Virginia-based, colour-loving trio RDGLDGRN have recently been making a name for themselves after working with the likes of Dave Grohl and Pharrell Williams on their self-titled debut album, released last year. We briefly spoke to the band last week about their influences, performing on the Vans Warped Tour, who will win the Premier League, and more! Read on to find out what their guitarist, RED, had to say!
How did RDGLDGRN come to form as a band, and how did you all meet?
We all went the same high school and met through friends.
Do you think that the area you were brought up in had any influence on the music you were making?
Definitely! Hearing Gogo Music on the radio as a kid made a huge impact on us!
Last year, you released your debut album, the Red Gold Green LP. On this record you worked with a variety of producers, Dave Grohl and Pharrell Williams amongst them. How did you come about working with these two guys, and what did you take away from the experience?
The head of our record label emailed Dave (Grohl, Foo Fighters) our track I Love Lamp and he liked it & was down to come track drums. He then ended up drumming on about 15 songs that we had! As for Pharrell, he heard I Love Lamp in an A&R meeting at Universal and was really excited about working with us!
What we took away from working with those two legends was that nice, humble artists are the best to work with. Even though they are the OGs, they were open to working WITH us on our songs instead of trying to come in and write the songs for us. It was amazing.
You recently published pictures of yourselves in the studio with Butch Vig and Taylor Hawkins (of Foo Fighters). Are you planning on collaborating with any more big names in the future?
Hopefully Foo Fighters one day. We’d also love to work with Sir Paul McCartney, OutKast, Foster The People, Kid Cudi and Gym Class Heroes, just to name a few.
You spent a big part of last summer performing on the American leg of the Vans Warped Tour, before doing it again in the autumn throughout Europe. Are there any particular highlights that you’ll take away from your time across the US and Europe?
3 words…Band Boot Camp
And do you think that spending such a long time with other (particularly heavy) bands will influence your sound in the future?
It’s possible that something could creep in, but it’s not likely that we’ll start screaming and chugging away on guitars.
Lately, there’s been a lot of talk about the decline of ‘guitar bands’. Samuel Toms from the band Temples believes that there will always be a thirst for guitar music. What do you think the future is like for so-called ‘guitar bands’?
Guitar bands will be around, but other music has become easier to make and touring as a DJ is much simpler than trying to tour with 4 or more band members plus crew.
If you could collaborate with any artists (dead or alive), who would they be?
Tupac, Biggie Smalls, Bob Marley and John Lennon!
On a less serious note, you all love Football. Who do you all support?
This is actually a MORE serious note. RED supports Manchester United, GREEN supports Chelsea and GOLD just supports any Romanian players, as well as Steaua Bucuresti.
And finally, Barclays Premier League. Who’s going to win it, and who’s going down?
It’s too soon to tell, but since Sir Alex (Ferguson, ex-Manchester United manager) stepped down, I’d say Arsene Wenger deserves a trophy. He’s waited long enough. F*ck Liverpool & Manchester City.
RDGLDGRN are expected to release a new album in 2014.
