Blood Wizard

Musicians — Nottingham

01Profile

A Blood Wizard Photo

03Interview

Name, where are you from?

Cai Burns and Faye Rita Robinson, Nottingham UK.

Describe your style in three words?

C: Intergalactic turbo wizard.
F: Flouncy Matrix elf.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

C: I was lucky enough to see Slint at the Brudenell Social Club on their reunion tour. I think when you see a band knowing it’s the last time you’ll see them it’s extra special.
F: The best gig for me was Crack Cloud + NOV3L at Hyde Park Book Club in 2019. I had never watched any live footage of Crack Cloud before this and wasn’t expecting a drummer/singer combo.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
C: I’d love to revive a medieval composer like Philippe De Vitry and then put them on a line up with something really experimental like This Heat to see what would happen.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
C: I floated through a lot of subcultures as a kid depending on what music I liked at the time. I was super inspired by the musicians I saw on TV so when I really liked an artist I naturally ended up mimicking that style. I started playing music when I was into metal and haven’t been able to shake my love for dissonant chords and wonky rhythms since. A lot of the music I make now draws from the folk revival culture of the ’60s, the post-punk culture throughout Britain in the late '70s/early '80s and the Washington DC punk scene in the '90s
.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
C: King Arthur to see if he is real.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?


C: The Chameleon in my hometown of Nottingham has a special place in my heart. Played some really great and some really terrible gigs in that place.. and seen so many gems that probably wouldn’t have toured through Nottingham if that place wasn’t there. Long live the Chameleon!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
C: There’s definitely people that are more ‘unsung’ but I think Robbie Basho should be a household name. Nina Nastasia did a really beautiful album with Jim White called ‘You Follow Me’ that I think is incredibly underrated. Oh and Dave Evans for sure, he made some amazing records in the '70s that didn't get enough recognition.
F: Karen Dalton, Lion, Yasuaki Shimizu.


Blood Wizard returned with their single 'The Slip' released in May 2022. Listen, purchase or stream it via ffm.to/savetheslip.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?

C: 'In Too Deep' by Sum 41.

F: My first real introduction to music was a VHS tape full of music videos that my parents stole from the pub, I watched it for years but the one that was my first on repeat was 'Walk the Dinosaur' by Was (Not Was).

A song that defines the teenage you?
C: 'No Surprise' by Fugazi started me off on a very long musical journey in my teens.
F: 'Gouge Away' by Pixies.

One record you would keep forever?
C: Has to be 'D.S.U' by Alex G. My love for Alex G is eternal.
F: 'Beach Music' by Alex G.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
C: I don’t have anything specific but I love Leonard Cohen’s lyrics and Cate Le Bon’s colourful imagery. 


F: “And know the thrill of loneliness
 And lose all sense of time”
I sometimes keep notes on my phone when I read or hear a sentence I like, it’s mostly just funny sentences out of spam emails but this is the last one I saved and it is from 'Full Moon' by Eden Ahbez. 


The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
C: 'The Psychologist' by Marie Davidson.
F: 'Is It All Over My Face?' by Loose Joints.

A song you wished you had written?

C: 'The Court of The Crimson King' by King Crimson.
F: 'Voice of Chunk' by The Lounge Lizards.

Best song to turn up loud?


C: 'Solid Gone
' by Part Chimp.
F: 'Messiah' by Gang.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?


C: It’s hard to choose something someone wouldn’t expect but I guess 'Lately' by Porches is the odd one out of the things I’m currently listening to.

F: A type of music I secretly love is anything that sounds haunted in some kind of way, like the kind of music a shrieking ghost trapped in a mirror might sing. My new favourite find that sort of fits these criteria is 'La Crime – Chante' by Reinhardt Wagner.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?


C: 'In Care of 8675309' by Lambchop.
F: 'One More Chance (Alternate Mix)
' by Nico.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Cardboard Man' by The Cool Greenhouse.
'Catch' by Dana Gavinski.
'Giant Palm' by Naima Bock.
'L.M.G.D.' by Military Genius.
'Ribs
 by Tirzah.
'Here It Comes Again
' by Cate le Bon, Group Listening, Ed Dowie.
'HAHA
' by Charlotte Adigery, Bolis Pupul.
'Bliss' by Yung Lean, FKA twigs.

03Interview

Name, where are you from?

Cai Burns and Faye Rita Robinson, Nottingham UK.

Describe your style in three words?

C: Intergalactic turbo wizard.
F: Flouncy Matrix elf.

