Music Q&A with John Reed of Rip Room
Photo courtesy of Rip Room
San Francisco punks, Rip Room, are getting ready to release their upcoming album, Alight and Resound, out May 27th via Spartan Records! Vocalist and guitarist, John Reed, recently took some time to talk about the album, how he started playing music, and more! Alight and Resound is available to pre-order HERE.
Congratulations on the upcoming release of Alight and Resound! What does the album mean to you?
Lyrically, the record is super dark and pessimistic so what it means to me personally is sort of the complete opposite of what releasing it feels like. We recorded the album in 2019, so when Covid hit we didn’t know if the record would ever come out or if we’d even be able to continue as a band. Finally getting this out into the world gives me a lot of hope (at least for our future as a band haha).
How did Covid affect the making and creative process of the album, if it did at all?
The album was recorded, mixed and mastered in late 2019, so Covid didn’t affect our creative process, but obviously because we’re having this conversation in 2022 it did postpone our release plans.
When did you realize you wanted to create music?
I’ve played music for as long as I can remember, so I’m not sure there was ever a lightbulb moment. But I moved to Olympia to finish school in 2001 and it felt like everyone I met played music and/or was in a band. It seemed like I was going to house shows every night — that was incredibly inspiring.
What instrument do you not play that you hope to learn someday?
Any woodwind instrument really. Does anybody want to lend me a bassoon or a baritone sax?
We all have our days where it may not be going as well as we’d like. People deal with their worst days in different ways. What helps you get through the bad days? How do you stay positive?
I just remind myself that I’m lucky to have my health and a roof over my head. It really feels like the world is falling apart some days so my own shit feels pretty insignificant.
Thank you for taking the time for this Q&A. Any last words or final message for the readers?
Thanks for having me! I’d just like to say support the bands you love by buying their music.