ARTIST SPOTLIGHT SEPTEMBER: BLIND FORTUNE
Photo taken by @janek.myslinski on IG
Meet Blind Fortune is a post-hardcore/emo band from San Diego, California, but they originally formed in Reno, Nevada. Blind Fortune consists of Tyler Nelson (drums), Blake Boswell (vocals), India Yansch (bass), Connor Bannister (guitar), and Taj Afkhami (guitar). Blind Fortune has become one of my favorite hardcore bands in the San Diego scene and has proven to be loved by the locals as a newer, up-and-coming band. Let's learn about Blind Fortune in more detail, how they formed, what their experience has been like in the local scene, and what they have in store for the future!
Photo taken by Unknown
TELL ME MORE ABOUT THE NAME BLIND FORTUNE.
"The name 'Blind Fortune' came to us seeking a natural name for the project we had just begun. It wasn't until later that we realized how special the name actually was. The ring to it that we felt did not yet hold any meaning; it was a name that would go on to discover its own meaning as we discover ours. The meaning only grows and expands the more we live and experience. The idea that the world (its people) is so fixated on what they do NOT have, rather than what you actually do, have. Blind, to your fortune. Whether it is a deep love you do not pay attention to or a deep sadness you do not realize is making you a better person for going through it. Everyone is blind to something."
HOW/WHEN DID BLIND FORTUNE FORM?
“Blind Fortune was created as a project around June of 2021 in Reno, Nevada. Just before Connors's birthday, we got together and put together some songs from our previous band as well as some freshies! From our first set, we knew we had something special. The fusion of minds we had at our hands; was beyond special. Blake's grit and equal gentleness. He was new to the game but fit right in with us. Connors' wits and overflowing inspiration pouring out into every riff, wholesome and original."
Photo taken by Unknown
WHO ARE SOME OF YOUR GUYS INFLUENCES?
"Influences are vast! It ranges from all the magic we grew up listening to, but at the top of the list, for sure, would be earlier Citizen albums, Modern Color, Title Fight, and One Step Closer."
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE LIVE SHOW EXPERIENCE?
"A favorite show for us was our EP release show at the beginning of this year; we played with some of our favorite people in Bug Bath (Reno), Roman Candle (Las Vegas), and Ice Grillz (Reno), and all of our friends and family were able to come since it was in Reno!"
LET'S TALK ABOUT YOUR LATEST RELEASE, "TO FINDING, TO SEEKING," WHICH CAME OUT ON JANUARY 6TH OF 2023. WHAT WAS THE RECORDING PROCESS LIKE?
"'To Finding, To Seeking' - this project means a lot to us. The phrase itself originated from an amazing book Tyler read, in which it is a story of how all stories overlap and are woven within each other. How our journey would become one of individual seeking and finding a home together. This record was written throughout us moving our entire lives to SD. The deeper we traversed making it happen, the more our writings developed meaning. And soon, the name found its place. As it's a perfect phrase to describe all that we did and all that anyone is really doing; seeking the better things. The recording process was absolutely fantastic, as it was our first time being in a studio where we could use any gear and effects you could imagine. The record was recorded at Panda Studios in Fremont, CA, by the ever-so-talented Charles Toshio. That dude is the best, and our EP wouldn't have been close to the same without him. We spent a full three days there with lodging. The whole first day was tracking drums; the next couple consisted of guitar, bass, and vocal tracks. On the last day, we used plenty of time to mess with feedback and effects."
Photo taken by @danielleriot on IG
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE SONG OFF OF THE EP, "TO FINDING, TO SEEKKING"?
"My personal favorite is the song we named this EP after, 'To Finding, To Seeking,' off the record. The lyrics and feel of the whole song really resonate within me, and I am probably the happiest with the way this one turned out."
WHAT DID YOU FIND TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING PART OF GETTING THAT EP TOGETHER?
"I'd say the most challenging part of getting the EP all together was giving it its final look and feel. We did not conceive artwork until just before release. (Shoutout to Piper Ferarri; she's so awesome). Other challenging aspects of making this record include some lead sections that were improvised to make better, mainly in 'Never Better,' and vocal adjustment. Several sections weren't fully solidified, like a couple of parts in 'Dreaming in a Cage.' For example, the group chant at the end of it was created on the spot as well as the lyrics. That had to do with the challenge of getting together as much as possible as, at the time, only 3/5 of the band members lived in SD. It came together wonderfully, no matter the hurdles it took to get there. Just another part of the journey."
WHAT CAN FANS OF BLIND FORTUNE EXPECT IN THE FUTURE FROM YOU GUYS?
"In the future, the NEAR future, you can expect a couple of singles dropping. We are going back to Toshio at Panda Studios to record a single or two at the end of September well as several shows promoting these singles. A couple of new members are in the midst of being inducted into the group, which we are very happy about. India plays bass with us now, and we're very grateful to have her. She is an amazing friend and an even better musician. And our newest member is our buddy Taj. He's a dope a** fool and writes dope a** riffs, and we're super stoked to see what his creativity and friendship adds to Blind Fortune. I can't wait to see where it goes, how it grows. As of now, we are just getting everyone dialed back in as we have new members and are making constant new connections throughout SoCal. We hope to set up a tour within the next year or so with the bands we have had the pleasure of meeting and playing with throughout the west coast. Thank you."
Photo taken by @samxari on IG
