SUNSHINE BLIND

"Incoming darkness, invading night. Holds all my dreams from the light."

It is the early 1990s. In New Jersey a new band rises who would very soon distinguish themselves by fusing elements of New Wave, Post-Punk, Dark Folk, Punk & Alternative music giving them a quite remarkable Goth Rock sound.

The lineup of this band comprised of CWHK alias Charlie Kocornik (guitars, synths, programming, etc), one ‘Cousin Al’ on bass, a drum machine and … Caroline Blind (vocals, guitar).

Caroline’s ‘torch-singing’ took the band to a next level, making them a unique band in the history of Goth.

Now more than 34 years later I have the honor speaking with Caroline about the early days, the history of the band, and, the present days.

Hello Caroline. Let me start with giving you a big thank you on behalf of Peek-A-Boo for doing this interview. The year is 1991, the time that Sunshine Blind was formed. Tell us about those early days, what were they like? How did Sunshine Blind come into existence?

The New Jersey and New York area were great places to play live music. It was easy to find other people to work with, and the scene itself was relatively supportive of each other. I didn’t realize at the time that it was not like that in other places. If it hadn’t been so easy or supportive, I’m not sure we would have started or continued, so we were lucky to start and be there.

Is there a special meaning behind the name 'Sunshine Blind'?

Probably. I’m sure it’s a reference to drugs.

Your emotional singing style is often compared to ‘torch-singing’ (lament an unrequited or lost love). Wherefrom your passion to sing this way?

I’ve always been overly sensitive and have suffered from what I perceived to be neglect or loneliness in growing up. I moved around a lot, and always looked for a place to fit in. I’m convinced now that I simply enjoy being alone and feeling occasionally lonely, it’s preferable to living with anyone.

Imagine this Caroline; a well-known director approaches you and the band to do a ‘on-stage’ performance scene in a famous television series. Which television series would you like it to be? And what song would you choose to perform in the scene?

I don't watch enough television to know what a good series would be, but hopefully something dark and dramatic, and any of our songs would be great!

Sunshine Blind shared the stage with other renowned bands in the scene. For instance Switchblade Symphony, Dave Vanian and the Phantom Chords, Faith And The Muse, Spear of Destiny & The Wake. Any fun/interesting anecdotes from that time you'd like to share with us?

Too many, and I’m so fortunate to be in close contact with many of them to relive the memories, and to make new memories, too. I recently used George Earth from Switchblade Symphony to play guitar for my live shows, I will see William Faith in two weeks when he plays bass for our Sunshine Blind reunion show, and I did some booking and tour managing for The Wake on their recent live shows, as well, so we’ve made recent memories of hijinks and hilarity.

A live highlight for Sunshine Blind was the performance at the world-renowned German ‘Wave-Gotik-Treffen’ in 2000. No doubt you must have very good memories of that?

Ha! It was the year 2000. The year that the promoter left town with all the cash, and left all the bands stranded! We played an outside stage somewhere. It was great to be there, and to see the full spectacle of it, for sure, but it was a bit difficult on the logistical side.

The 1992 self-titled cassette not counted Sunshine Blind released 3 albums: ‘Love The Sky To Death’ (1995), ‘Liquid’ (1996) & ‘I Carry You’ (2006). Striking on ‘I Carry You’ was the change in direction, from Goth Rock to more Triphop & Darkwave. Why this change? Was it a more conscious decision or just to try something new?

It was just what we were feeling at the time, and it had been so many years since we put out an album, that we didn’t think it would matter. We always think it sounds like “us” no matter what we do, but we can be pretty experimental, it’s true.

In 2007 the Philadelphia-based record label ‘Dancing Ferret Discs’ released a retrospective 2 CD ‘best-of’ compilation. How did the cooperation with them happen?

Patrick Rodgers, who ran the label, was a concert promoter who booked us often through the years. We knew him from touring. He was the promoter that brought the Sisters of Mercy to the USA for the first time in years back in 1997. He booked us, Switchblade Symphony and the New Creatures to open the show, and Andrew Eldritch threw us all off the bill just days before the show for looking “too Goth”. Switchblade managed to get back on the bill, but the rest of us didn’t. It pretty much ended our touring career, because our record label lost so much money over it, and so did we. Many years later, when I wanted to release a ‘best of’ CD, I contacted Patrick, since I knew him well, and he agreed to release it.

To put the focus purely on you as a musician, you have been busy! A 2020 solo album (‘The Spell Between’), guest vocals on songs of The Wake, with Wolfie of Red Lorry Yellow Lorry the project Voidant, … Have I forgotten something?

I often collaborate with other people, or contribute vocals to projects. I enjoy it. I am currently working on new Sunshine Blind songs with the original members.

This year I also sang on one song for Sweet Ermengarde’s latest album ‘Sacrifice’.

I did a solo Love and Rockets cover song for an ‘All Love and Rockets’ covers compilation, and I also sometimes release Christmas songs. I recently did a collaboration with Tim of Gothzilla for some songs, too. I’m always looking for projects...

The album I did with Wolfie from Red Lorry Yellow Lorry – the project called Voidant was a very electronic and experimental venture for both of us, but the songs are great, it’s a great and spooky mood.

I have also been doing some booking and tour support for my friends – I helped The Wake with their shows in Spain and in Mexico City. We had a great time, I got to travel and be on a tour, without having to do the show itself. I enjoy playing, but I enjoyed just helping, too.

Then I booked a tour for Daniel, the drummer of The Wake, he has a new Industrial side project called 2 Forks. I booked him and two other bands an East Coast tour just recently*, so yes, I have been keeping very busy.

(*’The Imperfect Waves’ tour, featuring Plasmata, [melter], and 2 Forks.)

That brings me to our present time. Sunshine Blind is back alive and kickin’ for sure. New live shows, new music. Please tell us more!

I guess my original partner was ready to re-visit doing music again. He had taken a break from it for a long time. We have been working on some new songs, which we hope to release soon. The chance to do one show came up (the promoter saw me doing a solo show when I opened for The Wake two years ago), and we are going for it. I don’t think there will be any more shows with this line-up, it’s just a coincidence that we were all available and willing. I hope to play out more, as I have been, but I need to find musicians who are local to me, who are able to travel and play live a couple times a year.

Keeping fingers crossed you will. Alright Caroline, this has been a pleasure. Thank you again for making time for us. Here’s to a Bat-tastic future!

Thank you!

• Sunshine Blind Official Website
• Motherofskye Creations | Record Label of Caroline Blind
• Bandcamp | Caroline Blind
• Bandcamp | Sunshine Blind

Hayley CLX
10/12/2024