Interview - RISE - FVMusicBlog

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Liverpool-based rock outfit RISE return with their latest single “Always,” a track that blends driving guitars, powerful vocals, and the band’s signature mix of melodic rock and synth textures. Built around themes of friendship, loyalty, and supporting the people closest to us, the song captures both the emotional core and the musical energy that have defined the band’s sound over the years.

In this interview, RISE discuss the inspiration behind “Always,” working with guest vocalist stayMellow, their long-standing collaboration with producer Rob Whiteley at Whitewood Studios, and how Liverpool’s rich musical heritage helped shape their journey.

Your new single “Always” carries a powerful message about supporting the people around us. What inspired you to explore that theme in this song?

We (RISE) are lucky as a band that we are, first and foremost, friends, then a band. We have supported each other for many years, so writing about this situation seemed to be a natural starting point for me.

The track features a standout vocal performance from stayMellow. How did that collaboration come together, and what did he bring to the song emotionally?

We did try a number of vocal approaches for this song, but the aggressive, driving approach clearly stood out when we listened in the studio.

Brian Petch’s guitar work is a big part of the sound on “Always.” How did the guitar parts evolve during the writing or recording process?

Bri is very much a musician who goes away and works on his parts. He always comes to the studio with different ideas and options, and we do tend to try different sounds and textures when we come to record the guitars. Bri knows what he is after.

RISE has built a very distinctive sound over the years. How conscious are you when writing about maintaining that recognisable identity?

Absolutely, this is key. We want people to recognise our sound. To a greater degree, it does define us, and we are very comfortable with that.

The song was recorded at Whitewood Studios in Liverpool. What was the atmosphere like during those sessions, and did the studio environment shape the final track?

Rob is very much a man of detail. He’s calm and yet demanding. He wants things to be “right,” and he does work us hard until he gets the sound or performance he is looking for. We always have a positive experience with Rob, but you are pretty knackered at the end of each day.

You’ve worked with producer Rob Whiteley for several years. What makes that partnership work so well creatively?

Rob knows what he is doing, and we very much trust him. By the same token, he is always willing to try ideas and take the song in a different direction when a possibility presents itself. We very much see him as the fifth member of the band when we are in the studio.

Liverpool has such a rich musical history. How has the city influenced RISE’s sound and musical journey?

In the early years we were surrounded by some famous Liverpool bands such as OMD, The Lightning Seeds, and many others. We all used the same practice rooms called The Ministry. People were constantly in and out of each other’s rehearsal rooms. We were one of the few AOR-style bands in the area at that time.

Your music blends high-tempo rock with synth textures and melodic hooks. How do you approach balancing those elements when arranging a track?

Mixing is a pain in the arse, being honest. We always end up taking things and ideas out rather than looking for additional melodies or hook lines. It takes quite some time to mix any RISE track—just ask Rob!

RISE is known for energetic live performances. How do you translate the energy of your gigs into the studio recordings?

We try to make the studio sound as close to the live sound as possible. We do use sequencers and triggers to fatten out the sound when we gig, and we always have. The RISE sound is quite dense and complex—it’s hard to reproduce live, but we do try.

With “Always” now out in the world, what do you hope listeners take away from the song after hearing it?

I hope they find it uplifting and positive. That was the aim when we wrote it, and I hope that comes across when people listen to it.

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