Taming The Psycho With REDHOOK

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.