Interview: The Riptide Rats (Written)

The Riptide Rats are a surf rock and roll band who are currently in the process of recording their new album, out later this year. 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.

Hey! I’m Gus guitar-player in the band Riptide Rats. Well, I was skateboarding as a young teenager at the local skatepark when one of the older skaters put in a tape with The Ventures in the stereo, after that I decided to pick up the guitar. I started the band The Lunatones (surf/instrumental) pretty much at the same time. I have been in various bands and projects during the years, but like 3 years ago I moved south of Gothenburg (Sweden) and came along with my old buddy Fred the drummer and Chuck Ransom, both very talented musicians, after some jammin’ with heavy reverb and beers we pretty much knew how our we should sound.

2. Someone comes to you and asks you to sum up what kind of music you play – what do you tell them?

Surf rock n roll! If that doesn’t work, you have to give them the Pulp Fiction parallel.  You know the music from Pulp Fiction, kinda like that but a touch of rock n roll.

3. What’s currently keeping you busy? A new album/EP/single release? A new video? Playing live, or planning ahead?

We are recording our new upcoming album right now, coming out later this year. This will be a great mix of spaghetti western, surf and rock n roll. Also some summer tours are coming up.

4. What is about this current period that is particularly exciting for you?

The whole production of the album, we record in our own studio, so we have time for thinking about details and trying things out. Often when you go into the studio you are often limited to the amount of time you have!

5. Tell me about the work that has gone into making it a reality and what it means to you.

It’s always a lot of work making a record. The whole songwriting process, tracking and production. To be able to do this is very enjoyable for us!

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?

When you crank up the Fender Showman amp and reverb so loud you can lean against the sound, it makes you forget about everything else for a while. That’s pure balm for my soul.

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?

I don’t think so much about that. For me it’s more like, you are inspired and have a creative flow or you don’t, then when you don’t feel so inspired you just do other stuff. Like playing other shit on your guitar until you get inspired again.

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?

Seriously, I don’t like how social media became so important. The question is bigger than just music, it’s where we live our lives and of course music is no exception. You have to be there or else you are invisible. Well at least you still have a chance not being invisible. We try to promote our music constantly and have high quality content.

9. How do you make this part of things enjoyable, and fulfilling, for yourself?

Well, at the end of the day, all the effort you put in there is gonna end up with more people listening to our music and hopefully get a good feeling.

10. Speaking directly to listeners – what would you ask they do to help support you?

Go out there to see some live music, buy their records. Keep the scene alive, especially the surf rock n roll scene!!!!

11. Outside of music, what do you like to do to relax?

Well, music is relaxation for me, but you could also substitute that with a nice tequila!

12. Where can people find you?

Here here here….. Thank you!

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