Halfway between Passion Pit and Frank Ocean lies Redline Graffiti. The collective owes much of their stylings to last year’s wave of lo-fi electronica (see: Neon Indian, Washed Out, et al). Yet with the sexy swagger of R&B combined with an eye for pop hooks and a rock ‘n’ roll flare, their fresh take on this DIY aesthetic is all their own. We caught up with Donald and Drew, two members of the foursome, ahead of their appearance at the Black Cat this evening to talk about inspirations, aspirations, and more.
Redline Graffiti will be playing the Black Cat tonight, Friday, Sept 7, alongside Volta Bureau (live) and Protect-U. Doors open at 9pm. Purchase tickets here.
You all have been described as the “lovechild between Block Party and Toro Y Moi,” but I hear a lot more of John Legend and The Strokes. How would you describe your sound?
Drew: Dave Malitz, this writer from the Washington Post, he mentioned us in this article back in June for a show we were in. He called us ‘electro rock newcomers’. I find that to be apt for now. Well said, Dave.
Donald: Drew always said it was a mixture of our personalities, so we try to create a good balance of that. It also happens that we enjoy the electronic, and indie rock aesthetics respectively.
How do you get that crackly, lo-fi sound in your productions?
Donald: A lot of processing, and sample searching. I started making beats around 13, 14yrs old. Some of those ideas won’t see anyone else’s iPod anytime soon, but I played with compressors, phasers to recreate the spaces or sounds I heard in my head at the time. I also began to collect drum samples. It’s about 80GB now (not trying to brag).
Who is influencing you right now?
Drew: This song by Blood Orange called ‘Bad Girl’. And a song called ‘Wait’ by Airhead. Also, the Neptune’s remix of Sade’s ‘By Your Side’.
Donald: Jinja Safari, based in Sydney, favorite track is called Hiccups. Paul White (So Far Away) has caught my ear too. One of my favorite producers, Siriusmo, has an EP released earlier this year, “Dr. Beak Rantanplant”, and Yoko Kanno, did soundtracks for Anime series like “Cowboy Bebop,” “Wolf’s Rain”.
Tell us about your newest track, Last Two Boats.
Drew: It was one of those where an idea that Donald had, instrumentally, happened to fit lyrics I’d written much earlier. ‘Numbers’ came about the same way. Lyrically, one might interpret it as two dysfunctional, criminal kids in love. Then it switches; the beat, I mean. And it’s like I’m changing the channel from this Sid and Nancy thing and lamenting how I long to see people like the ones I know, or you know, those random names, get more attention in the media. While flipping through channels.
Where do you want to be when you look all at each other, smile and say, “We made it.”
Drew: The bank.
Donald: The stage at the Reading Festival in UK.
What’s coming up for Redline Graffiti in 2012 and beyond?
Drew: A stronger effort at promoting ourselves here in town and wherever else we can get. We play H Street Music Festival on September 15. Looking forward to that. Another EP is in the works. And, of course, you can expect our continued gratitude for those who listen to us and follow what we’re up to. Sincerely. I do believe you, but we need more people.
Donald: Always could use some more fans, we have alot to share. I would like to look at some more gear. Ever since I joined Redline Graffiti, I’ve been receiving alot of ideas from them. So maybe a new synth later next year.
Redline Graffiti