Red Letter are a hard rock band based in Buffalo, having recently released the stunning song Burn It Down. I liked their music a lot and wanted to find out more – you can also find the track at the end of this interview!
By Jane Howkins
You recently released a track titled Burn It Down, which we reviewed. What can you tell us about the song?
Burn It Down is a track which was written based on our core standpoints of hope and mental health. It comes down to the fact that at the end of the day, we are alone with our thoughts and if they are heavy, those are the moments to be reminded that you have the strength to hold them. Nobody wants to feel broken, alone or hopeless, sometimes it just happens. Somewhere in the ashes within is a spark ready to ignite your life again, sometimes you just need to rebuild the flame and make it burn brighter next time.
Has the pandemic hindered your work much?
The pandemic did hinder our ability to play live as a brand new band, since Red Letter was formed basically right before the onset of the lockdowns. It also made it difficult to practice and finish new material in person, so to speak. What we did do was focus on writing individually and collaborating with each other as much as possible until we were able to get together as a team to finalise tracks. Luckily we have a ton of material in the pipeline now.
What is the writing and recording process like for you?
The writing and recording process is extremely enjoyable and we put in a lot of time prepping the material from its baseline. For example, we will record ideas on the computer individually to develop the song skeleton with super basic drums and backing tracks to set the vibe we have in our heads. From there we will send it out to the everyone in the band and craft it together until it’s in a place we can practice it live. When we get together for live practice we can then get the real vibe for what is best for the track and re-record it for pre-production. We like to go into the studio with the feeling that the song is as close to done as possible. This way we are able to lay it all down and listen back to see if we want to add any extra flair before mixing and mastering.
Do you plan to release any more singles in the near future?
We have another new song that will probably be dropping towards mid to late September called Falling Star. Another song we are very proud of with positive messaging that brings a ton of tension and release. After that, we have a ton of material in the works and plan to continue releasing content on a regular basis.
Have you started writing for an EP or an album?
When it comes to writing specifically for an EP or an album, we most likely will be combining singles to complete an EP, so to speak. Being technically a new band still, especially in this day and age, we are aiming to focus on singles to try and build up our fan base with consistent material being released.
Your music is very heavy! What/who influences you most as an artist? What have you been listening to recently?
Oh, our influences vary on a wide degree between the band members, for sure. I (Kyle) grew up loving the melodic deep tracks of bands like Tool and A Perfect Circle. Some of my personal heavier influences are The Acacia Strain, August Burns Red, Killswitch Engage, etc. Newer bands I really like are Void Of Vision, Hollow Front and InVisions. Other influences of our members are all over the board from a ton of artists like Stevie Ray Vaughn, Architects, Thrice, Norma Jean, Deftones, Currents, Linkin Park and so on. It’s a very eclectic mix of influences which is what we believe makes our music unique.
You’re based in Buffalo, NY. What is the music scene like in your part of the world? Are you influenced by your surroundings?
The music scene here is seemingly growing which is very exciting. It’s great to see people going out again to enjoy live shows and support artists. I (Kyle) believe personally we are all influenced by our surroundings whether we are aware of it or not – it’s just inevitable. We love our city, the people here and we are proud to represent.
Do you have any tour dates lined up? Any plans to tour the UK?
Right now we do not currently have any tour dates set up in general. We have a couple of shows lined up for the fall, but our main focus currently is getting several other songs finished and recorded. We want to build the awareness of our band & our messaging, and let people know what we stand for.
What can people expect from one of your shows and why should people come and see you perform live?
Our live show is full of energy with an ebb and flow structured set. To get all of the great people who are there to partake in a state of wonder of which emotion is going to hit next. Will it be a chill verse, a breakdown or a big chorus to sing along to?
Any last words for the fans?
We aim for the fans and future fans to know that we consider this a family. Red Letter is a directive of hope. Our art is the music, telling stories you all can relate to. You are the only you, so keep your chin up above the waves and let’s persevere together.