6 October 2025
Every Monday I will be bringing you an interview with an independent band, duo or music artist. This week, I caught up with Southampton based band Red Light Spies to find out more…
Who is in the band, how did you meet, where are you from and how did you come up with the name?
We are Red Light Spies. Paul (vocals), Will (bass), Dave (guitar) and Steve (drums). We’re based in Southampton but all hail from different parts of the world. Paul and Steve have been in various bands for years and they got together several years ago to form an indie rock covers band. Various people came and went and quite early on they found Dave looking to join a band. It was clear from the start he was a perfect fit. We had a number of bass players along the way but eventually Will replied to a ‘bass player wanted’ ad and the lineup was complete. With regards of the name, the boring answer is that after shooting 100’s of suggestions back and forth in the WhatsApp group chat the name Red Light Spies emerged as the favourite. But interestingly and I guess the showbiz answer is – and this is true – Is that Red Light Spies is an old Cold War term. Both Russian and Western spies during the Cold War would use Infrared torches to avoid detection while doing their spying and hence they were dubbed Red Light Spies. True Fact. Plus it just sounds really different and cool.
Who were your musical influences when you were growing up and who are your influences now?
Steve – Growing up I’d listen to many bands like Simple Minds, U2, The Police, Genesis, Level 42, The Cure, INXS. Anything decent. The 80’s was such a great time for music and I can see myself in an 80’s tribute act one day. But Britpop came along and my passion for music soared. I bought guitars , joined awful talentless bands, just loving the music. Recently there are so many decent bands that influence. But Foo Fighters are a personal favourite. As a drummer and musician Dave Grohl is a big hero of mine. Great all rounder and he’s written some of my favourite songs.
Will – Growing up I was surrounded by SL2, U2, Metallica and Linkin Park – and very much still influenced by these now, alongside Korean artists such as Xikers.
Dave – Classic rock as the Beatles, Pink Floyd. 90’s/00’s spanish indie music. I listen more to 90’s alternative/grunge and 00’s rock new alternative indie rock. Love the Foo Fighters!
Paul – Growing up with songs playing around the house were bands like Queen / Gerry Rafferty / Genesis / Foreigner / Chicago /Toto, and now it’s replaying the 90’s indie, my first gig was Simple Minds 1990 at Wembley Arena, my first record single was Madness “Our House”. My first album bought was Dire Straits – Brothers In Arms.
How would you describe your sound?
Steve – It’s probably rooted in indie / alternative rock but it’s also a little bit different – fairly original we think. We do have formulaic songs. You know the 4 min standard verse/chorus, verse/chorus, guitar break banger. However, many of our songs try and stray away from the norm. We try and take things down a lesser trodden path – Maria is a prime example.
Will – We avoid over manufacturing and keep to a more raw sound.
Paul – I hear the sounds of Stone Roses in the songs, with the melodic guitar sound and smooth bass, we love a good intro which is great to bring to our sound, our songs tell a story and building the ambience is crucial of bringing the audience with us, makes a refreshing change from the standard rock/punk approach.
Dave – You will find bits of 90’s alternative rock in our sound as well as more modern indie rock progressions with also more simple rock sounds or riffs. As there is only one guitar we try to fill the room with more ambient or atmosphere sounds.
What is your latest release called and what was the influence behind it?
Our debut EP “Infrared” is a collection of old songs that Paul dusted off a while ago. Simple mellow acoustic jams that he brought to the band when we first started this project. The band grabbed them with open arms morphing them into Indie rock thumping crowd pleasers. Currently we are in the studio writing completely new material which is born out of intricate catchy riffs and lyrics from Dave and Paul with the back line driving the songs in sometimes strange and different directions. We’re beginning to craft our own unique sound we think and loving it.
We are recording Raining On My Back next and it’s all about moments in your life when you feel lost, but the important thing to do is find space and listen, the right decision will always come through.
What’s your local music scene like?
Lively during student peak times, but a bit dim outside of those. There are also plenty of cover bands around. We like a few of the other local bands and we try to put showcases together.
Music is about expressing yourself, that’s why we are all different.
What do you have planned for the next 12 months?
Planning to record a couple more songs that we have been working on and compose a few others soon. We want to do more live performances in England, headliner gigs and of course try to make it to a big music festival and have one of our new songs make it to Number 1 again on the South Coast Music Chart.
Is there anyone you’d love to collaborate with?
Will – Collaboration is always on the table, would be nice to get a local popular artist on one of the tracks.
Paul – Would like to work with Chase & Status, put their dance bass and drums on one of our tunes and maybe have Paloma Faith as guest vocals.
Dave – it would be amazing to collaborate with musicians from bigger bands and well known artists in our area too!
Any funny stories surrounding your live performances?
Will and Dave – any time myself or Dave make a mistake we look at each other and PRAY nobody else noticed (especially Miriam 🫣). Miriam is Dave’s partner and helps managing our gigs and social media.
Paul and Steve – played a gig Southampton Music Festival and the drum kit didn’t have a rug to sit on, so when Steve started playing the kit moved. I spent 45 minutes with my foot wedged on the bass drum and singing looking like I’m doing the splits, it was a moment not to repeat.
Do you have any upcoming live dates and performances?
Friday 17th October 2025 – The Stage Door, Southampton
Friday 5th December 2025 – The Hobbit Pub, Southampton
and more will be announced soon
What is the one thing that you want readers to know about you?
Will – if you see me do something that sounds wrong- it’s called Jazz 🎷
Paul – I’m a lad from Liverpool who basically fell into music late, I feel blessed it finally found me.
Dave – music has saved me so many times in so many ways, it doesn’t matter where you are, it will find you and connect you with the right people so you know, it is never too late to start playing or singing or doing whatever you want to be a part of it!
You can find out more about Red Light Spies via Apple Music, Facebook, Instagram, Spotify, Threads, TikTok or YouTube.
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