It is clear that people want to find new things, but the finding can be harder as feeds are infinitely scrolled and streaming apps algorithmically mousetrap listeners. It is why finding a group like Red Vanilla can be so refreshing and important to curate, because we genuinely believe this will become someone’s new favourite band. The Dundee alt-rockers first debuted Days of Grey in 2024, and are set to release a follow-up EP, Where I Should Be, on the 8th of May, that offers more intensity and grit along with their ambitious musical output so far.
In seven songs, Red Vanilla deliver a matter-of-fact statement about their motivations and intentions behind their journey as an up-and-coming band. While their true-to-form hooky guitars and powerful vocals still lead the show, Where I Should Be expands their sound into electronic, acoustic, and much heavier moments. The latter is proved on “I Thought I Had It”, a raging bull of a track that knows not to let up. The riffs and intensity scream out with stoner rock bliss and heavy-handed fills to match, whereas the first track, “Electric Blue, “ offers a sombre, ambient interlude before the tone shifts.
“Ask Her If She’s Happy” is the earworm of the EP, and some of our favourite vocal moments from Anna Forsyth are shown in the back half of the song. A forceful and hooky guitar line leans you in, but once the song catches flight, the full focus of the band is felt. While their first EP showcased their explosive prowess through big choruses, their songwriting has naturally developed further and allows a more well-rounded sound to their alt-rock foundations this time around. “Ask Her If She’s Happy” finds the band as vibrant as ever by the end of its five minutes, matching mettle with sincerity to culminate the apex of the track.
Overall, the songs are autobiographical but also focus on the shared experience of the band over individual moments. “Oh No, I Got Older” is not only about accepting your age and the inevitability of growing up, but also about the band’s growth through touring, writing, and defining their band’s identity. It allows a different lens into the band and thematically represents a broader expression of their intent. Through vulnerability and introspection, their goal to move forward and achieve new successes has never been clearer.
Where I Should Be is brimming with confidence and purpose, and is another strong release from a relatively new band that will surely bring around more fans. This is an EP to keep in rotation on the long days spent commuting, stuck in a car, but enjoying your own bubble of catchy music and the warmth of the sun creeping in through the windows. It is alternative rock done right, soaked in the sounds of the 90’s and 00’s but a beast of its own kind through the differing influences of the trio. If you are looking for a fresh name in alternative music, let Red Vanilla be your next new discovery.
Red Vanilla are set to self-release their new EP, Where I Should Be, on 8 May, 2026.
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