Risco: “We Did Not Expect You to Sound Like That”

Q: For anyone discovering Risco for the first time, who are the people behind the band?

Risco: Risco is made up of Ralph Solis on guitar and vocals, Maya Hammersley on bass, and Fergus Hamill on drums. Ralph is also the main songwriter, while Cameron Young handled the mixing and mastering, and Kieran Davies took on production duties.

Everyone brought something different to the release. Ralph’s songwriting and guitar work provide the foundation, while Maya and Fergus bring the rhythm section together and give the songs their drive and energy. Cameron and Kieran then helped translate that raw band sound into the finished recordings.

Q: What artists have influenced this release?

Risco: There are quite a few influences behind it. Arctic Monkeys, Dick Dale, The Jam, The Libertines and The Cribs have all had an impact on us in different ways.

You can hear elements of that influence in the combination of sharp guitar work, energetic rhythms and catchy indie-rock songwriting. We’re interested in music that feels immediate and alive, but still has character and attitude of its own. We didn’t want to simply copy the bands we love; we wanted to take those influences and turn them into something that feels like Risco.

Q: What’s the story behind the release?

Risco: A lot of it comes from the feeling of living a fast-paced, busy life. You’re constantly moving, constantly meeting people and sometimes encountering people you really didn’t want to meet in the first place.

That sense of chaos and everyday frustration found its way into the music. There’s an energy to the release that comes from that environment — the feeling of being surrounded by people, places and situations that can be exciting one minute and exhausting the next.

Q: What makes this release particularly significant for Risco?

Risco: This is a really important song for us because it’s the first song Risco wrote together as a band.

It was the point where we started figuring out what we actually sounded like collectively. Rather than just being individual musicians playing together, this was where the identity of Risco really started to take shape. The song helped establish the direction we’ve continued to develop, and you can hear elements of that sound throughout what we’re doing now.

Q: Where did you record it?

Risco: We recorded at Green Dragon Studios in Stockton-on-Tees. It was a great environment for us because we could concentrate on getting the performances down without overcomplicating the process.

Q: Was there anything unusual about the recording process?

Risco: In all honesty, the recording process was pretty straightforward. We managed to lay down seven tracks in one day, then came back for another day dedicated purely to vocals.

There was something quite natural about working that way. We didn’t spend ages trying to make everything overly complicated. We focused on getting the performances right and capturing the energy of the band.

Q: Was there a moment during the process when you realised you had something special?

Risco: One of the best reactions we’ve had was someone hearing us and simply saying, “We did not expect you to sound like that.”

We actually think that’s a great compliment. There’s always a danger when people hear the bands you’re influenced by that they expect you to sound exactly like those influences. We want people to recognise where we’re coming from, but ultimately be surprised by what Risco sounds like.

Q: How would you describe the sound you’re developing as a band?

Risco: It’s energetic, guitar-driven and rooted in indie and alternative rock, but we’re still figuring it out. That’s part of the excitement.

This song was the beginning of that process. Since it was the first track we wrote together, it gave us a foundation to build from. We’re interested in keeping the energy and directness of the early material while continuing to push the sound forward.

Q: What’s next for Risco?

Risco: This release is part of an upcoming EP, which is due out in September. We’re really looking forward to getting the full project out there and showing people how the sound has developed.

We’re also taking the songs out on the road. We’ve got The Last Train Home Festival in Darlington on 5 September 2026, ARC Stockton on 10 September 2026, and a show at Middlesbrough Town Hall in December 2026.

For us, playing live is a huge part of what Risco is about. The songs have a certain energy on record, but they really come alive when we’re all in the same room playing them together.

Q: Finally, what do you hope people take away from this release?

Risco: Hopefully, they hear a band that’s having fun, but isn’t afraid to be direct. This song is where Risco really started for us, so it’s got a lot of meaning behind it.

It’s the beginning of the sound we’ve been developing, and with the EP coming in September, it’s only the start of the story.

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