REVIEW: Red Vanilla - Where I Should Be

Hailing from Dundee, RED VANILLA are eager to make their mark on the music industry and their new EP Where I Should Be might just help them on their way. Offering thought-provoking lyrics, catchy guitar riffs and powerful vocals, it is sure to launch them even further on their quest to stardom. The EP follows the release of their debut single Embers in 2022 and their debut EP Day of Grey in 2024, which launched them as a bold new Scottish voice and earnt them support from the likes of CLASH magazine, VISIONS magazine, Discovery Music Scotland, The List, The Skinny Magazine and The Courier. 

Whilst only seven songs long, their new EP solidifies them as one of Scotland's most promising up-and-coming bands. It also showcases just how versatile they are - catchy guitar hooks and strong vocals aplenty paired with the ability to write beautiful stripped back songs; RED VANILLA have really shown that there is nothing they aren’t capable of doing. 

Opening track Electric Blue immediately transports us into the world of this new EP. Melodic opening sounds instantly set the scene, with thought-provoking lyrics and a chorus full of catchy guitar riffs it sets the album off to a promising start, highlighting many of the strengths that RED VANILLA are already known to have. Second track Hazy takes a different approach to the opening track, but showcases exactly what this promising up and coming band can do. Ask Her If She’s Happy is possibly the catchiest song on the EP, with a strong guitar line carrying us through the whole song. It also showcases those strong vocals that we already know vocalist Anna Forsyth has. 

Whilst sticking to their roots throughout this EP, the band have also made sure to try stuff that we haven’t previously heard from them, showing just how versatile they really are. Play Me Something New is a completely new sound for the band, it’s slightly slower than what we might be used to from them and is a perfect song to add to your late evening unwind playlist. The band have cited THE 1975 as one of their influences, which really comes through in parts of this song. The band wanting to try out new songs doesn’t end there with track Sunkissed Pools being the bands first ever fully acoustic release, which you would never know by listening to it. The beautiful vocals and acoustic guitar carry us through this dreamy song. Finale Oh No, I Got Older talks about time passing without being where you want to be, with a message of not giving up on those dreams. It’s a message that will be sure to resonate with young listeners, and is one of the strongest lyrically on this EP. 

This is a strong EP from a band that has made it clear they won’t give up until they reach the levels they dream of, and if RED VANILLA continue on the path they are on, there’s no doubt they will get there.

Score: 8/10

Where I Should Be was released on May 8th.

Words: Olivia Hermans

Photos: Rachel Roams