Following the release of some undeniable tracks like ‘Wanna Be Loved’ and ‘Devil In My Ear’, The Red Clay Strays are on fire. Their brand-new album, 'Made By These Moments', produced by the legendary Dave Cobb, was released today, and it's already making waves. It's a record packed with heart, tackling themes of faith, love, and redemption, all wrapped up in the band's unique blend of rock and roll, southern soul, and blues.
To help celebrate the release of the album, bassist Andy Bishop took time out of his busy schedule to give us the lowdown on the new album, their influences, and what's next for this rapidly rising band.
It’s so great to be able to catch up with you, Andy, thanks for taking the time to answer some of our questions. Let’s dig right into things, when did you first start making music?
"Got my first drum kit at 13. Got my first bass at a yard sell next door when I was 16 and I played a lot with my dad and older brother. Went to college and then started playing in a band with Brandon until that band ran its course and we started Red Clay Strays in 2017."
What inspired you to start your journey into music?
"I’d say my dad started the interest but I feel I start on my own journey from there."
The new album is out, and it's already creating some massive waves online. Can you tell us a bit more about it?
"We’re very proud of this record. The order of the track list, the lyrics, the purpose and the production hits better than we could have ever planned. Working with Dave Cobb has been a dream of ours since we formed as a band and to have him produce our second record was and still is wild to all of us. The recording process was an unreal experience and everything fell into place better than we could have imagined."
What was your songwriting process on the album? How did it all come together?
"Drew and Matthew write most of the songs for the band. Matthew is Brandon's little brother and our content/social media manager. A lot of the songs on the new album we’ve had in the hopper and have been performing on stage for a while now. Some of the other songs on the album like No One Else Like Me and Ramblin’ were songs that Matthew and Drew had written a long time ago that we’d really forgotten about. We pull them out, dusted them off and they fit into the record flawlessly."
What’s the most important thing for you when you’re writing a song?
"I don’t really write many songs. I just play the bass, try to keep things in line and have a good time!"
Have there been any major influences that have helped define your music?
"Stevie Ray Vaughan was a big influence from my childhood. We were a blues family then I kind of discovered southern rock n roll on my own with Lynyrd Skynyrd at the top of that list."
How would you describe your sound on the new record?
"Nondenominational Rock N’ Roll"
Now the album is out, the big question now, what’s next for the band?
"Looking forward to getting over to the UK for the first time in August! We got more support over there than any of us could have ever thought and were able to move all of our shows to larger venues. Should be a good time. Also, looking forward to three nights at the Ryman in Nashville! We had planned on only doing one night but ended up adding two more nights at the Ryman. Wild!"
Do you have anything you would like to say to our audience?
"I just hope this album means as much to them as it does us. I believe this album has a huge purpose that will help some folks out there. Also, I would add, this new album is meant to be listened to from start to finish. Really hope y’all like it!"
It's clear that the Red Clay Strays are on a roll, and 'Made by These Moments' is only adding fuel to the fire. The new album is available now, and it deserves all the love and attention it can get.
As lead singer Brandon Coleman said, 'Made by These Moments' as a beacon of hope, saying, "It shines a light on overcoming the battles we face in life like loneliness, depression, and hopelessness. We hope you listen and recognize that our pain has a purpose."
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