About

Times Red are a band for genuine music fans. They write songs that are honest, heartfelt, searingly personal and emotional, only with melodies you can hum and choruses that pack a punch. 

You can tell that Scott Ritchie, Luke White and Staz Nair have spent time honing their craft, with several years’ worth of compositional and performance experience under their belts, playing gigs and learning how to pen tunes for maximum impact. 

“We’re guys who write music and play and enjoy being onstage,” says Scott. Luke describes Times Red’s music as “truthful, genuine”. Staz cites the inspirations for their accomplished, soulful sound: Michael Jackson, Justin Timberlake, Maroon 5, The Script and Bruno Mars. And Scott adds that their love of harmony comes from classic R&B.  

They explain the unique Times Red setup, with the three frontmen – Scott on rhythm guitar and lead vocals, Staz on keyboards and vocals and Luke handling harmonies and beatboxing duties – and the three supporting musicians on guitar, bass and drums. It’s an approach that works well in the studio, and allows for high-energy performances onstage. 

Times Red have paid their dues. Scott and Essex boy Luke, who studied Performing Arts at college, met on the gig circuit, cutting their teeth playing covers of Beatles and Motown hits across Britain and Europe. Scott, originally from Scotland, and Staz, who’s half Russian half Indian, have known each other since the latter was 16 and came to live with Scott’s family in London. All three have worked behind the scenes in the fashion and music industries, where they gleaned ideas about presentation and, as they put it, “the need to develop one’s craft”.  

In 2012 they met their manager, who encouraged them “to be honest and play to our strengths, and find a sound that was honest to us”. They amassed a wealth of material, their songs bright and infectious only with thoughtful, often soul-searching lyrics about disillusionment and despair – Staz has a background of family struggles while Scott has battled his own personal demons. 

For Times Red, music is therapy. “I’m very open about my demons,” reveals Scott, “but they don’t dictate who I am. I’m the same as anyone: fragile and vulnerable. And I write about it.” He continues: “Our music isn’t dark. But it’s built into the way I process and cleanse my spirit and soul to write about it. The songs reflect the emotions of a modern-day, 25-year-old man.” He sums up by saying of songwriting: “It’s a cathartic process. There’s a depth to our music because there’s a depth to us.”  “Not that our music is depressing,” checks Luke. “It’s fun, and it makes you want to dance.”

Each of them brings a different element to bear on the songwriting process. “We all have a musical ear even if we haven’t written the song being worked on,” explains Scott. “We discuss arrangements, chords – everything. We have a good working relationship. There’s mutual respect. A song isn’t finished until it’s been run by all of us.” “I’m melody-driven, Scott is into concepts and Luke brings personality and energy,” decides Staz, offering some insight into their various roles. 

They all agree that they want the band to be big, so that their music can reach the widest possible audience. And so it made perfect sense that, in March 2012, Times Red were invited to audition for X-Factor. 

“They wanted us to give the show credibility,” suggests Scott. They got far enough in the series – including being picked as the “Wild Card” – for them to gain widespread recognition. They used X-Factor as a springboard for success. 

Now they are poised to release their self-penned songs with support from virtual music label R&R Music, headed by Eric Nicoli, former CEO of EMI Music Group, who was blown away by Times Red when he saw them play live.  

“We always have conversations about how we’ll know when we’re doing well,” smiles Scott. “Will it be when one of our songs is played in some random bar, or when it’s an option on a karaoke machine? For me, Eric Nicoli saying we were one of the best and most exciting new live bands he’d ever seen, and that our song Not Listening has the potential to be a worldwide smash, made me think, ‘Shit, this must be real!’” 

Not that sales in themselves are the most important thing. No, for Times Red the pleasure is in the recording and performing, and being able to make a living as musicians.

“All that matters is being able to live off music, 24/7, and not have to worry about doing anything else,” says Scott. “That’s all we want. We have such a good time making and performing our music. And the best part of it all is that people are listening to it and enjoying it, coming to our gigs and getting excited. Music is there to provoke emotion, and that’s the effect it’s having on our audiences right now. That’s living the dream.”

To find out more about and keep up-to-date with Times Red please visit:

Website:             http://www.timesred.com/

Facebook:           https://www.facebook.com/TimesRed

Twitter:                https://twitter.com/Times_Red