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Journalism of Courage
They weren8217;t born blonde 8212; not until the band was born, that is. When Cam Vanas 26, Darko Cuk 28, Darren Kopas 8220;a very young 308221;, Michelle Nikodym 24 and Nicola Riman 24 arrived at their first assignment, they saw the name their agent had put up and groaned. 8220;None of us were blondes,8221; explains Riman, of Blonde Company, the Canadian band that is currently rocking Djinns, Hyatt Regency. It8217;s only in the the past one-and-a-half years, that they8217;ve gone various shades of yellow. 8220;Darko was the last one to succumb after we threatened to dye his hair while he was asleep,8221; Riman laughs.
Vanas, Cuk and Kopas met while studying jazz together in Vancouver. Vanas had been freelancing for about 10 years, Cuk had emigrated from Croatia while Kopas was the only one who8217;d travelled to Asia before. So what brought them together? 8220;Money, money and money,8221; shrugs Cuk. Nikodym and Riman 8212; best buddies, who8217;d done music and theatre training together 8212; joined in and they haven8217;t looked back since. 8220;The job scenario in Canada has become quite bad. There is just no scope for live bands, as techno-pop rules with the youngsters,8221; sighs Vanas, explaining why they8217;ve come East. And they8217;ve never had it better. 8220;Five-star hotels, delicious food, no laundry. We8217;re being paid to have a good time,8221; gushes Nikodym, who8217;s also an ex-Ms Canada.
They spend their precious time in different ways too. Cuk tries to catch the sun since he hardly sees daylight, Kopas goes running when he8217;s not trying to buy tablas and cricket bats, while Riman8217;s tastes are quite simple she just wants to party. Of course, in the midst of all the singing and swaying, they do occasionally miss home. Kapos hasn8217;t driven a car for months, Riman longs for home-brewed coffee and Vanas as the sole married member of the group misses his wife. 8220;But on the whole we have a good time,8221; insists Vanas. So what is the secret of their effervescence? 8220;In the midst of these all-boy bands, we8217;re the only all-blonde band,8221; grins Cuk.
After a short break in October, the Asia tour continues Seoul8217;s the next scheduled stop. 8220;I8217;ve always dreamt of being on Broadway and someday Michelle and I hope to move to New York,8221; says Riman. The band also intends to compose their own songs and cut an album. Till then, however they8217;re out to serenade audiences into bonding with the blondes.
