Blacklisted: Please explain who you are, what you do in the band, the bands origins etc.

Kay: I’m singer and play guitar, one of four sharp razorblades called Sunshine. The line up is typical rock band cliché, but we also use loads of electronica, loops and stuff like that.

BL: Was there a particular album, band or another catalyst that caused the group to form? Does this still drive you today?

Kay: As far as my memory goes I don’t think so. But yes indeed, the original engine is still there, though it has changed a bit during years.

BL: As a band that’s been together for over 10 years do you ever find it hard to come up with new ideas? How do you feel the band has evolved over the last ten years?

Kay: Sometimes. You said the last ten years? We’ve been together a lot less than that. (OK, my bad- I read somewhere they formed in ’94) But yes, when we were frustrated from not knowing where to go next we always got an injection by someone who kicked us into something, like: “yeah, hell yes, this is it!”

BL: Do you feel that being a band from central-Europe has hindered you in anyway? Is this is the reason you sing in English?

Kay: There are three reasons why I sing in English:

1)       I like it.

2)       When I’m speaking of music I logically think in English, there is no translation. English is the most melodic language I know.

3)       And finally– can you imagine yourself trying to learn Czech in order to figure it out what the hell we’re saying? Like most people around the globe; probably not.

BL: Do you tour in the Czech Republic much? What’s the live music scene like there?

Kay: I don’t wanna sound rude, but I am not really into the music scene over there, even though we live there (we are all back in Prague now), we’ve spent most of the time in the last couple of years touring and being in different places. We’ve spent lots of time in Los Angeles, writing and recording our last album. However, we’re now doing a relatively large amount of shows in the Czech Republic, we feel like we owe it to our friends and fans over there.

BL: I know Kay spent some time living in America, how did you find it out there? What was the reason for the move?

Kay: I spent quite a bit of time in LA and moved back to Prague last spring. I was back for a couple of months and thought I was gonna head back to the states. I changed mind though, I met someone who made me stay, if you know what I am saying…

The whole band have spent long months in LA as well, but it’s not our home. We enjoy our time there and I guess it was the best for us when recording to be tightly connected to people that are important for us as a band. After a few years I was amazed by spring in Prague and all these really intimate things I’d almost forgotten, I’m having fun being back in Europe.

BL: Do you feel at all bitter about the new trend of indie bands using synths and making dance rock that seem to gain success quickly? Particularly when you guys have been doing it on your own for so long?

Kay: There is a whole new fashion that made me stop listening to those lovely albums of Gang of Four. It’s a salvation army of vicious crap (?). But people want it, love it, so what you gonna do? Don’t get me wrong, I am not against progressive trends, I’m as trendy a motherfucker as every one of these pretentious freaks around anyway, but there is something a little bit rotten about this reinvented trend.

BL: As a well-travelled touring band you must have seen a lot of posers and scenesters in your time. What’s your opinion of fashion and music? Do you think there is a place for it in music? Is it a good thing?

Kay: Good question… from my point of view I am always fascinated by the things I hate. I saw lots of fucking hipsters and scenesters when I was living in Hollywood. You go out and it’s just one big mess of fake hypocritical crap, it’s like mixed horseshit. You have to dig deep down to find something of sense and that’s real. However, without it there will not be progress, we need this to be disgusted and amazed at the same time, it’s a challenge and I love it. Fashion and music need each other.

BL: Do you feel that by writing such dark songs you’re only displaying one side of yourselves? Do you ever want to write songs truer to your name? Especially given the time spent in L.A., some would expect it to open up a brighter side to your music…

Kay: Hahahaha…like turn into dub-reggae or some lazy, slow potheads? Not really… maybe our name deserves it, doesn’t it? Seriously, we don’t see ourselves as a dark people or our songs as dark… it’s just a one side of it. I like the tension and weirdness with a catchy slice of sex; it’s sleazy and provocative at the same time. It makes you wanna dance and smash it up, it’s punk tension with dance elements, this is what makes me think we are not dark band. Some songs have may have a darkness close to say, Joy Division, but it’s not nihilistic.

BL: Your lyrics are often quite abstract, using odd phrases and imagery, is there a specific reason for this? Do you think that bands in general make enough use of their lyrics as a part of song writing?

Kay: I wish I was able to write brilliant lyrics, short and punching and I feel I have to change something in the song-writing process. I want to learn how to use them as shortcuts to something I have inside and need to be discovered through words. On the other hand, I like mystery and a sort of abstract poetry, old-school style. I think lyrics are another dimension of music if you think of it as an art…

BL: Your past releases seem to have quite stylised cover-art, how do you go about choosing it? How much input do you have into this side of the release?

Kay: I’ve created most of our record’s artwork, all the merchandise, the whole graphic concept. I love it. It’s another form of self-expression, I like the idea everything is connected in a sloppy kind of way. It uses the same elements as the music but with a different result. It’s also cheeky and edgy, it turns everything upside down… the graphic art and design need to be provocative, to take it all a little bit further, ya know…

BL: Any bands, people, places, things to do you want to let the readers know about?

Kay: Every corner has something amazing, even it’s undercover of normality… the best bands are still in garages and basements, the best people are the one’s you can trust and love with no question and sometimes the best place you’ll find is one you’ve already been to. Looking for something special makes you feel tired…life is one big pathetic cliché but it’s the non-stop struggle and the constant discovery that’s amazing.

BL: Thanks very much

Kay: THANK YOU – Kay/sunshine

Sunshine’s latest album ‘Moonshower and Razorblades’ is out now, probably.

Thanks to James Sherry at Division for setting this up, we got yo’ back man. Questions, editing, bold bits and wit by Matt. (27/04/05)