Denver, Colorado band Red Tide Rising has spent the last few years touring with national acts like In This Moment, Gemini Syndrome, Nonpoint, Hurt, Soil, and My Darkest Days to name a few. Since forming in 2012, the band has already released a full length album The Rising which debuted at No. 3 on Billboard’s Heatseeker’s Chart. This week, we talked with Andrew, guitar player for the band. Enjoy this week’s Indie Band of the Week, Red Tide Rising!
Who are you and what is your role in the band?
My name is Andrew Whiteman and I serve as the guitarist in Red Tide Rising.
How did the band get started?
We got started about seven years ago when my brother, Matthew, and I left a cover band to pursue writing original music. Matt Guerin joined shortly after and finally Michael LeBois joined after a few years going through various bass players.
What does the name mean?
Red Tide Rising just sounded cool to Matthew and I when we started it, so it stuck.
Who are your influences and how do they play a role in your sound?
Angus Young will always be my primary influence, in the way that I always am thinking about the riff for a song and how to make it stand out. I never want to write what is simply the same four chords over and over, there has to be a hook somewhere from the guitar that makes it fun to play and interesting to listen to. Along those same lines, getting to work with CJ Pierce from Drowning Pool, has also inspired me to make more use of modulated effects as layers and ear candy for songs, both live and in studio.
Cold (Official Music Video) by Red Tide Rising
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What has been your most meaningful experience being in this band so far?
We toured with Drowning Pool in 2014 for the Unlucky 13th anniversary tour for their record, “Sinner.” We became great friends with them and their drummer, Mike Luce, became interested in producing our new record. I think it’s a very surreal thing because I grew up listening to DP and suddenly I am touring with them and now their drummer shows his interest and sees our potential that he wants to step in and help us achieve our goals for the new record. We are very grateful for that relationship.
Favorite memory from a show you’ve played or a place you’ve travelled?
I think the best show that we have played was our most recent show in Denver. We headlined the show and played with a bunch of other great Denver local bands that we hadn’t shared the stage with in a long time, plus we played our new EP in its entirety for the first time and it sounded amazing.
What do you hope to accomplish with your music?
I would love to be able to make a living off of it. Nothing like becoming a millionaire overnight or anything like that, but enough to pay the bills and support myself.
Something about you that no one knows?
Katy Perry and Taylor Swift are my guilty pleasure.
What is next for the band?
We are in the studio recording our next EP at the moment. Check our social media pages for studio clips and teasers in the upcoming weeks!
Anything else you want to add?
Thank you to everyone who has and continues to support us! We would be nothing without you all and appreciate you all allowing us to pursue our crazy dream of making music!
