RedPrint is a band that originated in 2012 under the name “The Plan.” Since 2023, they have been performing under their new name, RedPrint. Their music is absolutely amazing. Their first EP, titled “The Plan,” pays tribute to their past while embracing their current identity as RedPrint
Ghost: Can you tell us about your journey into music? How did you get started and what inspired you to become an indie artist?
RedPrint: How everyone got into music in the band would be a different story for each member, but the band formation, I can answer. I used to play in another band (I was the bass player), but that band collapsed in 2012. So, I asked the rhythm guitarist, and the lead guitarist if they would join me to form a new band. We searched for a drummer, and the two guitar players knew a girl from a local bar who sang karaoke very well. Thus, “The Plan” was formed (the original name of the band). The plan was to be a blues band, playing Chicago and Texas blues. However, we got our first gig pretty soon, so we played what we knew. Shortly after, a second gig turned us into a cover band.
Fast forward to (I think) 2017: our lead guitarist decided he could not combine his work with the band anymore, so we searched for a replacement. After a short detour, we got Ronald as our lead guitarist. As we rehearsed to get our set back with the new guitarist, we felt we could get back to gigs, but our singer decided she didn’t want to continue. So now we were without a singer. This was a longer search; we had several guest singers and almost had a new one, but she decided she could not continue either. Finally, Selinde found our ad, and we finally found our new singer.
Fast forward again to 2020, and COVID hit. 2019 was a great year; we did a lot of gigs, and we were ready to get ourselves out into the venues for real. But lockdowns and COVID rules had us down once again. During this time, our rhythm guitarist and singer did a little project. “Stop Running” was made; on a computer, Selinde did the vocals, and at home, we all thought about what we could do with it. Our drummer sent a drum part, I came up with a bassline, and Ronald had to do the solo. However, because it was made on a computer originally, there was a synthesizer part in it. So, our rhythm guitarist got himself a synthesizer, and after the lockdowns (or in between a couple), we started working on “Immersion.” Soon after that, “Herd” came to be, and we realized we needed to rethink “Stop Running.” That track was slow and a bit boring compared to the next two songs, so we spiced it up a bit. You can still hear that it’s a softer kind of track now, but it fits.
Fast forward one last time to August 2022: three tracks were ready, and we wanted another so we could record it as an EP. The first three were heavily influenced by our guitarist/synthesizer player. But it all came together as a band. We all wrote our own parts based on the ideas that formed. Now we all had ideas, and in a rehearsal where he could not make it, we set up two new tracks. One was already in progress, and one was new. But the direction we took on it was something different from his views. After a couple of months, in late 2022, he decided our views were too different, and after a decade, he left the band.
Again, a major setback: three tracks done and two concepts, but a band member down. How were we going to replace a band member who did synthesizer in two tracks and rhythm guitar in the other? So, we decided not to replace him. The lead guitarist also does rhythm, and the synthesizer is replaced with violin. Luckily, Selinde can play it very well. Thus, one of the concepts became “Telephone,” and shortly after, we recorded it. “All Colour Me Insane” was just there. I came up with a bassline, and this progressed very fast. We didn’t think it was complete, but it was also too good not to record.
After we released the EP, we changed our name because there are so many bands named “The Plan” or similar names on streaming services. It was necessary. I took control of the socials and stumbled into the community. Vox + Stix and Paul Harwood shared our profile, and the rest is history.
Ghost: Nice! Paul Harwood and Vox + Stix are great! So, what is the story behind your artist's name? Does it hold a special meaning for you?
RedPrint: I don’t know if it is special; we knew it needed a change from The Plan. A whole lot came past; we even let ChatGPT have a go. But it was our guitarist who said, “A blueprint is also a sort of Plan.” And our logo is red, so why not RedPrint? This was the first name in months where nobody objected. So, I guess it is the best out of all the bad names that came along. To be honest, a band name always sounds lame in my ears the first time I hear it or say it out loud. Even the most famous bands are lame if you think about them. A name is a name; after you take it and make it your own, you can start to become it.
Ghost: How would you describe your music style? What genres or artists have influenced your sound?
RedPrint: Of course, all four of us have our own influences. But I think the biggest ones are the covers we used to do. They were a large pool of artists that you would normally not put together. We did covers from AC/DC and ZZ Top to Tom Petty, Black Sabbath. But also, The Animals, and even Bill Withers and Bruno Mars. We even did a cover of “Addicted to You” by Avicii. Additionally, we covered songs by Duffy and Etta James, although we changed some of those tracks to fit the set we played at that time.
