Having already been championed by NME and Q, along with several other established music outlets, Alluri is well on the way to winning over the entire music world. His EP Man Of Truth is a diary of sorts, detailing the experiences and adventures of his life and presenting them as thought-provoking tracks which continue to earn him a growing army of fans. With dreams of playing Wembley shows in London and India coming up in the near future, he kindly agreed to this interview to chat song-writing, ultimate ambitions and dream show line-ups.
PW: Please introduce yourself.
Alluri: Hi, I am Redd Alluri. I am a songwriter from Hyderabad.
PW: How would you sum yourself and your music up in a few words?
A: I wouldn’t. Watch me live!
PW: Which bands and artists did you grow up listening to and how did they influence you? Have such influences changed over the years?
A: I grew up listening to Tollywood and Bollywood music and 90’s MTV pop. During my early teens, I was introduced to some British Rock N’ Roll which instantly changed my music listening to Pink Floyd, The Beatles, John Lennon, The Smiths, Joy Division, Radiohead, Lou Reed & David Bowie.
PW: When did you first realise you wanted to be part of the music industry?
A: When I first started writing songs 5 years ago.
PW: Is there a band or artist out there you might say you’re similar to?
A: I can’t think of any but I am sure there are.
PW: Tell me about your latest single “Texture Composure”. Is there a story behind it?
A: I had written the melody and chords for “Texture Composure” in my room in Hyderabad and finished the lyrics in London. It was one of the very few songs I have written where the lyrics suggested themselves to me.
PW: The track is taken from your EP Man Of Truth. How would you sum it up in a couple of sentences?
A: The singer of this song has a split personality. From wanting to do anything to win over his lover, his personality changes to this guy who spouts out/rants about his acquired wisdom over the years.
PW: Do you have a favourite track on the collection and if so, which is it and why?
A: No favourite track as such. However I am most happy with “All The Women” and “Man of Truth” as they are best I have written so far.
PW: How easy/hard do you find the song-writing process and who/what most inspires you?
A: For me it is a question of how much in love I am with song-writing. When I am in love with it, all my energy flows in that direction and it is a happy process. However I am currently out of love with song writing and I can’t force myself to write. So I just play songs by other artists I love and enjoy playing the guitar.
PW: Which song, in your opinion, is the greatest ever written and why?
A: I don’t think of songs like that. However “Into My Arms” by Nick Cave is the most perfect first verse.
PW: If you could play one venue anywhere in the world, which would it be and why?
A: Wembley, because Freddie Mercury played there and also because it would mean that the songs I have written have resonated with people.
PW: If you could share a stage with four other bands or artists, who can be living or dead, who would they be and why?
A: Neil Young, Nick Cave, Lou Reed & Noel Gallagher.
PW: What are your upcoming tour/performance plans?
A: A few gigs in London and my first Indian tour!
PW: What are your thoughts on social media and do you agree that it’s a necessary tool for bands and artists today?
A: Apart from Facebook, I don’t think of social media. I probably should begin to! It is a fantastic tool for any creative person for their work to be experienced vicariously.
PW: What does the rest of the year have in store for you?
A: An Indian tour which I am very much looking forward to. And a
mild case of depression, I think.
PW: Finally then, what’s your ultimate ambition as an artist and what advice would you give to anyone looking to make it in the industry?
A: No ambition. Just enjoying the process of writing songs and playing them live. This is what I would say to anyone looking to make it.
Check out the video for “Texture Composure” below and for more information on Alluri, visit his website give his page a like on Facebook or follow him on Twitter.
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