INTRODUCING: RedHook
In recent years more than ever, it’s become apparent that music is pivotal for mental health. That goes for listeners and the bands themselves. If you’re looking for switched on, high energy music, behold REDHOOK. The Australian four piece that have a slew of hugely successful releases, from their EP Bad Decisions in 2021, to their latest singles Jabberwocky, Low Budget Horror and SAY. We caught up with vocalist Emmy Mack about song writing, keeping things musically fluid, and the importance of music to saving lives.
Known for having super catchy rock anthems, Emmy joined by guitarist Craig Wilkinson, drummer Alex Powys, and bassist Ned Jankovic to complete the REDHOOK lineup. While they are a riot to listen to, more than that, the context around the music is the core of what makes the songs so compelling. Writing about hugely important issues like online bullying and assault, it’s a big factor that makes the songs have staying power. When asked about the importance of making music as an outlet for people, the answer was clear. “[Yes,] absolutely,” Emmy says emphatically. “In fact, for me, that’s the number one most important job we have as artists. Music really does save lives, so to have a platform to help other people feel seen, or feel less alone in dealing with their own struggles and suffering, is the biggest fucking privilege you could ask for.”
Working with elements of hard rock, nu metal and electronica, there’s no area that REDHOOK can’t handle. While the subject matter can be heavy, the way REDHOOK handle writing and telling these truths is done with joyous aggression, fun and acceptance. “I think the one thing that unites all of us in REDHOOK is our relationship with music,” Emmy explains on why the dynamic works so well within the band. “Since we were all kids, the songs and artists we love have always been there as a beacon of light during our darkest times, to help us get through the shit and keep fighting. So, to have the opportunity to be that for the next generation is such an honour, and one that we will always cherish. But on top of that, the process of writing songs is also something that helps us process and deal with our own traumatic experiences and negative emotions in life. So it really is an important and cathartic form of therapy for us as people as well.”
The band have been together since 2017, and their latest batch of releases have been their strongest yet. Never one to shy away from a processing personal trauma into a more positive format, Emmy’s own experiences have been a big inspiration for song writing. “REDHOOK songs usually grow out of lyrical concepts kicking around my head, and I’m a big ol’ nerd so a lot of the time they’ll be based around some type of symbolism or metaphor, like with Kamikaze or Low Budget Horror or Jabberwocky,” Emmy generously shares. “And with Jabby, I knew I wanted to write a song about my sexual assault experience using the idea of the Jabberwocky monster from Alice In Wonderland as a metaphor for trauma, and the way it relentlessly stalks us all if we don’t face it head-on. Then one morning, I woke up to a random instrumental mp3 that Craig had written at 5am and as soon as I pressed play on it, I just knew that song was going to become Jabberwocky. The verse melody immediately jumped out at me and the lyrics ‘hush your mind / I’m a little bit sick of hearing that I’m safe inside / where the bad things just can’t get you’ just came pouring out. It all came together like magic.”
With such a powerhouse of musical energy, and a persuasion towards cathartic writing, there’s every reason to believe REDHOOK are well on their way to incredible things. As we catch up with Emmy on their mammoth thirty day Australian tour, there’s no sign that the band have any plan to slow down; that also includes pushing their innovative approach to sound and style. “One of the things that I love most about being in this band is that, from the get-go, we’ve established our sound as being very elastic,” Emmy tells us.
“We don’t like the idea of being pigeon-holed into some kind of genre box, so the sky really is the limit when it comes to the songs we write, and I think that’s something our fans really appreciate as well – the unpredictability of what might come next. In terms of where we go in the future, I’d love to start collaborating with all different kinds of artists and incorporating their flavour into our sound. I think BRING ME THE HORIZON as a band are an incredible prototype for that – they’ve teamed up with everyone from pop artists like HALSEY and YUNGBLOOD, rock bands like EVANESCENCE and rappers like MASKED WOLF. I’d love to see REDHOOK start to do some more of that!”
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