In July 2019, I was pleased to have Something Else! publish my interview with Refuge, a rock ‘n’ roll band of multinational youths living in Nairobi, Kenya. At the time, their EP Haven to a Heavy Soul was newly released and receiving acclaim. With nine original songs covering a wide range of lyrical topics, Refuge was also preparing for their first international festival in Germany. With the many unexpected changes brought about in 2020, I thought it a good time to catch up with Patrick, Gabe, Silas, Ben, Teresa, and Ike:
GREG GRANGER: Thank you for agreeing to this interview. I have enjoyed keeping up with your social-media posts, although of late it’s necessarily more from the practice room than the performing stage. Does that about sum it up? A year ago you were planning for the Bautz Festival in Germany. How did that go and how do you feel you were received?
SILAS: The Bautz Festival in Germany was easily one of the greatest moments in our lives so far. I feel like we played to the best of our abilities at that time, and really impressed ourselves and hopefully the people who were able to witness the performance. I feel as though we were received very well by our audience, which grew throughout our set, and that people enjoyed the music we played that day.
GREG GRANGER: I very much enjoy Haven to a Heavy Soul, as have people with whom I’ve shared it. How do you feel it has been received? You have received radio play, right?
PATRICK: Yeah, Haven to a Heavy Soul was such an amazing experience for all of us. I think it was received quite well. In Kenya, “Gone Astray” reached No. 1 in the rock charts, which was amazing.
GREG GRANGER: I have to ask – how are you and your families doing? How are you coping during these pandemic conditions?
SILAS: Our families are all doing well, and we are doing better than ever. I feel like we have responded to this pandemic with productivity and improvement, rather than giving up and complaining. Our best music so far has come out of this time period, and we are excited to show it to the world.
GREG GRANGER: Have there been any changes in the line-up? And what about your repertory? Any new directions the band is taking, either with cover tunes or originals? Who is writing what these days?
PATRICK: So, there haven’t been any changes to the lineup but our repertoire has definitely changed a lot. We have incorporated a lot of new sounds and genres to our music which we find that fit. For example, we’ve dived deep into funk and reggae, while still keeping our roots in blues and classic rock. Writing wise, I feel like we have all been contributing a lot in the new songs. I think I have brought more of the element of reggae, while Ben has brought a lot of funk to it. Silas has done the same with reggae and blues, and Gabe keeps our element of roots rock quite strong. Recently, we’ve focused a lot on the message of our lyrics. Teresa and I write the majority of the lyrics, and recently we’ve been covering issues such drug addiction, poverty, and daily hustling in the songs. We think that those issues are constantly overlooked in the modern day and need to be heard.
GREG GRANGER: I’m wondering if you are familiar with the likes of Marcus King and Blackberry Smoke? It seems like Refuge has been following a similar path, keeping the classic-rock vibe but updated to a 21st Century context. Is this still the goal?
SILAS: Yes, we are all huge fans of Marcus King and Blackberry Smoke. However, we are trying to bring back righteous music, and so not just classic rock. The music that we are producing is a blend of genres from reggae to alternative, but we want our sound to be unidentifiable with one genre.
GREG GRANGER: Taking things in a more technical direction, let’s briefly review the gear that Refuge uses. What are the members’ go-to guitars, basses, amps, mics, and drums? Effects?
PATRICK: For me personally, my go-to guitar is a Gibson SG Classic. I also love Gibson single or triple pickup Firebirds. I’m currently using a Laney, but my favorite amp would have to be Marshall Astoria CME. My dream amp would have to be a Vox AC30. It’s great for reggae rhythm.
GREG GRANGER: Teresa, do you follow any specific regimen for maintaining and developing your vocal skills? Who are your vocalist role models?
TERESA: Yes, I train weekly with my vocal coach who keeps me on a solid regimen that is helping develop my range and control. For role models, I would say that Freddie Mercury is still my favorite singer – even though I can’t sing like him at all – but I connect more with the style and range of someone like Eddie Vedder or Grace Slick.
GREG GRANGER: Thank you, Refuge, for this update, and we certainly wish you the best of health and good rockin’ times ahead.
