Interview with The Riptide Rats

Author

Jarod Smith
February 18, 2025

Hey, This is Fred from The Riptide Rats.

What got you into music, and if you had not gotten into music what would you be doing today?

-Speaking for myself it was probably seeing a live show with Kiss on TV at the age of 4 that got me hooked. Generally speaking, we have all been playing and been indulging in listening to music and being fans of other bands since childhood. So it is quite rooted in our DNA. If we would not have gone into music, that is a hypothetical and scary question. We could have ended up behind bars or been running a questionable food-truck business ;)

What do you like to do when you are not playing music and how does that influence your creativity?

-We’re all into different things, some of us are into film, some into sports, and others just love being outdoors. Having those different influences helps keep our songwriting fresh because inspiration can come from anywhere, not just other music. A great movie scene, a conversation, or even just being in a new environment can spark something that turns into a song.

How long has your band been around?

-Since 2022.

Where are you based out of and how did that influence your music?

-We are all from or close to the Gothenburg area in Sweden and have earlier lived at different places, now we are pretty much neighbours in Kungsbacka, a town 20 min from Gothenburg. I knew Gus on guitar from our LA era, and we tricked Chuck Ransom from The Chuck Norris Experiment to join us for some ZZ-top jam, however we cranked up the reverb tank and the rest is history. Gothenburg is known for its heavy rock scene, so that has also unconsciously influenced our sound to a certain extent.

How did you come up with the name of your band and what does it mean to you?

-We wanted something that said we were into surf rock, and Riptide did that job, and then we needed something to show our punk/rock/action background, and rats did that job

Tell me about your most memorable shows.

-It would probably be from a gig we had last year on the west coast of Sweden. Gus broke his G-string on stage in the middle of the second song and did not bring any spare guitar to that particular gig. Nerve wracking, of course but he managed to transpose all chords and the show was a success and the crowd went nuts.

What is your favorite venue to play at, and do you have any places you want to play that you have not already?

-Pustervik. It is a really cool live music venue in Gothenburg, Sweden. It has an intimate yet energetic atmosphere, hosting a mix of indie, rock, electronic, and alternative acts.

It would be an awesome experience to play at Dalhalla. It’s an open-air amphitheater set in a former limestone quarry near Rättvik, Sweden. The natural acoustics are incredible, and the setting—surrounded by high rock walls—makes for a breathtaking concert experience.

If you could play any show with any lineup, who would be on the ticket?

- We’d obviously headline, but only because this is our fantasy. Supporting acts would be a hologram of Dick Dale, a reunited Van Halen, and maybe a surprise appearance by Duane Allman on slide guitar.

What is some advice that you would give to someone who is just getting into playing in a band and some advice that you would give to your younger self?

-I think AC/DC summarize it quite well in “It´s a long way to the Top (If You Wanna Rock n´Roll)”

If you could go back in time and give yourselves advice, what would it be?

 -Don´t overanalyze things and tune your instruments before going on stage.

Of your songs which one means the most to you and why?

-”Clint Eastwood´s Mule”. It is dynamic with a good well-crafted structure. It takes the listener on a cinematic voyage into the wild west.  

Which songs are your favorite to play and which get requested the most?

- I like the energy of “Reef Rumblin´”. “Breaker” is always a crowd pleaser.

What is the creative process for the band, and what inspires you to write your music?

-It is usually a collaborative process. All members have ideas coming from different angles. Sometimes an idea is almost a ready-made tune with a set form. Sometimes it could be bits and pieces that will transform into something completely different on the other side of the riptide filter ;)

What kinds of messages do you like to get across in your music?

-Pure, loud fun—just turn it up and have a blast. That’s what our music is all about!

 Do you ever have disagreements in your band, and how do you get past them?

 -All the time to some extent. But it is all constructive and good with some tension to bring the best out of us.

What are your plans for the future, and do you have anything that you want to spotlight that is coming up?

 -We are in the stage of finishing recording our first full length album that will be out later this year.

We will play festivals and shows this Spring/Summer. After the album is released, we will be headed out for some more extensive touring in 2026.

Cheers!

Fred/ The Riptide Rats

 

 

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