Interview by Kris Peters
Sydney's chameleons of rock, RedHook have been pretty quiet since the release of their debut album Postcards From A Living Hell in April last year. And who could blame them?
2023 was the year RedHook broke through from a band on the fringes of success to a bona fide international standard touring band, following high-profile shows with The Smashing Pumpkins and Janes Addiction on home turf and festivals such as Download abroad. Their work ethic as a band has always been the driving force behind their continued rise, but the release of their first album last year solidified their efforts and led to global recognition.
So if the quartet took a bit of time off to recharge the batteries over a prolonged festive season, they certainly deserved it.
But it was always a matter of when, not if they would return and that moment arrived with a massive bang earlier this month when RedHook released the single Scream 2 - a sequel of sorts to smash hit No Cure For Psycho.
Not content to release new music and wait for it to filter through to the ears of their growing fanbase, RedHook this weekend venture North for the first time this year to headline Women In Rock. The night, as the name suggests, is a musical celebration of female artists and their contribution to the music scene, with Krave, Jollee, Veratie, Viper Syndicate, Acid Cherry and Miss LC rounding out the bill.
With more live shows coming up and whispers in the air of more new music, HEAVY tracked Emmy, Ned and Alex down at their rehearsal room to chat more about everything.
"We're so excited to be heading back to the Sunshine Coast this Saturday," Emmy enthused. "We're coming to Caloundra for the very first time to play a groovy little festival called Women In Rock at the Norton Music Factory."
We ask how the show came about and what such an occasion means for Australian music.
"We got hit up by the venue to be a part of it," Emmy began. "Supporting fem talent - especially in the heavy space - has always been very important to me, and the boys."
"We're stoked that they invited us along," Alex added. "It looks like it's gonna be a really cool show."
"Playing regional shows and grassroots venues and supporting that level of the industry is always important to us," Emmy continued, "and will always be important to us. We're just excited to meet some new people and play a new venue and have a good time."
In the full interview, the band talk more about celebrating the achievements and role of women in music, the other bands playing and who they are looking forward to catching, the importance of everybody - not just women - to feel safe in the music industry, whether they feel the message is starting to get through, other things they have planned while they are in Queensland, new single Scream 2 and how it has been received, the reception for Postcards From A Living Hell, their continued rise as a band, how far advanced the new album is, their recent heavier leanings with new music, plans for the rest of 2024 and more.