What’s the best gig you’ve ever been to?

C: I was lucky enough to see Slint at the Brudenell Social Club on their reunion tour. I think when you see a band knowing it’s the last time you’ll see them it’s extra special.
F: The best gig for me was Crack Cloud + NOV3L at Hyde Park Book Club in 2019. I had never watched any live footage of Crack Cloud before this and wasn’t expecting a drummer/singer combo.

If you could be on the line up with any two artists in history?
C: I’d love to revive a medieval composer like Philippe De Vitry and then put them on a line up with something really experimental like This Heat to see what would happen.

Which subcultures have influenced you?
C: I floated through a lot of subcultures as a kid depending on what music I liked at the time. I was super inspired by the musicians I saw on TV so when I really liked an artist I naturally ended up mimicking that style. I started playing music when I was into metal and haven’t been able to shake my love for dissonant chords and wonky rhythms since. A lot of the music I make now draws from the folk revival culture of the ’60s, the post-punk culture throughout Britain in the late '70s/early '80s and the Washington DC punk scene in the '90s
.

If you could spend an hour with anyone from history?
C: King Arthur to see if he is real.

Of all the venues you’ve been to or played, which is your favourite?


C: The Chameleon in my hometown of Nottingham has a special place in my heart. Played some really great and some really terrible gigs in that place.. and seen so many gems that probably wouldn’t have toured through Nottingham if that place wasn’t there. Long live the Chameleon!

Your greatest unsung hero or heroine in music?
C: There’s definitely people that are more ‘unsung’ but I think Robbie Basho should be a household name. Nina Nastasia did a really beautiful album with Jim White called ‘You Follow Me’ that I think is incredibly underrated. Oh and Dave Evans for sure, he made some amazing records in the '70s that didn't get enough recognition.
F: Karen Dalton, Lion, Yasuaki Shimizu.


Blood Wizard returned with their single 'The Slip' released in May 2022. Listen, purchase or stream it via ffm.to/savetheslip.

04Playlist Notes

The first track you played on repeat?

C: 'In Too Deep' by Sum 41.

F: My first real introduction to music was a VHS tape full of music videos that my parents stole from the pub, I watched it for years but the one that was my first on repeat was 'Walk the Dinosaur' by Was (Not Was).

A song that defines the teenage you?
C: 'No Surprise' by Fugazi started me off on a very long musical journey in my teens.
F: 'Gouge Away' by Pixies.

One record you would keep forever?
C: Has to be 'D.S.U' by Alex G. My love for Alex G is eternal.
F: 'Beach Music' by Alex G.

A song lyric that has inspired you?
C: I don’t have anything specific but I love Leonard Cohen’s lyrics and Cate Le Bon’s colourful imagery. 


F: “And know the thrill of loneliness
 And lose all sense of time”
I sometimes keep notes on my phone when I read or hear a sentence I like, it’s mostly just funny sentences out of spam emails but this is the last one I saved and it is from 'Full Moon' by Eden Ahbez. 


The song that would get you straight on the dance floor?
C: 'The Psychologist' by Marie Davidson.
F: 'Is It All Over My Face?' by Loose Joints.

A song you wished you had written?

C: 'The Court of The Crimson King' by King Crimson.
F: 'Voice of Chunk' by The Lounge Lizards.

Best song to turn up loud?


C: 'Solid Gone
' by Part Chimp.
F: 'Messiah' by Gang.

A song people wouldn’t expect you to like?


C: It’s hard to choose something someone wouldn’t expect but I guess 'Lately' by Porches is the odd one out of the things I’m currently listening to.

F: A type of music I secretly love is anything that sounds haunted in some kind of way, like the kind of music a shrieking ghost trapped in a mirror might sing. My new favourite find that sort of fits these criteria is 'La Crime – Chante' by Reinhardt Wagner.

Best song to end an all-nighter on?


C: 'In Care of 8675309' by Lambchop.
F: 'One More Chance (Alternate Mix)
' by Nico.

Any new music you are listening to right now?
'Cardboard Man' by The Cool Greenhouse.
'Catch' by Dana Gavinski.
'Giant Palm' by Naima Bock.
'L.M.G.D.' by Military Genius.
'Ribs
 by Tirzah.
'Here It Comes Again
' by Cate le Bon, Group Listening, Ed Dowie.
'HAHA
' by Charlotte Adigery, Bolis Pupul.
'Bliss' by Yung Lean, FKA twigs.

 

05Videos

Blood Wizard | The Slip (2022)