(EDITOR’S NOTE — If ever there was a fitting name for a band it would be ‘Roy G Biv,’ the moniker of the self-described ‘post-jam’ indie trio from Lewiston. An acronym for the colors of the rainbow — red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet — Roy G Biv also describes perfectly the vast musical spectrum this versatile group so brilliantly occupies. And perhaps nowhere is that more evident than on its new EP, ‘RGB.fm,’ a wild musical kaleidoscope — both sonically and in vibe — like the band itself. ‘RGB.fm’ offers an expansive soundscape of stellar musicianship fueled by the spirit of exploration. Immediately from the outset, Roy G Biv sets the tone for what’s in store, as listeners are taken through a four-song slalom of heavy riffs, psychedelia, rap, jazz-fusion/funk, deep soulful grooves, carnivalesque island celebration, guttural metalcore screams and doom. From song to song, and even within the songs themselves, the band — comprised of bassist Evan Waterstrat, drummer Tyler ‘Smidge’ Midgley and guitarist Sean Thurman — throws non-stop curves, keeping listeners on their toes. Though not a ‘concept’ record in the traditional sense, the EP is strung together based on a truly interesting concept explained in the piece below. ‘RGB.fm’ drops this Friday, Jan. 3, on streaming platforms. Recently, the band was kind enough to speak with 1120 Press about the new EP and all it has going on. We’re thankful for their time.)
1120 PRESS: Thank you for speaking with us and congrats on the new EP! We were fortunate enough to meet you guys when we crossed paths the day you started working on recording this record at Mammoth Studios back in early April. That was nine months ago. How does it feel to finally be releasing this record into the world?
EVAN: It means the world to us. We had a couple hiccups along the way that prolonged this, including breaking my wrist and being unable to play. But most importantly, Roy G Biv has gone through a couple lineup changes that delayed us for a bit, and we felt like we were in the shadows of Buffalo for a while. But with this release we are making a statement that we are back and better than ever. We want to show the world what we can do and this EP is just an introduction to that. We’ve worked endless hours on this with the help and expertise of Justin (Smith) at Mammoth and are extremely proud of what we were able to produce.
1120: This is a really free-flowing EP that musically covers a lot of ground. When the band started to write the new EP and decide what songs would be included, was there a specific aim or plan for this record, especially in terms of where you wanted to head after your last release?
SMIDGE: I’d say, at first, we just wanted to catch up a bit. We have been playing these songs live for quite a while. The foundation and some of the lyrics for this EP were written with our dear friend Rob who has since departed the group. We used these as a framework to build around and craft them into something that fits our current lineup and get them recorded. But it turned into “how drastic can we get?” very quickly. When
we selected which songs to put on this EP, I had the idea for this concept of leaving a party and flipping thru the radio stations on your way home, trying to find a song. Thus “RGB.fm” was born. With that concept in mind, I think we all just tried to pick out four songs that sound absolutely nothing alike. You get that flavor from start to finish here, with “S’RAW” just being this absolutely cataclysmic closer track that I don’t think many people will see coming after a song about being on an island. There was a lot of great stuff on the first record — pop rock, ambient acoustic, and tons of funk. We tried to steer a little further away from those genres on this EP on purpose.
1120: Musically, there are a lot of curves thrown at the listener — at least that was a big part of our experience/takeaway in listening to the EP initially. Can you talk about the band’s attitude and philosophy toward experimentation? Or is the wide musical range you cover more a result of feeling no obligation toward a specific genre?
SEAN: I think our philosophy on experimentation definitely comes from not being obligated to any one genre. It’s also driven by how exciting and interesting it is to harness the energy and push it into new territory. We don’t necessarily sit down to write in a specific genre, we are just completely free — let the songs take on a life of their own and develop. We all have very eclectic musical tastes and experiences that are woven into our personal styles, and it all comes out when we allow ourselves the freedom to explore. The result is something that blends so many different genres and flavors, it becomes its own completely unique and original thing.
1120: Having spent a few hours with the band on the first day of recording, it’s interesting for us to hear the end result with all the pieces in place. What do you think Justin Smith helped bring to the record?
SEAN: Justin brought an open mind and a fresh perspective for us to bounce off of. We all spend so much time working on the music from the inside, it’s great to have someone on the outside who can play the part of the listener and help us fine tune the details. He has all the technical skills and knowledge needed to help us achieve the exact sounds and tones we are looking for, and like us, he is very enthusiastic about experimenting with different ideas to find new & exciting things. He is also an incredibly kind and fun guy to hang out with. When everyone is genuinely enjoying working together, that positive energy is baked into the final product. People will have just as much fun listening to the music as we did while we were making it.
1120: Is there anything else you want to add that we haven’t touched on and what’s ahead for you guys in 2025?
EVAN & SMIDGE: We’ve always talked about what’s ahead for us and I think that’s building our momentum. We want to start touring and really pushing these new songs out there and building a loyal fan base. We are looking to throw the best parties, but we also want to put on a high-quality show. We’ve been working hard to come up with new ideas to keep things fresh, but still very much Roy G Biv. We always try to abide by the fact that there’s a Roy G Biv song out there for everyone, and we think this EP is a little taste of how drastically we can push that point home. Look for Roy G Biv to start expanding its fanbase and musical versatility in 2025. We also just want to thank everyone who has helped us get this far and supported us in any capacity. We can’t wait for you guys to hear this EP and we love you so much.