Ra Ra Riot started out as a baroque pop or orchestral pop band fronted by singer Wes Miles amazing voice. In 2013, the band released Beta Love, a record which left the baroque pop sound behind and went in a new direction, towards something more electro pop. As you can imagine, Beta Love was polarizing and not popular with a small but vocal segment of the band's fanbase. I enjoyed Beta Love and was very interested to hear what the next step in the band's evolution would sound like. In early 2016, the band released Need Your Light.
I hung out with the band's singer Wes in Ra Ra Riot's busy tour van and we talked. What is the unlikely secret from Wes' past in school? What was it like working with Rostam Batmanglij (from Vampire Weekend) on the new record? How did the band navigate the rocky waters of change and growth? Which is Wes' favorite track on Ra Ra Riot's first record The Rhumb Line? How much does Wes love U2's 1991 album Achtung Baby? You have to listen to find out! (I even get him to sing a bit.)
Tracks played on the show...
1) Ra Ra Riot, Need Your Light (2016) "Water"
2) Ra Ra Riot, Need Your Light (2016) "Absolutely"
3) Ra Ra Riot, The Rhumb Line (2008) "St Peter's Day Festival" (mp3)
4) Ra Ra Riot, Beta Love (2013) "Beta Love" (background)
5) Ra Ra Riot, Need Your Light (2016) "I Need Your Light" (mp3)
NO songs CANCON
