Monday Music Feature – Blindfolders

Blindfolders is a Bass Rap Duo with rapper, Cosmo accompanied by his affiliate, Dj and beat maker, B-Slim. This Dub-Step, Break-beats, Drum and Bass with a touch of Mzanzi flavour band started in 2010 with a sound they call “Jozi Thug-Step” or “Big Bass/Ass, Jerking/Bass Rap”. Cosmo, who’s always had a way with his words, releasing punch lines and spitting rhymes on high school grounds after classes, and reciting poetry in the art department sessions, brings a Nu Skool postman rap experience, while B-Slim, who’s been producing since the age of 12 elevates their sound with an electronic, dance floor ZING, psychedelic drug-like, mind-blowing, rock-type vibration.

These two from what I have gathered are a no-nonsense collabo who always manage to make an entrance and make the crowd go bananas!!! They’ve even shared stages with some of SA’s renowned Dub-Step, Drum and Bass acts and in many other areas in and out of Johannesburg. Now, some might argue that this “one rapper and Dj” concept has been over-done to death, BUT, if they can produce a good package like this one, why not? Here they are telling us a whole lot more about themselves.

R V L: Tell us a brief history of your band, how did the band start?

BF: We grew up together as kids, rapping in ciphers at the park, at the corner, after school at every chance we would get. We were raised by Hip Hop fundamentals so one day sometime in 2008 we decided to step out of the pack as a duo (B-Slim& Cosmo) and try something different, we haven’t looked back since.

R V L: Who influences the sound that you make?

BF: Every single person we come across in Jozi.

R V L: How does music affect you and the world around you?

BF: Music becomes a tool for us to communicate where words, war, violence and politics fail.

R V L: Take us through the music-making process.

BF: It’s a combination of sleepless nights oscillating sounds and programming LFO’s and overloaded ashtrays and half empty bottles. WE DON'T SLEEP.

R V L: What makes a successful band?

BF: Attitude. What the scene really needs right now is attitude

R V L: How do you measure success?

BF: By seeing how of what you dreamed has manifested itself today... and your twitter following off course. haha…

R V L: What’s the worst or best thing about playing in clubs?

BF: Clubs are the best they’re intimate, get packed easily and sometimes have great acoustics. We’ve played a few festivals but nothing beats getting skanky in the middle of the dance floor on a Friday night at the club.

R V L: In a lot of your images you seem very playful, unapologetic and free. How important is art and expressive art when it comes to compiling a musical package?

BF: It all depends on how you want to be perceived as a brand.  When it comes to compiling a visual package of Blindfolders, we’d like to come across as playful, unapologetic and free coz we truly are. But when it comes to packaging an Audio or Musical representation of Blindfolders, we’d like to come across as serious, meticulous and clean, Haha, ironically.

R V L: What are the biggest obstacles for bands?

BF: Not having enough groupies...

R V L: Are you currently in works for upcoming projects and what’s new in the recording of your music? Are there any artists that you’re planning to feature?

BF: NEW EP COMING SOON: Welcome to Jozi: THE THUGSTEP for info go to www.facebook.com/bfolders

R V L: Describe your shows, visually and musically?

BF: LOUD, HUGE, BUCK, AND INTENSE.

R V L: How do you balance your music with other obligations – friends, family etc.?

BF: Everything in moderation

R V L: What’s your relationship with music like?

BF: A girl with big boobs.

R V L: What advice do you have for people who want to start bands?

BF: Find a cool name and don’t crowd surf on your first gig

R V L: How can people get hold of your music?

BF: www.facebookcom/bfolders

www.soundcloud.com/blindfoldersmusic

IG: welcome2jozi

Twitter: @BlindfoldersSA

Bookings: Tworandsomething Artists: tworandsomething@gmail.com

R V L: Any last words?

BF: I woke up like this.

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