At this point, I guess none of those influences are directly heard in our music—or perhaps all of them are. We try not to pigeonhole ourselves into any specific subgenre; we’re a rock band, but beyond that, our motto is simple: we play what we like and hope you like what we play. Interestingly, we’ve been reviewed a couple of times, and they compared us to bands and artists we never covered or really listened to before we were compared to them.
Ghost: Can you share the creative process behind your latest album/single? How do you usually go about writing and producing your songs?
RedPrint: As mentioned before, the first three tracks (“Stop Running,” “Immersion,” and “Herd”) began with ideas from our former guitarist/synthesizer player. However, we all contributed to these tracks—developing basic concepts is one thing, but creating a complete track is quite different. For instance, in “Immersion,” our guitarist didn’t come up with the distinct bass parts. Additionally, the drums and bass play a more prominent role in the verse of “Immersion” compared to our other songs. In “Herd,” the verse and chorus share the same chords, but only the bass and drums have different parts, resulting in a distinct sound.
On the other hand, “Telephone” started with a bassline, and Selinde contributed a vocal line. The chorus came together quickly during rehearsals, although it took more time to structure the song into its final form. Interestingly, the heavy riff played by our guitarist inspired me—I practiced it at home and found my way back to the verse of “Telephone.” The transition from the verse to the riff (now the instrumental part) required some creative thinking.
“Colour Me Insane” and the unreleased track “Runaway” (which you can find in a live show on YouTube) also began with basslines. Our most recent project emerged after an acoustic session, where the vocals dictated the rest of the music. It’s not set in stone; if any of us has an idea, we explore it. Ultimately, it hinges on whether Selinde can sing in that key and find the right vocal line.
Ghost: What challenges have you faced as an indie artist? How have you overcome them?
RedPrint: Most of this is covered in the first question. However, finding the balance between writing new tracks and playing shows is a challenge. We rehearse once a week, and we tend to over-prepare for our performances. Despite our efforts, we never feel fully ready. This focus on shows sometimes hinders our songwriting process. Our set is too short to fill an entire show, but we’re moving away from relying on too many covers. Although we do play “Stranglehold,” most people assume it’s one of our original songs because they don’t recognize it as a Ted Nugent track.
In the past, we faced a dilemma during competitions—we placed second because we lacked original songs. This year, we encountered a similar situation because we didn’t perform the well-known covers that everyone enjoys. Nevertheless, we remain true to ourselves and continue creating music that reflects our authenticity.
Ghost: Can you tell us who inspired your passion for music growing up?
RedPrint:
My personal musical taste was different in the '90s. It revolved around house music and hardcore gabber house. Although I explored various genres, they didn’t resonate with me as much. As a four-member band, each of us has a unique story. However, sharing all those stories here would be quite extensive, yet it's noteworthy that we each had varied musical influences during our upbringing. This diversity isn't surprising, considering there was a decade's age difference between the youngest and oldest band members.
Ghost: What message do you want to convey through your music? Is there a particular theme or emotion you aim to evoke in your listeners?”
RedPrint: Not really, but our singer did say one day she will write more “depressing shit” lyrics for the next song. However, she writes from her heart and personal experiences, so the lyrics carry significant meaning. As a band, our primary goal is to create music that resonates with us. While lyrics are crucial, they don’t take precedence during the initial musical composition. We’re pleased that the lyrics make sense and aren’t nonsensical.
Ghost: What are your future plans? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations that your fans should look forward to?
RedPrint: Certainly! We’re currently working on new songs—I mentioned two of them. “Runaway” is ready, and another track is nearly complete (featuring a violin). We plan to record these this summer and hope to have a third song ready by then. We have plenty of concept's brewing, although some remain mere brainstorms. You never know when something might unexpectedly take off and become a full-fledged song. Additionally, we’re considering re-releasing “Colour Me Insane.” The ending of that song differs from the recorded version, and perhaps we’ll release it as an extended version. Ultimately, our decisions will depend on time and budget constraints.
I wanted to take a moment to express how much of a pleasure it was to interview the talented indie band REDPRINT! Their unique sound, emotional depth, and creative approach to music left a lasting impression on me, and all of us at Indiescoveries. From our conversation, you can sense their passion for their craft and their commitment to authenticity.
Thank you, REDPRINT, for sharing your music
and allowing me to be part of your journey. I look forward to following your future releases and celebrating your continued success.
Find their kick-ass music at The Plan | RedPrint (bandcamp.com)
Yet another interesting dive into an interesting outfit. Here’s to continued success for Redprint!