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Scottish rockers She Burns Red are gearing up for the release of their bloody marvelous new single ‘Killing Time and the local launch gig on September 16th. Powerhouse drummer Scott Hanlon was on hand to talk to us about the single and the gig, as well as revealing the secrets of his own Spotify playlist. Connect with Scott and She Burns Red, below.
What are the origins of She Burns Red, how long have you been playing together?
She Burns Red originated from three different bands from the local area, with cherry-picked members from each band ultimately creating the first iteration of She Burns Red. The band have been working solidly for six years, but it’s only within the past two years, with Naz [Scanferlato, guitar) and myself joining that the band have solidified, reached bigger heights, and became what they always knew it could be!
What should people expect when they check the band out? How would you describe She Burns Red?
High-energy melodic rock music with a punk edge and relatable, emotive lyrics.
How did you feel performing your first gig as a band, and how was it?
The first gig She Burns Red played with their current line-up was right after the lockdown lifted in Scotland, so it was a little strange as Scotland had stricter rules than England. But there was also a definitive feeling of excitement and anticipation despite this.
The new single ‘Killing Time’ lands on September 16th, a bit of a banger! How long have you had the song brewing? And what subject matter do the lyrics deal with?
So, the band had the riffs sitting about for a while but could never quite get it to gel properly, According to the guys, I came along and helped to shape it and give it the visceral energy it required. The lyrics are based around the concept of time and the stark realisation that we’re all on borrowed time and should not waste it on negativity and people who waste our time.
The previous single ‘Rise and Fall’ was released earlier this year, would you say both songs are fairly indicative of what the forthcoming debut album will sound like?
Definitely, they both have hooks that draw the listener in. We are focusing on making the album an easy listen with the hope that there will not be a “skippable” track.
The ‘Take Back Tomorrow’ EP was recorded back in 2019, in what ways do you feel that the band has grown since its release? For instance, do you see growth in the songwriting department?
The band have grown in many ways ever since myself and Naz joined, we have individually brought different qualities and creative inputs into the band, going by the perspective of Andy [Moore, vocals/guitar] and James [McCulloch, bass/vocals] who have worked with a few people in the band’s time. Working with Toby Jepson on ‘Take Back Tomorrow’ gave the band experience and confidence to keep pushing on and be ourselves, and to also never be afraid to try new things with songwriting.
The gig calendar is filling up nicely for the last part of the year, including the single launch at the Dreadnaught in Bathgate on September 16th, what can punters expect on the night? Who is also performing with you?
People can expect a few new tunes that we’ve been working on recently, plus some fan favourites. They can expect; a 6”7 kilt wearing face painted bassist jumping about like a madman on a low-ceiling stage, a guitar-slinging Italian stallion bringing a nutritious bowl of guitar shreddies, a yellow sunglasses-wearing angry teddy bear, and a drummer whose hair covers his face for 80% of the show (that being me). The opening act will be Dead Romantic from England.
You hit The Waterloo in Blackpool for the Rockmantic Weekender in October, who are you looking forward to catching when you are there?
We’re very much looking forward to seeing the guys in Florence Black, a three-piece hard rock trio that have been lighting up the scene in recent times. We also can’t forget our buddies in South Of Salem, it’s always good craic whenever we see each other.
In terms of a similar audience, which band out there at the minute do you feel She Burns Red would be best suited to open for?
That’s a good question! We have a huge list of influences that go into our music. If we had to zoom in and decide on one or two, we’d probably go with bands such as Deftones and Danko Jones. The list could go on forever, to be honest.
Excluding yourself, which new band would you like to see break out and become a success?
We’d like to see bands like Battalion Of Flies break out, they have a very big dirty grunge sound that ticks all of the boxes for us. We’re also very good friends with them! Another band we would like to see break out would be our other good pals who we mentioned before South Of Salem. They have the songs, the image, and the stage presence to achieve success. We wish the best of luck to both bands!
What are your own first musical memories? And what was the lightbulb moment that made you go “I want to do that”?
For me personally, it was watching the caveman-like drumming of Dave Grohl, the explosive, tight robotic presence that accompanied the dirty riffs of Kurt Cobain in Nirvana. It made me look at drummers in a completely different way. They aren’t just a person in the background hitting stuff, they are the driving force and backbone behind some of the world’s most popular music.
What was the last gig that you attended as a fan?
The last gig I attended was Meshuggah at the Glasgow Barrowlands. I was invited by a couple of friends of mine that are big fans of the band. I was absolutely blown away by every element of the gig. The performance, the intense light show, the attitude, and the strong presence of the band members. Their drummer Thomas Haake is an absolute monster, and I’m inclined to give him the title of “The Metal Drummer of all Metal Drummers”. I walked into the show as a random person and walked out at the end as a fan.
What current social issue are you particularly passionate about?
One of the biggest issues we face in the music industry is the lack of support for smaller bands and local venues. It saddens me that there are great bands out there that are a couple of steps away from being successful, but they just don’t have the clout and financial stability that they need to get there. Meanwhile, there are bands that aren’t up to much getting all of the opportunities and raking in the glory because of the amount of money they have behind them. Our local venues feel the effect of this as well because people aren’t attending live gigs so much anymore, and are not supporting what could be the next biggest act.
The album that you have in your album collection/Spotify playlist that would surprise most people?
People who know me would immediately expect to hear Hard rock and Metal blasting from my Spotify. But if they were to scroll through some of the artists on there, they’d probably be surprised to see artists like The Proclaimers, Simply Red, and Sting buried amongst it all. I don’t often tell people about them though…
What new albums have you been enjoying so far this year?
I’ve really been enjoying Cave In’s newest release “Heavy Pendulum”, I love the mix of alternative metal and space rock that those guys put into their songs. Another would be Dave Grohl’s metal album titled ‘Dream Widow’ that he recorded for the Foo Fighters movie ‘Studio 666’. The album is a very easy listen with short heavy, fast, groovy powerful songs. Each track taps into a metal influence that Dave has. There’s Sabbath, Slayer, Pantera, and many more. I highly recommend it!
How is 2023 shaping up for the band?
2023 is shaping up to be a good year for us. We have a lot in the pipeline including another single release with a music video and a long-awaited debut album.
We are also in talks of lining up some interesting gigs, festivals, and support slots. Keep an eye on our Facebook page for updates on everything above!
How active are you on social media and where can people connect with you?
We’re as active as we can be without posting for the sake of it. If we post, it’s usually to announce a gig or a release. With the occasional silly post that shows off our humourous side. You can’t forget the funny stuff!
People can connect with us at facebook.com/sheburnsred
We’re also on Instagram if anyone wants to follow us for our shenanigans.
Live images – credit to owners on watermark
