Hardcore Kiwi metallers Blindspott will rock Hagley Park in December. We talk to singer Damian Alexander about getting back on the road and back in front of their fans.

You have a huge catalogue to choose from – how was it coming up with a set list? Any radically different arrangements? Yeah we do have quite a few tracks now, which is awesome. For us it’s about designing a show that has good pace and is a bit more of a journey than just playing the tracks. Our shows always have a bit of a surprise element but you’ll have to come along to see if there’s anything radically different.

How are the old songs going down with a new audience? It’s really cool and we are extremely lucky that all of our material from over the years resonates with so many different age groups and attendees at the show. There always seems to be something for everyone, which we aroha!

And are there some new songs as well? Yes, we will be dropping the new tracks. So far people have been really getting into them live. We can’t wait to play ‘Pretty Violent’ and ‘Nightmare’ to the fans.

Must be lots of your first-time-round fans in the audience as well – any backstage reunions? Yeah, there are always some day-ones in the crowd and whenever we can we like to connect with them and spend time backstage having a beer and catching up.

The band was heading out on a reunion tour when we went into a lockdown – that must have been tough? Felt like a caged animal for a lot of the COVID lockdowns. We all wanted to play so badly but we kept getting put back into lockdowns. We are glad we are out now and can actually see, hear and connect with our fans again.

And so now it’s full speed ahead? Fuck yeah, it is. We are into it now and loving the idea of being back on the road. Our fans are everything to us and have always stood by us, through the good and the bad. Now it’s time for us to give back!

What’s in store for Blindspott in 2024? Hopefully more shows and maybe some new tracks!!

And what about you – any other projects on the go? I’m thinking about venturing into some solo collab work with friends to try some other genres – more of an art and sound design project – and maybe dabble in writing some film scores. 

Who would be your dream collab? Hmm, that’s a hard one. From a heavy metal point of view it would have to be Deftones, but from a curiosity point of view collabing with someone like Dr Dre or Pharrell would be awesome for the experience. 

Any of the current crop of Kiwi musicians you are impressed by? I’m into the classics at the moment, lots of old Kiwi tracks. And I have been listening a lot to the waiata anthems stable of tracks, which has been really inspiring. Hearing some of our greatest songs being sung in te reo has been awesome!

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