The Reds, Pinks & Purples' Glenn Donaldson talks new LP, emo, goth & more (BV Interviews)

Glenn Donaldson, a Bay Area musician who had stepped away from indie rock, began writing again by focusing on his own life in San Francisco and the relationships formed there. The Reds Pinks & Purples started during the early pandemic, with songs posted on Bandcamp as they were finished. Bandcamp provided an outlet and a low-key aesthetic that helped him connect with a small audience. The project developed a recognizable sound of lo-fi, hazy janglepop paired with gloomy lyrics, often about being in bands, and artwork featuring local flora and Richmond architecture. The project expanded from a solo effort into a full band, releasing records on Slumberland and later signing to Fire Records for the album Acknowledge Kindness.

"“I realized just walking around the neighborhood I live in, that it just would be about me and about the neighborhood, about my life being in San Francisco and kinda my friends here, my friendships I've had here that have come and gone, or romances that faded or romances that were rekindled.”"

"“Bandcamp really relaunched me into doing all this. I realized people weren't buying cassettes and CDRs like they used to, and I didn't have an outlet anymore. And then I just really liked the aesthetics of Bandcamp and how low-key it was, but it just still felt like I can connect with a few people this way.”"

"“With a distinct style - gloomy lyrics, often about being in bands, set to low fi hazy janglepop, and artwork that featured the flora and architecture of his San Francisco neighborhood (Richmond) - The Reds Pinks & Purples took off in ways that Donaldson's other bands never quite did and he was soon putting out records on long-running indie label Slumberland.”"

"“The solo project became an actual band and the RPPs are now signed to Fire Records, who just released his first album for the label, Acknowledge Kindness, which is the project's most accomplished record so far.”"

Read at BrooklynVegan