Blurred Vision
What would you say if you heard about a band whose work had been displayed in museums, had won awards at major international film festivals, and championed human rights around the world?
How about if we told you they had received the public support of Rock legends, been featured in the biggest newspapers, magazines and news channels around the world, and worked to end hunger and poverty in America?
Like most you would assume that they had had quite a lengthy, successful and illustrious career, right? Well, we would like to introduce you to a band who has achieved all of this and it just so happens that their career is just getting started!
Canadian group Blurred Vision are truly a mega global band in the making. Their debut EP 'Democracy', produced by the one and only award winning record producer Terry Brown(RUSH), is being released independently on October 29 2012 worldwide, and is already being hailed as one of the most exciting and superb releases of the year.
The musicianship, songwriting, and style of the band is described as space, sound and time melding into one and music that you will play in special moments of your life and say "this is our song".
But to really understand why this group has achieved so much-perhaps what most major artists strive to achieve in a lifetime-before even releasing their first record, one has to take a look at the remarkable story behind the music.
Brothers Sepp and Sohl were born in Iran during the grips of war, revolution, and uncertainty, and had an upbringing unlike most could ever imagine. They were born into a military family and a father whose heroic efforts during battle and outspoken views on the government of the Ayatollahs nearly cost him his life and ultimately led to the family's unnerving and terrifying escape from Iran to new hopes abroad. Sepp was only 5 years old when their journey brought them to Toronto, Canada and their musical life truly began.
Ask the brothers whether they would change anything about their difficult and tumultuous past and they would immediately tell you "not a chance", for it is this one of a kind journey that guided them towards Rock N' Roll and their love for songwriting and storytelling.
The music of The Beatles, Pink Floyd, Simon and Garfunkel and many other British and American legends allowed the young brothers to comprehend their surroundings and inspired them to want to follow in the same path as their heroes not only musically, but socially and philosophically as well.
Perhaps it is at this point that we should introduce you to their fellow musicians in the group who they describe more as family than band mates. It is this bond and closeness amongst the members that resonates so deeply through the songs they perform together.
Drummer Ben Riley(whose late father Doug Riley is a legend in his own right having spanned a career performing, producing and writing with the likes of Ray Charles, Bob Seger and Ringo Starr to name a few) met Sepp and Sohl in 2010 with the encouragement of producer Terry Brown.
Along with English keyboardist Joel Lightman, the band quickly began rehearsals and pre-production with the veteran producer and in 2011 began their work on their debut EP and full length album which is set for release in 2013. The recent addition of Michael Bongertman on second guitars and back-up vocals has rounded out the group to a quintet live powerhouse.
Blurred Vision's debut EP 'Democracy' is available for pre-order on iTunes now and will be available for purchase worldwide on October 29 2012. The band will be touring the UK for the first time in late November to promote the release of the EP