Sophomore EP, Where Should I Be, sees fast-rising Dundee alt-rockers Red Vanilla expanding their horizons with bold new sounds.

ACTIVITIES AND INFLUENCES

Dundee alt-rock outfit Red Vanilla have been forging quite a reputation for themselves since their debut EP, Days Of Grey, started to grab attention north of the border in 2024.  They’ve recently made their presence felt down here in England, too, with shows opening for Dea Matrona and Kyle Falconer on the London circuit.

They’ve spent much of the 18-month period since Days Of Grey made its appearance writing and recording their follow-up EP, Where Should I Be, and also accumulating a bank of material that should keep their name in the public arena for some time to come.  “We learned that self-promo is really difficult putting that first record out,” says Red Vanilla frontwoman Anna Forsyth.  “It’s definitely hard knowing what the next move should be sometimes, but we’ve been watching our audience grow steadily.”

Red Vanilla cite the influence of The 1975 for the synth elements in their music, Radiohead for the more stripped-back aspects and Queens Of The Stone Age for the heavier bits that are a particular aspect of Where Should I Be.  Those influences are all very much in evidence.

THE FULL GAMUT

Where Should I Be is, perhaps, more of a mini-album than an EP.  Indeed, over the course of the record’s seven tracks, there’s plenty of space for Red Vanilla to experiment with a range of sounds that explore the full gamut from Joy Division flavoured synth-rock, through punky bombast to acoustic balladry.  Be in no doubt, Red Vanilla are a band with a great deal to offer.

The synth sounds build, before Anna’s voice breaks through for opening track Electric Blue.  Half-singing, half-speaking, she sounds vulnerable at first, before a hint of anger enters her vocal tone.  Lead guitarist George Weller contributes a soaring solo as the band chug and churn and Anna repeats her message: “I hope it gets better…”

Thrashing distorted guitars yield to Sam Roberts’ jangling bass and Lucas Mander’s solid drumbeat for the strident, punky, Hazy.  Anna delivers another vocal diatribe and, this time around, there’s more of a pleading tone to her voice.  And there’s a hint of Joy Division to the increasingly frantic Ask Her If She’s Happy.  Lucas’s drumbeat is sharp and Sam’s bass clangs, whilst Anna brings an anguish to her voice that I doubt Ian Curtis ever matched.

RADICAL DEPARTURES

I’ve already noted that Red Vanilla are using Where Should I Be to push their horizons and that ambition is particularly evident with the excellent Play Me Something New.  “We weren’t afraid to try stuff,” says Anna.  “I pushed myself way more vocally this time, which I was really proud of [and] Play Me Something New is a completely new sound for us.”  Acoustic guitars set the scene for this one, before the synths bring an authentic 80s feel to proceedings.  Anna’s vocal is her best so far and there’s a sense of intimacy that’s really very nice.

The punchy, punky, I Thought I Had It takes us from one extreme to the other; from the soothing melodicism of Where Should I Be, to an angry aural assault.  With her lyrics, Anna rants about the frustrating impossibility of breaking into the music industry.  “I keep looking up, it’s never enough.  If that’s just my luck, then I guess I’m f*cked,” she concedes, as the drums crash and the guitars grind.

Perhaps the most radical departure from the band’s previous fare comes with Sunkissed Pools.  It’s Red Vanilla’s first ever fully acoustic release and it’s atmospheric and dreamy.  Anna’s vocals are world-weary, intimate and breathy, and she sings them to a pared-back accompaniment of strummed acoustic guitar.

EXCITING OPPORTUNITIES

“I have such a fear of time passing – worrying that we won’t get where we want to be with Red Vanilla before it’s too late,” laments Anna, as she ponders the subject matter of Oh No, I Got Older – the EP’s closing track and its lead single.  The song tackles the subject of fear to a backing that is bright and bombastic, with chiming guitar, resonant bass and crisp, well-ordered drums. And Anna really lets loose in the song’s chorus to ensure a rousing close to an interesting, well-varied EP.

“We really want to experience another tour and be playing more regular shows,” says Anna, speaking of the band’s ambitions for the coming year.  “We’re just so proud of this new EP and we’re so happy to be releasing music again.  As always, we’re winging it as a fully independent band and forever holding out hope for any exciting opportunities that come our way.”  I reckon that Red Vanilla are well placed to seize any such opportunities with both hands!

Watch the official video to Oh No, I Got Older – the EP’s lead single – below:

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