Blindwish recently released the video for new single Single Word and their new album Good Excuses is set for release on September 1 through Rise Records. We at AltCorner have fallen in love with the band and asked frontman Zach to take on our A-Z challenge!
A song that made you want to make music?
Lipgloss and Let Down by Atreyu got me to pick up the guitar and learn it, and it wasn’t long before I started writing my own songs.
Best rider you’ve ever had?
We’ve only done a few tours as a band, but we’ve gotten some CRAZY cases of water.
Craziest moment you’ve experienced in the band?
Our second show we’ve ever played we opened up for Bowling for Soup for the Vans Warped Tour Pre-Party. Playing our second show ever as band in front of 4,400 people was crazy to us, but it was the most fun we’ve had in a while.
Deepest lyrics one of your songs features?
Probably the 5th song on our album, “Down“. It’s a very introspective song about things I catch myself doing that I wish I didn’t do. I feel like everyone has a lot of those moments and that’s why we’ve had a really positive response to that song from people we’ve shown.
Easiest song you wrote?
I would have to go with our acoustic song ‘Down‘. Some songs can take a day, a few days, or weeks. Down actually took a few hours, it kind of just flowed out, it was a crazy experience. It was like I’ve heard the song my whole life and was just rewriting it down.
Favourite song in your set?
Our song “After Midnight” is my favorite of our live set. It’s a great first song for our set and gets the crowds energy going.
Guest you’d most like to feature on your record?
I think it’d be awesome to have John Mayer featured on a song. Most people do vocal features but I would really love some awesome guitar parts to work with along with vocals.
Hardest thing about being in a band?
For sure it has to be constantly being away from family and friends. Sometimes it’s just missing my own bed. Sometimes it’s my favorite coffee spot. It’s the little things.
Interesting fact about one of your members?
Our guitarist Billy is a graphic designer and does all of our designs from merch to our logo and beyond. We’ve actually paid some of our bills trading his work for things we need (most recently he drew someone as a Rick and Morty character in exchange for a promo video)
Jokes you have in the band?
Not so much a joke but a theme would be saying “all good things all the time”. It’s almost become a joke to us at this point. Very early in our career almost everything has always worked in our favor, which we all know is not how it usually is. You can probably catch us saying it at least once a day on tour.
Key to writing a song?
The key is definitely that the song has to be real. If you don’t believe what your singing or can’t identify with it, chances are your audience will be able to tell and their not going to like the song.
Longest distance you’ve travelled to play a show?
I think the farthest from home we’ve played so far is Northern California, although we’re trying to change that soon. We’re coming for you Europe!
Most inspiring musician you’ve experienced?
When I saw 30 Seconds To Mars I was just blown away by everything. And then you realize this is just one of the things that Jared Leto does exceedingly well and it becomes all the more impressive.
New band you’d recommend?
I know they’re not new to a lot of the world but Don Broco is still very very new in the US. And everyone needs to listen to them. This isn’t so much a recommendation as it is a demand.
Opening for this band would be ideal?
I know we’d all love the opportunity to open for My Chemical Romance. Our first 2 tours we threw in a MCR cover that every crowd loved, but probably not as much as we enjoyed playing it.
Place you’d most like to tour?
100% Europe. We’ve always heard it’s one of the best places in the world to tour, and we already have some amazing fans there that we need to see!
Quote you’d like to pass on to our readers?
“Listen to Don Broco”
Reason for the title of your forthcoming release?
“Good Excuses” is pulled from our acoustic song “Down“. It’s the opening line of the song “I’m the king of good excuses”. (Our album art makes more sense now) It’s an introspective line about the tendency I have to do anything but take responsibility for things that I do. The rest of the song is about how that makes me and everyone I know feel.
See us live at?
Coming soon to a venue near you
The old days of music were better than the current. Do you agree?
Yes and no. It used to be a lot easier to sustain yourself as a musician before it was easy to steal music. But now you have more outlets than ever for people to hear your music and more people are listening. It’s a trade off but the aim of being a musician is to have people connect and listen to your music, so today’s music scene is good because of that.
Unusual merchandise?
I make custom flannels that have our logo on them. They’re available only at shows and rarely on our web store!
Variations you’d like to do on any of your songs?
I would love to do an acoustic version of our whole album honestly. I love playing and singing acoustic more than any other style, so hopefully we get to do that
What do your fans mean to you?
Everything. Seeing something that means so much to me connect and mean so much to someone else is a feeling that I can’t describe and I’m grateful for it everyday.
X-rays or any treatments needed for band related injuries?
Our bassist Kendrick tore his ACL during a show. I get sick and go to the doctor at least once a tour, and I’ve broken a toe on a tour with a previous band. We’re all clumsy and sick dudes.
You’re late for a show, whose fault is it?
Dakota. No real reason. We just blame everything on Dakota.
Zoo animal that best describes the personality of your band?
We are sloths. Which makes me a singing sloth, that’s so sick.