Working with legends such as Dave Grohl and Pharrell Williams on their self-titled debut record, DC-based RDGLDGRN (Red-Gold-Green) has spent the last few years branding what they call indie go-go. Breaking the barriers between rap, rock, hip-hop, indie, and pop, then tying them back together with DC’s signature go-go drum beats, the now (somewhat) independent trio are back with a new batch of songs, a new record deal in Europe, and their celebratory live show.
Interview and Photography by Andy Gorel
Andy: You guys seem to have diverse cultural and musical backgrounds. Would you each like to talk a bit about how your life prior to RDGLDGRN made you choose music as a passion, and how you guys came together in Washington DC?
Gold: None of us actually are from DC, but we all found this location, or at least our families did. For me, they found Reston specifically, I lived in New York and I lived in DC, but we found Reston because it was reminiscent of where we’re from in Romania, and just Europe in general, with like this plaza that had Swiss and Italian influence, etc. And both my parents played violin at one point, and my mom would always teach my friends math, because she was a math teacher, and their mothers would teach me Spanish or Piano. So I was put on violin very early, and I got tired of playing classical stuff, and I wanted to write my song, so that’s how it happened for me.
Red: My story’s not that cool. I was born in San Jose, California, and my parents moved here, and that’s about it [laughs].
Andy: And Green, you’re from Haiti right?
Green: Well, I was born in Boston, but all my family’s from Haiti. So I’m very very Haitian. Wyclef and the Fugees are the reason I make music.
Andy: Your colorful personas date back to your old band, The Five One, where the fourth member was Blue. What made you guys pick colors to associate with your identities?
Red: That’s just something that happened over time. Not necessarily before we were making music, but before we were making music together. We were just friends. I started wearing lots of red, and enjoying that shit, so if Green or Gold had something red, I would be like, “Yo, I like that,” just because, I did. Then as an individual, you start to be like “Well no. If this is your shit, then it’s not my shit, so I need my shit,” as like a natural reaction to that sort of scenario, so then everybody has their own identity.
Andy: On your first record, you worked with some notable figures like Dave Grohl and Pharrell Williams. What was it like working with them, and what do you think they brought to the table that helped create that hip-hop/indie rock crossover sound that was dominant on the record?
Gold: What they brought to the table was exactly what they influenced us with to begin with. Before we even met them, all the influence from their music was in ours to begin with. When we met them they had already influenced our sound, so all they did was just be there to play on it. It was really interesting because I feel like even if they weren’t there – For example, Pharrell helped us find the sound we have today by adding 808’s, and then Dave just made the bounce beat even cooler, cause he crossed over to play that beat to show respect to it like we did. So it was an amazing experience, and it was really enlightening.
“The money’s not the same, but we got a lot of freedom. What do you like, money or freedom? I like ‘em both.”
Andy: Your new EP, Red Gold Green 2, has transitioned into a more hip-hop influenced direction, and is vaguely electronic. In “No Pixar” Green even says “Rock band under the belt / Rap’s just another option.” It’s not a totally new style for you guys, but what brought about the departure from your indie rock debut?
Gold: It was honestly our sound to begin with. I think we were heavily influenced to go in the rock direction by our business circle and what not, but once we were liberated from that we went back to doing what we’ve always done, and that’s having the hip-hop backbone. “I Love Lamp” was the first song that really was the face of this band, so they wanted us to build a record off that. But to be honest with you, “Doing The Most” is way more us than anything from the first record. And really “Doing The Most,” was what I said before about Pharrell kind of opening the door for us to go through, and be who we really were in the first place. It was who we always were.
Andy: Your first record was released on Republic Records, but your new EP, in the States at least, is totally independent. What’s it like to be an independent band who was previously on a major label, and is there anything in particular that you miss, or don’t miss about being signed to Republic?
Green: Money. Lots and lots of money.
Gold: That’s all.
Green: The money’s not the same, but we got a lot of freedom. What do you like, money or freedom? I like ‘em both.
Andy: Well you like money cause you need it, but you really like your freedom.
Gold: Exactly.
Green: Well that’s why I’m in the situation I’m in.
Gold: But if you could do both.. For example, robbing a bank.. while you’re free.
All: [laughs]
Gold: You just have to figure out how to rob the bank. We would get caught though. It would be like Dead Presidents with our colored face paints. We’d get busted really easily.
Andy: You guys never fail to put on an exhilarating live show that continues to pull more and more people in, everywhere you go. What do you guys do to continue to get more fans involved, on and off the stage?
Red: Well, the music is the focal point, and we’re an extension of the music. So when we get up there, the music itself is energetic. You hear songs like “Runnin’ Away” or “I Love Lamp” even, or “Doing The Most” where the song is just extra hype the whole time. Conversely, there’s “Won’t Last” which is grooving. So you still feel like you have to move. There’s nothing that makes you feel like you have to sit around and be still, and just chill out. There’s always some sort of movement involved, so when we keep making music that keeps making people move..
Andy: So it’s just the music? You guys are just too good. People can’t resist.
Red: [laughs] Well those are your words, not mine.
Andy: Well you guys have the “Million Fans” Facebook page, and are active on social media. For example, that show in Philadelphia two weeks ago. There was probably 100 people there, but every single person knew every word. It’s a cult following.
Gold: And that’s very special to us.
Green: It’s the only reason we still do this. That’s how we were fans of artists, so we want the same type of fans we were.
Andy: Do you think more and more bands will continue to go independent like you guys, and surround themselves with good management, PR, and booking teams as opposed to taking the more traditional record deal route?
Green: First of all, we don’t have a strong PR or booking agent.
Red: To the first part of your question, yes. Who knows about that second part.
Green: To be completely honest, it’s just us and Reggie (their tour manager). That’s kind of it.
Gold: There’s a lot of improvisational shit going on at every show, and it’s not realistic.
Green: But I think a lot of bands are doing that. Look at Macklemore, look at Mac Miller, – although Mac Miller just signed a major deal. Bands like Foals, I believe they were on an indie label, but now they’re on a major, but they keep a large percentage of their profits. That’s just the way of the future. You’re not gonna be able to live, unless you’re Adele and you sell 2.4 million records in a week.
Gold: When you’re smaller you can’t fully depend on that. You have to do a lot of the work yourself. It’s not realistic to think they’re gonna do everything for you – just show up and play. It’s not how it works.
