LMA Performance Spotlight: Red Electrick, Arguably Malta’s Biggest Pop-Rock Act Of The 21st Century
If there’s one defining feature that reflects the success that Maltese band Red Electrick have had, it would be the fact that after 11 years of being a band, the lads are still on top of their game and continue to be both a powerhouse and relevant in the Malta music scene.
But it hasn’t been an easy ride for Malta’s biggest pop-rock band. A lot has happened since its inception back in the mid 00s, and whether it was for better or for worse, it has shaped them into the fine-crafted musicians they are today…
… So, Who The Heck Is REK?
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Before they were Red Electrick, Peter Borg, Matthew James Borg and the rest of the gang were known as Drive
A hard rock band formed in 2006 who had made a name for themselves on the local music scene, Drive released a couple of singles and even performed live, including this bootleg recording of their show at Hard Rock Battle Of The Bands… which they won, by the way.
2008 marked a new era for the band… including a whole lot of changes
Realising that they were onto something, Drive decided to up their game to the next level and repurposed themselves with a new image, brand and name – Red Electrick – just in time for the release of their debut single The End Of It All, followed by the band’s debut album Vine Lady in 2010.
Though they came back with a whole new image, the guys were committed to their 70s rock/blues sound, with their debut quickly topping all local charts.
REK had struck a chord with the Maltese people, and the band quickly became one of the most popular acts on the island.
A year after the launch of their debut, REK recorded an unplugged live set which included songs from Vine Lady, some cover tracks and some new ones… one of which would feature on their setlist for years to come, Paul.
Their hard work and dedication to their craft also landed them a couple of awards throughout their decorated career including Best Band and Best Song at the 2014 Malta Music Awards for the track The Runaway, a single which would later feature on their second album Inside You which dropped in 2016.
Red Electrick’s mood had shifted slightly since the release of their debut, moving towards a more indie-rock vibe as they began to settle into their fully-fledged form.
With a solid discography to back them up, REK took their talent overseas and started touring in the UK and Europe – including Cyprus, Italy and Poland to name a few.
Life was working out for REK, a band which had experienced an unprecedented amount of success in the Maltese music scene and was approaching a whole decade of it.
Many had them pinned as the top rock act in Malta of the 21st century but, like all great bands before them, they found themselves in a position where breaking up became an imminent possibility.
In January 2018, founding member and frontman Matthew James Borg announced that he would be leaving the band and pursuing a new musical path.
REK had come to a crossroads where the option to stop writing and performing as the band they had been for over a decade was on the table, but there was light at the end of the tunnel in the shape of a member reshuffle.
Replacing Matthew James would be none other than Joe Roscoe, a local heartthrob who had been making waves busking in Manchester before joining the band.
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REK had started a new chapter in their musical journey, and as far as their fans and their music was concerned, the lads were only getting started
With a fresh new lineup, the boys travelled between LA and home to start working on what would be their third album Tragic Optimistic, a project that has been in the works since early 2018 and which will see the light of day this November 9th.
In the meantine, they released a number of hit singles that hinted at a more pop-rock sound, a change definitely suited to Joe Roscoe’s vocals and the new collective’s writing style… not to mention their impossibly larger fanbase that had by now reached national levels, of course.
13 years after first making music together, REK have been busier than ever.
Not only have they been working on a new album, but the band set their eyes on expanding their live shows, beginning with a set at the historic Whisky a Go Go whilst they were in LA, before taking on the task of setting up their second annual concert at St. Agatha’s Auditorium last year.
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This year, they also geared up for one of their most adventurous and bold live shows to date; an 11-man concert with the members of both The Travellers and Red Electrick performing together at Aria.
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Just like a wine fine, REK just keeps on getting better over time.
Their latest singles may just be their biggest ones yet, having reached over 750k views on Spotify alone. Now, with a fresh new line-up and a plethora of experience behind them, REK are ready to launch their new album come November 9th…
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… but not before they attend and perform at the Lovin Music Awards this Saturday!
REK will be bringing their professional live show to the stage at the LMAs and it’s going to be one hell of a night.
Not only are they performing, but REK have been nominated for Best Band, Best Collab, Best Song and Best Live Act. They’ll also be in the running for Best Performance Of The Night thanks to our telecom partners GO Music Wildcard.
And you can be there to support them on the night, just buy your ticket to the LMAs by following the link below:
Tag a diehard REK fan
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