We first saw Melbourne/Naarm band The Blinds live a few years ago at Nag Nag Nag Fest. Since releasing their self-titled cassette on Alex Macfarlane’s Hobbies Galore in 2017, and 7-inch Endless Fascination in 2022, the band have been building towards their long-awaited debut LP. Gimmie caught up with them ahead of their appearance at JERKFEST this weekend, to talk formative music memories, favourite songs to play live and a few unexpected obsessions.

Who or what made you fall in love with music?

LACH: ‘Getting the band back together’, which was jumping around playing a toy tambo in the loungeroom listening to the Beatles and Stones etc., with my dad after he’d no doubt had a few beers. I was 34.

CAL: Due to my dad being a fan, I loved Cream and idolised Jack Bruce. Other than that, I had a pretty loose grasp on music until Blinds band friend and recorder Alex loaned me 3 CDs every day for the best part of a year and blew my little world right open at the tender age of 16.

RORY: My mum used to buy me the newest So Fresh CDs, and it was then I knew I wanted to play rock and roll.

FUJ: Some definitive memories include listening to solo career Ozzy Osbourne and Dio tapes that belonged to my stepdad and some RATM and TOOL* CDs that Blinds band friend and recorder Alex lent to me in Year 7.

*REDACTED

Are you working on new songs or ideas that you’re excited about?

LACH: Yes. It’s taken us a long time, but we are like the turtle from The Tortoise and the Hare.

CAL: We’re finally getting ready for the elusive and coveted debut LP, which we’re very excited about!

RORY: I think we’re the most productive we’ve ever been right now, in our own way and by our own definition of productive.

FUJ: Ya! In our 10th year we have started working on a record ;()

What’s something you care about deeply that might not necessarily show up in your songs?

LACH: Fam & friends and the power of song.

CAL: Dolphins and the number 8.

RORY: A perfectly made tabouli.

FUJ: We are yet to utilise a crumhorn.

Which song do you like playing live the most and why?

LACH: One from our tape ‘Passenger Seat’ because it’s burnt into my skull and good to ease nerves early in a set.  Also ‘Hat’.

CAL: ‘Separation Street’ always feels good to play. It’s got a really fun bass line in the chorus that I often use for sound check because it kind of doubles as a nice little warm up.

RORY: I agree with Cal. ‘Separation Street’ has been a long time fave. Especially after introducing the intro on live performances. 

FUJ: I like a newer one called ‘Hat’ mostly because it’s called ‘Hat’.

What’s your biggest non-musical obsession right now?

LACH: This congee I ate in Thailand recently.

CAL: Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera.

RORY: Throwing back oysters at Queen Victoria Market.

FUJ: I’m pretty into the rice cooker that Rory convinced me to purchase.

Check out more of The Blinds.