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.

Their latest song 'Emotional Surgery' was released in November 2024.

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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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Azzopardi, Jean Paul (17 October 2019). "LMA Performance Spotlight: Red Electrick, Arguably Malta's Biggest Rock Act Of The 21st Century". Lovin Malta. Archived from the original on 6 December 2021. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  2. 1 2 "New main singer for Red Electrick". TVM News. 21 January 2018. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  3. ↑ Red Electric. "About". Spotify . Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  4. 1 2 Red Electric (16 March 2015). "WHO THE HECK IS ROBERT?!". Facebook . Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  5. ↑ "Red Electrick". gethitched.com.mt. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  6. 1 2 "Red Electrick release song with Destiny". Times of Malta . 3 March 2021. Archived from the original on 10 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  7. ↑ "Red Electrick face the music". Times of Malta . 15 September 2013. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  8. 1 2 "Luke Chappell in new song with Red Electrick". Times of Malta . 17 December 2020. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 2022-10-10.
  9. ↑ Chucky (21 January 2018). "Joe Roscoe Named New Red Electrick Frontman After Matthew Borg Calls It Quits". Lovin Malta. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  10. ↑ Red Electric (10 August 2022). "Hello! Here's our brand new logo". Facebook . Retrieved 13 August 2022.
  11. ↑ "Red Electric release new song". Times of Malta . 21 July 2022. Archived from the original on 19 August 2022. Retrieved 2022-08-19.
  12. ↑ "Red Electrick in Denmark". Times of Malta . 31 August 2010. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Red Elektrik touring Copenhagen". Malta Today. 31 August 2010. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  14. 1 2 Bugeja, Michael (23 October 2011). "Red Electrick on iTunes Malta". Times of Malta . Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  15. ↑ "Red Electrick Sign with Los Angeles label". The Malta Independent . 30 May 2009. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  16. ↑ Muscat, Dean (27 October 2010). "The Red Electrick experience". Times of Malta . Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  17. ↑ "The Unplugged Sessions". Amazon.com. 28 August 2012. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  18. ↑ "Red Electrick release their fourth album". Times of Malta . 19 November 2019. Retrieved 16 October 2022.
  19. 1 2 "REK is back". Times of Malta . 28 February 2016. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  20. ↑ "Watch: Red Electrick and Destiny join forces for 'Mistake'". Newsbook.com.mt. 1 March 2021. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  21. ↑ "Red Electrick launches nostalgic music video 'Young Again'". The Malta Independent . 13 December 2014. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  22. ↑ Borg, Coryse (5 March 2019). "Red Electrick and The Travellers join forces for unique event". Newsbook.com.mt. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  23. ↑ Vassallo, Alvin (10 April 2019). "WATCH: The Travellers and Red Electrick to join forces for first concert of its type". TVM News. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  24. ↑ "Reasons why you shouldn't miss out on The Travellers & Red Electric's ONE concert". Malta Daily. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  25. ↑ "RED ELECTRIC AND THE TRAVELLERS TO JOIN FORCES THIS FRIDAY". Oh My Malta. 27 September 2022. Archived from the original on 14 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  26. ↑ "What to expect from the ONE concert by Red Electric & The Travellers". Malta Daily. 12 September 2022. Archived from the original on 13 October 2022. Retrieved 13 October 2022.
  27. ↑ "Bay Music Awards – Rise to our frequency". The Malta Independent . 20 December 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  28. ↑ BAYMUSICAWARDS (YouTube channel) (7 January 2010). "BMA 09 - Best Newcomer Awards 2009 - Red Electrick". YouTube (Video) (in Maltese and English). Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  29. ↑ "Tribali dominate Malta Music Awards". Times of Malta . 6 December 2009. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  30. ↑ "Winter Moods triumph at Malta Music Awards". Times of Malta . 28 November 2010. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  31. ↑ "Red Electrick bring home 'Best Band' accolade from Bay Music Awards". The Malta Independent . 18 December 2012. Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  32. ↑ BAYMUSICAWARDS [YouTube Channel] (10 September 2013). "BMA 2012 - Best Band (Red Electrick)". YouTube (Video) (in Maltese and English). Archived from the original on 15 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  33. ↑ "Malta Music Awards - The results". Times of Malta . 4 February 2013. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  34. ↑ "Ira Losco dominates Malta Music Awards". The Malta Independent . 10 February 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  35. ↑ "Ira's electric at awards". Times of Malta . 11 February 2014. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  36. ↑ "Nominations announced for Malta Music Awards". TVM News. 13 February 2020. Archived from the original on 16 October 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  37. ↑ Rossitto, Andrea (7 March 2022). "Malta Music Awards successful return – winners announced". TVM News. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
  38. ↑ "MMA 2020 – LIST OF WINNERS". Malta Music Awards. 9 March 2020. Archived from the original on 6 July 2022. Retrieved 15 October 2022.
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