By Tammy Hua
Earlier in March, The Scarlet Opera, a 5-piece rock band currently based in LA, discussed their debut EP, titled “Comedy,” and their upcoming West Coast tour that took place throughout April. The group is currently composed of frontman and lead vocalist, Luka, Colin on the keys, guitarist, Chance, Daniel on bass, and drummer, Justin. The Scarlet Opera’s dramatic style and stage performance always makes for a show that the artists have frequently described as “theatrical.” This inevitably has brought upon the group comparisons to other popular artists such as Queen. When asked if they shy away from or welcome these types of comparisons the artists answered, “It is an honor because they’re such an iconic band. It’s pure coincidence for better or for worse. We never set out to be one specific thing. When we started making music our soundscape was so many different things. We narrowed in on this because its what gave us all joy.”
The group talked a good amount about their debut EP, “Comedy,” which released near the end of March. They delved into everything from the meaning behind the songs as well as their writing and recording process. They mentioned the distinction and irony behind the uplifting and high energy melodies within the EP and how it pairs with lyrics which contain a not as fun sentiment. “We decided to title the EP, ‘Comedy,’ because if you listen to the lyrics they sound a bit hopeless but because of the music, it’s lifted up and thrown in a different direction. Not that this was intentional but we found that a lot of the lyrics were about the journey from Pennsylvania to Los Angeles and what it means to be a struggling artist for all five of us. Like having day jobs but being signed. A lot of the struggles you hear about vary from identity and trying to make it in this world, whatever that means. Not necessarily just music but love and romance, many things.”
Before releasing their EP, The Scarlet Opera had released a few singles. This includes their most popular and most streamed song, titled “Alive.” The band was asked about their writing process and inspiration behind the single. “That was one of the first days I got to sit down with our producer one on one, David Stewart. He sat down at the piano and started playing, it started off really slow as the song does. As he kept playing we kept adding different ideas and it started gaining momentum. The song started to reveal what it wanted to be in a way because it started to pick itself up and start running. It immediately made me start thinking about ideology on life and the difference between giving up and giving in. As we started working on the lyrics there were things we ended up taking out so we could make it more accessible so everyone else could basically fill in the blanks.”
The popularity of this single, which currently has over a million streams on Spotify, skyrocketed the group’s debut, additionally helping them land a gig on The Late Late Show, which ended up being their television debut. The artists touched on this specific performance a bit more. “Everything happened so fast. Our manager was telling us ‘they want you to perform ‘Alive.’’ It was everybody’s favorite and ours as well. Because we’d done quite a bit performances and they tend to be theatrical, we ended up actually having to pull back a bit for television and camera.” One of the unique factors that The Scarlet Opera brings to the table is in fact their live performances and the theatrics and grandness that they incorporate. From elaborate costumes to performing as fictional characters, audiences can expect the unexpected at a Scarlet Opera concert. “What we try to convey is to rid yourself of any shame and to let go and become your best self.” The group references the classic novel, The Scarlet Letter, and the themes behind it’s plot as inspiration for the meaning behind their music and their overall meaning as musicians and artists. Frontman, Luka, lists common aspects to their style and aesthetic describing it as “fine art renaissance” and being “flamboyant” and full of “sexual prowess.” “When we’re writing, the live show is in mind. We see ourselves as entertainers and a live band than recording artists.”
The group touched on their roots and origins as well, with most of the members having studied music throughout higher education. Before being signed the band would typically play gigs at small venues and clubs. Some of their closest collaborators are individuals that members had known personally and for a long time before the group rose in fame. Most of the credit for the band’s fashion sense and on-stage wardrobe can be given to Luka and his close friend, Athena. The two had met in their first year of college and worked together since. She had studied costuming for theater shows, so Luka found that a good fit for The Scarlet Opera’s theatrical style. They also work with a stylist named Kenn Law, an accomplished costume designer and stylist who’s worked with other big names such as Ben Platt and Glass Animals. Luka explained saying, “I didn’t know how to dress grown men anymore. We wanted to show a true rock opera, something romantic and a little hyper sexual. It’s about taking whatever you’re supposed to feel shame about and lifting it into a world that’s finer.” Colin also chimed in stating “We’re all best friends but person to person couldn’t be more different. We wanted to make each member lifted up in their own element.”
As the rock band is still in their early years of the industry, there’s a lot that they’ve learned as artists already. When asked as to what were some of the most important things they’ve come to know as a band they said, “To not anything to preciously. Initially I thought that I needed to care about every single aspect, but that puts you in a position to die on every hill.” “Know who you’re writing for. Four of us went to music school. You get caught in this trap of writing for musicians and forget that 90% of people have no clue about that stuff and you end up creating art in this vacuum.”
Check out The Scarlet Opera on Instagram
Watch their performance of “Alive” on The Late Late Show
Listen to Comedy and “Alive” here
Thank you to 1824 for the opportunity to hear from The Scarlet Opera!
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