As gigs are on pause, Home is the new Backstage. Get behind the scenes with Redwood this week.

Having made their debut album, Beside A Shallow Sun, earlier this year, we caught up with Redwood to chat about the challenging past 12 months, discovering new things over lockdown, and finding the strength in music.

What advice would you give to your pre-lockdown self? 

I’d definitely tell myself to buy a bike waaaaay earlier. It literally took me like 3 months to find one that was in stock. Being able to ride every day has been a lifesaver.

How, if at all, did lockdown impact your music-making and producing process?

If anything it made me record more! Being stuck at home all day does force you to either scream with boredom or try and be productive. So I’m currently dipping between the two in what can only be described as organised chaos.

What has been the most unexpected/challenging part of lockdown, whether pleasant or unpleasant?

I think the most challenging part of lockdown for me was less the things that were impacting me but seeing all the people who really rely on human contact to get them by. For instance more elderly individuals and vulnerable people, it definitely encouraged me to count my blessings and be grateful for everything I have even in a difficult time.

How would you sum up your 2020 in one sentence? 

It’s like you and all your mates have a massive road trip planned, the car is filled up with all your stuff, the tunes are already blaring. You go to turn on the ignition and realise that your car doesn’t have any wheels. That is what it felt like.

If you had a quarantine character, what was it like? 

My quarantine character would definitely be some sort of bear that just sleeps all the time and only communicates through grunts and mild gesticulations.

Name 5 things that got you through lockdown.

1. MUSIC, definitely music. I have listened to more bands in this time than I have in a very long time.
2. Learning to make new foods! Pushing the boat out and trying to create things I’m really proud of.
3. Facetiming my family! I have a one-year-old niece and the joy she brings me is just unparalleled.
4. Long bike rides around London (cheesy right?) But seriously. Listen to some post-rock while cycling across Tower Bridge and you won’t regret it.
5. Lastly, it’s gotta be Netflix. I have absolutely binge-watched too much TV and it’s definitely cured some days of boredom.

What’s the most interesting thing you discovered over lockdown (could be a revelation about yourself, a new TV show, a new hobby)?

I discovered that I’m strangely good at keeping plants alive. I bought a load a few months back and other than me watering them and nervously staring at them, they seem to be doing okay!

What lockdown trend do you think we should take into the future, and which ones should we ditch? 

Definitely keep up the one of checking in on your mates by just giving them a Facetime. I have really enjoyed the number of random video calls I have received from pals just checking in. I personally would ditch virtual pub quizzes, I think I did about 50+ and I am SO DONE.

What are your hopes and dreams for 2021? 

To quite literally spend the entire year touring and releasing new music.

What does music mean to you? 

Not to sound too corny but music literally means everything to me. I feel as if there is nothing else in the world that resonates with me quite like music does. The world would be miserable without it and so would I.