Introduce yourself and where you’re from. 

“My name is Thomas Pereira. I do guitar and vocals and I'm from Planet Earth.” The phone which is being used to record the interview is then passed around and used with the specific grip of agent Dale Cooper on Twin Peaks. The next person to take the phone puts on a faux vintage newsreader voice and assertively announces; “I'm Samuel Thomas Barker. I play guitar and sing.” he laughs playfully as he passes the phone on. “Cormac Caines, guitar. From London Town.” “Danny Heron, I play bass.” Barker chimes in, “Where you from, Danny?” “East Scotland,” the bassist laughs. Finally,  “Aiden Hopper, drums. Chile.” The phone returns to the centre of the wooden pub table, the five agreeing it will all be able to hear them from the middle, they can drop the Twin Peaks act. 

What do our readers need to know about you?

Pereira confidently divulges that “[Red Hash] are a rock and roll band. We mainly get inspiration from the 60s and the 90s, but we add our own touch and our own flavour and try to keep it original, so we don't sound like a pastiche.” In his best hippie voice Barker continues, “We're all about honesty, man. Honesty and expression and catharsis. Truth is the drug of the day…” 

What have you got coming up that you’re most excited for? (+ tell us about it!)

The vocalist excitedly shares that the band have “just recorded an EP at Big Jelly Studios in Ramsgate. We did it all live in one room with minimal overdubs to try and capture the actual live sound of our band.” 

When asked what was different about recording all in one track as opposed to the traditional way with multiple tracks, Barker shares an intimate portrait of the band’s methodology. “Our philosophy of recording is that: a microphone is like a camera. If you’re just taking separate photos and putting it together, you are just making a collage that isn't a cohesive thing. But if you're live in one room and you're placing microphones around and getting an image, a picture of the whole room, then you're capturing the whole true performance rather than singular images that require splicing together.” 

What’s the best run-in you’ve had with a fan?

They seem prepared for this one. Caines cheekily says “Oh, easy. Tom, take it away!”

Pereira understands what must be said and shifts into a mode of performative mystery. He begins; “Troubadour. The red lights turn on. 25th of March. Red Hash comes on stage. I look into the misty audience and I lock eyes with a beautiful woman. And the rest is history… Love of my life.” He is painting a picture of the moment he first met his girlfriend, a beautiful portrait, but were they a fan? His facade breaks as he laughs, “actually, they were not, so I don't know if she really likes the music or she just likes me. Hopefully both.” They laugh as they agree that there is at least one person in their corner. 

Bands are often asked to sign strange things and although this has yet to happen to Red Hash, they reminisce on close calls. Barker jokes that his “teachers asked me to sign my homework before. So they can sell it one day…” “Oh, I once had to sign a ticket,” Pereira smirks, “but that was for the police, so I don’t think they’re fans.”

What’s been your biggest ‘I’ve made it’ moment so far?

They take a moment to ponder. “Being in the studio and hearing our song ‘Bridges to Burn’ come back through the speakers! It made me very giddy!” Barker exclaims, smiling. “It makes you feel like a child before Christmas when you hear something you've been working on for so long come to life. It's a really good feeling.” Caines seems lost in thought for a moment, but introspectively declares that the moment is yet to come. “I feel like our first gig outside of London, even if it’s not a tour, will feel like we’re a real band. And when we finally have music out. We’ve been sitting on a lot of songs for a long time so it would be nice for them to be out and to hear what people think of them!” “Some of these songs we wrote when we were kids!” Barker reminisces. 

Being with the music for so long, the band discusses whether their songs have changed as they have grown, or if they have remained the same since they were written. Pereira feels that ”[the songs] changed more so when we first brought them to the band. They were more singer-songwriter style originally. When you bring them to the band everyone is able to add their own flavour and each song becomes a monster of its own.” “What song do you think changed the most from initial conception to how we play it now?” Caines asks, delightfully taking the job of interviewer into his own hands.  Pereira takes a moment to think, “I would say ‘Black Gold’. Originally when I brought it to the group it was very folky and reserved. These guys added cojones!” Caines agrees, “It’s one of the heaviest songs we have now!”

What are your three “desert island” albums?

Red Hash are presented with the dramatic scenario: “You’re on a ship, it’s going down fast, every record you’ve ever owned/loved is on board with you and you can only save three! Which three are you taking to the island with you?” The five members file through the record collections of their minds, weighing up their options they seem to enter a collective state of panic. 

Barker begins, “I’ve got a first pressing of ‘Leyla and Other Sort Of Love Songs’ by Derek and the Dominos. I’m thinking double albums because if you’re stuck on an island you really wanna make the most of it. I’m going with ‘Exile on Main St.’ by The Rolling Stones or ‘Layla’ as the “rock n roll” ones. Then ‘The White Album’ by The Beatles, because you’ve gotta have some fuckin’ Beatles…” Caines sighs louder with every album mentioned,  “you’re taking all of my picks!” he yells. Barker continues “… and then ‘A Gift from A Flower to A Garden’ by Donovan. It’s got a load of quirky, poppy, psychedelic songs on one side, and the second disk is a load of folk songs about the countryside and beaches, so it would be good for a desert island.” That is four albums but perhaps one washed up after the rest of them… who are we to know… 

Pereira then starts with his choices, “I would say ‘All Things Must Pass’ by George Harrison, that’s such an important one!” “ It’s a triple LP!” Barker highlights. “I’m gonna have to go with Sam and say ‘Exile on Main St.’. For my folk pick, this is a bit of an unknown one; Jackson C. Frank came out with one album and then just disappeared. Those are my three… and there’s a rat!” Within the blink of an eye a large rat dashes across the pavement behind the smoking area we are sitting in. London town is full of surprises.

 “There’s a massive rat!” Caines laughs, “But back to the albums… Ok, ‘The Velvet Underground and Nico’, and ‘Revolver’ as my Beatles album.” What is wonderful about Red Hash is that without discussing with each other, there was an unwritten rule that everyone must have a Beatles album on their list. It is endearing that despite their protests to be different, they still subconsciously demonstrate what brings them together. “There HAS to be a Beatles album.” Barker emphasises. Caines ends with “‘Physical Graffiti’ by Led Zeppelin.” He unleashes his last pick to an ocean of gasps. “I FORGOT ABOUT ZEPPELIN!” Barker almost jumps out of his seat in shock. 

“No one's picked Pink Floyd yet either…” Caines laughs. “Not on a desert island, you wouldn’t want that on a desert island!” Barker quips. “You don’t wanna commit suicide do you!” Pereira jokes. 

“No Pink Floyd here unfortunately.” says drummer Hopper.  “It’s gonna be ‘Led Zeppelin II’, Pantera’s ‘Far Beyond Driven’ and Tool’s ‘Lateralus’.”