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It's been 32 years since Blueshift Signal released their debut, Seven Natural Scenes. What has the band been up to in the years leading up to this new vinyl compilation release from the Painted Air label, Eventide. How did it come about after all this time?
What's the history of the band's formation? Was there a desire to start one and you then naturally gravitated towards "shoegaze"; or was that style of music the inspiration that led to the inception of Blueshift Signal?
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What artists or bands were your biggest influences or inspiration at the time, regardless of genre? Do any new bands in the genre inspire you on any level?
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The sound of Blueshift Signal has been described as "oceanic," "atmospheric" and other similar descriptions.
The undersea bass on 'Ullswater,' the first track on the flipside of Eventide, is a great example. Were the natural environs of the band's home state of Rhode Island an influence on your music?
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Lyrically or sonically, were there stories or moods the band was trying to convey? Do you think you achieved it during the original run, or was (or is) there still more to tell?
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I asked this same question in an interview with Slowdive in 2014, and it's just as relevant here: what is it about shoegaze that resonates with you, so much that you decided to put your own stamp on the genre?
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Blueshift Signal evolved over the course of their releases, while staying firmly within the genre. Originally a 4-piece, including keyboards, two guitarists and more of a pop-driven sound, it evolved to a 3-piece which leaned towards an experimental, new age-tinged vibe. Was it the personnel change that drove that, with the late John Orsi taking over on the drum kit?
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John Orsi. 1954 - 2013.
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John, who can be heard on the last release of new material, the 1997 Waterside EP, tragically passed away in 2013 at far too young an age. Do you have any anecdotes or memories about him you'd like to share, as a bandmate or just as a person in general?
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My introduction to Blueshift Signal was seeing you open for Luna in 1994 (along with another local band, Small Factory) at the former Lupo's Heartbreak Hotel on Westminster St in Providence. That was around the release of your debut, the LP Seven Natural Scenes. Your live performance was incredible to me as not all bands with that shoegaze style could pull it off in those days like they could today. With so many advancements in technology since then, it's made it far easier to achieve in almost any setting.
Was being a live band what you enjoyed the most, or was writing and recording where the joy was most plentiful?
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The Surround EP took many years to get released, long after the band had disbanded. Personally, I feel that material was your strongest, and could have maybe started a breakout. Shoegaze music has increased in popularity (incredible for those who remember the backlash it received at the end of its peak in the mid 90s), so it could be possible to capture a new and bigger audience than back during your original run.
Is the band looking at recording new material, or putting some reunion shows together?
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