Valentine and Cocteau Twins changed the way lyrics were written and sung. They opened up a new world in which words could be more of a texture or aesthetic. There were a great influence on me and changed the way I write and think about lyrics. They gave me another possibility of either writing traditionally or writing from more of an instrumental perspective and melding into the music. Hopefully, my lyrics not only convey a mood, but also may also be analyzed and considered. They are both deeply felt and subconsciously derived, and are very personal.
While this blend of two radically different lyrical styles sounds near impossible to pull off on paper, the fact of the matter is that the average listener who is looking only for music will find the sounds to flow more smoothly than the average radio fare, while writers, poets, and those of us that enjoy singing along will find deep, at times heart-wrenching words that will more than satisfy.
PS - It stands to be included that trip-hop is generally an electronic genre, drum machines and synthesizers are usually taken over traditional instruments. In fact, trip-hop in it’s purest form may simply be the natural continuation of 80s synth-pop, blending with the hip-hop and darker rock elements that came to the forefront of the music scene during the early to mid 90s. However, with Blind Divine, more traditional instrumentation is used, including a real, live drummer!
Your music is live input recorded, how do you feel about sequencers, looping parts, and the like?
BD - We prefer to record keyboards, bass, and guitars live, although we may loop drumbeats and sections of those live tracks. Sometimes computerized sequencers can have a mechanical feel, plus it is much quicker to record live than spend the time programming a sequencer. We would rather spend more time on the inspiration of the song and less time on the technical aspects. Ten to fifteen minutes can kill the moment.
Read more...