Red Electric (band)

Last updated
Red Electric
Also known as
  • REK
  • Previously Drive and Red Electrick
Origin Malta
Years active2008-present
Members
  • Joe Roscoe (vocals)
  • Ivan Borg (bass)
  • Peter Borg (guitar)
  • Aleandro Spiteri Monsigneur (piano)
Past members
  • Matthew James Borg (vocals)
  • Jonas Delicata (guitar)
  • Robert Spiteri (drums)
  • Raphael Tonna (drums)
Website www.facebook.com/weareredelectric

Red Electric (formerly Drive [1] and Red Electrick [2] ) is the name of a Maltese rock band formed in 2008. The current line-up consists of frontman Joe Roscoe (voice and guitars), Peter Borg (guitars), Aleandro Spiteri Monsigneur (keyboardist), and Ivan Borg (bassist). [3] [4] The original line-up was made up of Matthew James Borg (voice and keyboards), Peter Borg (guitars), Jonas Delicata (guitars), Ivan Borg (bass and backing vocals), and Raphael Tonna (drums). [5] [6] [7] [8]

Contents


History

Founded in 2008, the band changed its name from 'Drive' to 'Red Electrick', while the founding band members were still at college. [1] The band later released its first album, Vine Lady, in 2010. The band has since released five albums, one EP, and various collaborative singles. Its most popular releases are Right Here,Everybody's Listening, Dangerous, Young Again, G.O.R.G.E.O.U.S, and Who the Heck is REK.

In 2015, drummer Robert Spiteri took over from founding member and drummer Raphael Tonna. [4] In 2018, main vocalist Matthew James Borg left the band, citing personal reasons. Singer Joe Roscoe subsequently joined the band as main vocalist. [2] [9] The name of the band was changed to Red Electric in 2022 and announced on social media alongside their new branding. [10]

In Summer 2022, Red Electric released a new single titled Fix of You. The song was written in 2021 and speaks about being addicted to a toxic relationship and the positive reinforcement resulting from that relationship despite the risk it poses. [11]

Over the years, Red Electric have performed in and toured a number of cities overseas, including Austria, [12] Cyprus, Denmark, [13] Los Angeles, UK, [14] Poland, and Spain. The band has also signed agreements with international companies. In 2009, Red Electric (then Red Electrick) signed an agreement with Poison Tree Records, a Los Angeles-based label for their music to be promoted, released, and distributed digitally worldwide. [15] Another digital agreement was signed in 2011 with another Los Angeles-based distributor, BFM Digital, where their debut album Vine Lady was available on a number of digital stores such as Amazon, Spotify and iTunes. This deal predated the availability of iTunes in Malta. [14]

More significantly, the band released the song 'Right Here' under the Rexius Records label in 2018. The band has since signed a global publishing deal with Reservoir Media in 2021.

Discography

Albums

Notable collaborations

Red Electric have collaborated with multiple Maltese artists and groups. The band has released songs in collaboration with singers Joseph Calleja, [19] Destiny, [6] [20] Luke Chappell, [8] and Ira Losco, [19] as well as the Malta Philharmonic Orchestra. [21]

Red Electric have also collaborated with Maltese band The Travellers. The two bands created a concert series where the members of both bands perform together as a single band, with the concert setlist including songs from the discographies of both bands. The first of these concerts occurred in 2019 and was called "1", and the second in 2022 and called "ONE". Part of the proceeds from the 2022 concert were donated to the McDonald House Charities Malta which is an organization that helps families in need. [1] [22] [23] [24] [25] [26]

Awards and accolades

Red Electric have won several local music awards.

AwardAwarding BodyYearAdditional InformationSource
Best Newcomer Bay Music Awards2009 [27] [28]
Best New Artist Malta Music Awards 2009 [29]
Best VideoMalta Music Awards2010Awarded for the video of "Who the Heck is Rek?" [30]
Best BandBay Music Awards2012 [31] [32]
Raise the Roof AwardBay Music Awards2012Awarded to the artists with the strongest audience reaction to their live performance, calculated with sensitive microphones.
Best BandMalta Music Awards2013 [33]
Best SongMalta Music Awards2013Awarded for the song "Paul"
Best BandMalta Music Awards2014 [34] [35]
Best SongMalta Music Awards2014Awarded for the song "The Runaway"
Best BandMalta Music Awards2020 [36] [37] [38]
Best AlbumMalta Music Awards2020Awarded for the album Tragic Optimistic

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