Interview: Getting to Know Red Giant
Dark, heavy, and grungy, it’s Red Giant, who are elbow-deep in the writing process for a new album. In this interview, we get to know them a little better.
1. Hello! Thank you for taking the time to chat to us. First things first, tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got started.
No problem and thanks for having us.
Red Giant formed out of the ashes of a previous project called the Dave Simpson Trio. We were a more straight forward Blues/Rock band at that point.
When we decided to move forward with a new album we felt that the DST name didn’t connect with the new songs we were writing and the new sound we had so we decided to rename and rebrand ourselves. A risky decision, but one that seems to have paid off.
On the drums we have Mr John Joe Gaskin. An absolute power house of a drummer who is the strong beating heart of the band.
On Guitar & Vocals we have Dave Simpson who is the main songwriter and is always pushing the band forward.
On bass duties we have 2 that change up the bands dynamic.
One is Mr Johnny Simpson. A cool and very calm player that never looks strained but when combined with john Joe’s drums becomes an unstoppable machine and a great platform for Dave’s guitar and vocals.
The other is Miss Keira Kenworthy. A monster bass player with great stage presence and thunderous sound.
2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?
Red Giant’s style is dark and honest. We are not afraid to talk about the darker side of life and that intern gives us a darker heavy sound much in the style of the 90s grunge bands like Soundgarden, Alice In Chains and Pearl Jam.
We use dynamics alot and have songs that go from dark and heavy to Heart felt ballads. We want to show the world for what it is. Not sell people a lie that everything is ok and life is easy.
3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?
Currently we are in the process of writing a new album.
We haven’t done as much gigging this year due to this. We are hoping to get into the studio in 2027 to record it and release it somewhere around october 2027. All things being well.
4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?
The new songs we have. They are slightly different to the first albums. They are more mature and have more going on in them and are deeper in meaning and sound.
5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.
It means the world to us and has taken a lot of sacrifices to get us where we are. We have been working hard on this band for the best part of 14 years and its great to finally see it moving more than ever.
We have a good following and are supported. Its taken a lot but its been worth it.
6. Making music and being creative can be a very positive experience and can be very good for the mind. In what way has making music had a positive impact on your mental health?
The music of Red Giant is my vent for all the nasty stuff i have experienced in my life. Like i said earlier, we are not afraid to dive into the darkness and say it how it is.
Music has always been my escape and my biggest hope and wish for our music is for it to find people out there that need to hear it and hope that it makes them feel better.
7. It can also be incredibly challenging, more so in the modern times. What have been some challenging aspects of making music and how have you overcome them?
The main issue facing bands today is the cost of everything. The music industry is a closed club where only the rich can go inside.
If you can’t afford it then tough luck. This is the main issue to overcome, but I don’t believe a lot of working class bands can achieve it. It’s just too expensive and the rewards are not worth it.
Another issue is the lack of venues. Everyday we seem to lose more and more of them at a grass roots level and the ones that remain are so over booked it’s very hard to get your foot in the door.
8. How do you handle the online aspects of being in a band? Having to put out content constantly, promoting across several different social media platforms, and having your success measured in likes and follows?
We try to not let it get in the way of the music. That comes first and we have nothing to post we don’t post.
This is a blessing and a curse as it doesn’t take long for you to lose your place these days sadly. We can’t let that rule us though. Its dangerous and destroys natural creativity.
We do not want to make videos and content for the sake if it. We want to be honest and feel that if we have nothing to say we have nothing to say. If that makes sense.
9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?
We just film what we do. That way there’s never an act to be put on. No masks to be worn. Its just us and that makes it enjoyable because theres no pressure to play up for the camera.
10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?
Come see us live. Don’t just watch the videos on YouTube and listen to the songs on Spotify. We need your support in the venues we play.
11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?
Play music. Hahaha. But on a serious note that’s all we do. That and walking Alot.
12. Where can people find you?
Website | Spotify | Instagram | Facebook | YouTube
