Paint the town red with undercover genius Red Music

We met with Red Music, a sharp creator made in Memphis. Prior to his worldwide tour and upcoming singles release, Red Music took the time to tell us about his past and different inspirations, making us love the soul behind the artist.

indieBerlin: Tell us a little bit about your musical background.

Red Music: So I grew up in a very artistic family. My mom was a writer and my dad was a filmmaker. They grew up in Detroit during the 80s techno scene and my father was in one of the first collectives to make these techno parties. I myself grew up in Memphis, the birthplace of blues, the home of Elvis & rock n roll, and Soul legends like Al Green and Isaac Hayes. My great uncle Willie Mitchell actually was the one who produced Al Green and opened one of the most successful studios in the city. I started music at the age of 12 with playing the guitar. After pursuing a movie career like my father I decided instead music was the choice for me. After graduating high school, I moved to Israel. It was there that I first got into electronic music and new sounds that were found in that region of the world. This is where the Red Music that people know of today was formed; when I decided to fuse middle eastern and world music, with soul blues and hip-hop.

We are born in red and red runs through all of us. It is beautiful irony, which I like to think reflects into my music.

indieBerlin: How did you come up with the name Red Music?

Red Music: Completely by chance. When I was around 16, my friends and I wanted to make a band. I decided the name should be something music. The reason being was because I wanted the name to entice people so that when someone asked, “Do you listen to blank music”, theyʼd automatically think it was a genre of music and once they learned that it wasnʼt, itʼd hopefully encourage them to pursue it more. However the name never came to me, so instead, I just landed on Red. No idea how. No idea why. Years later I kept the name with no real thought in mind of what to change it to. Eventually, I started thinking more and more about the color red, and what it represents. To me, it is a very very powerful color, perhaps the most powerful. What I find most interesting is that many people associate it with negativity. Some people think of red and they think of fire, a stop sign, blood, communism, or even the devil. However on the flip side, one could think of a heart, a rose, lipstick, a vagina. We are born in red and red runs through all of us. It is beautiful irony, which I like to think reflects into my music. For example, one song might start as a psychedelic Native American trance but itʼll end with trappy soul, which is a complete contradiction, but still flows and works perfectly together. Although it wasnʼt til I watched the Matrix when I heard the phrase “Blue pull or Red Pill” was I truly convinced 100% I wanted to keep it Red Music.

indieBerlin: How does the songwriting process work for you / in your band?

Red Music: I donʼt really think I have a process. Some songs like the ones off my first EP, took over 4 years to finally finish. Others have taken a day. Itʼs all about the vibration and circumstance at the given time. Though I do have a list of ideas that I keep with me, theyʼre very vague and open to change. What I realize is that usually nothing ever goes according to plan, so instead of making restrictions and following a set of guidelines I prefer to follow a set of non- guidelines and just let whatever happens happen.

indieBerlin: If your music was a movie, which genre would it be in?

Red Music: 98% Documentary 2% Romance

indieBerlin: Where do you get your inspiration from?

Red Music: Friends and family have always been my biggest inspiration. Theyʼre everything to me. Especially because I come from a rough city, itʼs always been instilled in me to achieve far above the status quo. Recently I just had a son, so that sets the bar even greater. Almost everything I do in my career is for them, and the less fortunate

Berlin, to me, is kind of an anarchistic city. Anything kinda goes here. Everyone curious about new experimental music and art in general.

indieBerlin: What music do you listen to when youʼre touring?

Red Music: It depends on the mood. If Iʼm trying to come down and relax Iʼll put on some chill jazzy r&b vibes. If Iʼm trying to get hyped for the show, definitely some gangster stuff, even some dubstep. If Iʼm trying to write Iʼll listen to people that inspire me, like J. Cole, or Pretty Lights.

indieBerlin: How do you think the audience in Berlin is different to the audience in Memphis or Tel Aviv?

Red Music: The audience in Berlin is very open. Iʼve only felt good energy from the crowds at my performances. Berlin, to me, is kind of an anarchistic city. Anything kinda goes here. Everyone curious about new experimental music and art in general. Tel Aviv is more or less the same but more accommodating to locals. Memphis is nothing like that though. Itʼs only for locals with a reputation and a set style of music. Which is why I am looking forward to going back there and turning it on its head because I truly believe more conservative places could learn a lot from Berlin and what she has to offer.

indieBerlin: With whom would you never share the stage with?

Red Music: Josef Mengele & my ex-girlfriend. Not saying the two are remotely the same, just saying Iʼm not too fond of either.

indieBerlin: In ten years you look back to today and think:

Red Music: Damn. Youʼre still alive!