Following the acclaimed debut album Big Speak, Ra Ra Viper return with their sophomore record, RA RA, a project that reflects both their musical evolution and the growing bond between its members. Where Big Speak explored a darker side of the band’s sound, the new album embraces a lighter, more energetic and adventurous approach, with the band allowing instinct and experimentation to guide the creative process.
Across RA RA, dreamy textures and atmospheric arrangements sit alongside loud guitars, driving rhythms and the kind of explosive energy that has become central to the band’s live performances. From the cinematic “Half Asleep Behind The Wheel” featuring longtime friends Little Guilt to the swaggering, hard-hitting “Sister,” the album brings together different influences while maintaining a sound that feels Ra Ra Viper distinctly.
Their journey since Big Speak has also taken them far beyond the studio, including appearances at SummerSalt, Yours & Owls and Party in the Paddock, a national tour with The Wombats and a 20-plus-date North American run supporting Old Mervs. Those experiences have given the band new places, audiences and musical influences to draw from, while reinforcing their ambition to take Ra Ra Viper to an even wider international audience.
With RA RA marking what the band sees as an important new chapter, Ra Ra Viper are embracing their progression without losing the friendship, spontaneity and sense of fun that brought them together in the first place. In this conversation, the band talks about the making of RA RA, the stories behind its songs, the importance of authenticity, their approach to collaboration, life on the road, their ambitions for the future, and the dream of one day taking their music to the Glastonbury stage.
For readers discovering you and your music for the first time, who are Ra Ra Viper?
Ra Ra Viper: We are 5 mates from Fremantle, Western Australia, who all have a love for music. We came together after meeting at the local footy club, and from then on we have always been about using music to express our emotions, break away from everyday life, and to have fun whilst trying to emote feelings to our audiences..
You’ve described RA RA as a lighter, happier, and more energetic record compared to your debut Big Speak. What changed for the band between the two albums?
Ra Ra Viper: As a band, we feel like we wanted to use Big Speak to break away from traditional indie rock and try to separate a little bit from that. After Big Speak was released, we wanted to move more towards a happier vibe because whilst it did its job, we definitely found it to be quite dark at times. Moving into the second album, we also referenced a lot more artists that we were into at the time, and to be honest, the lighter and happier side came pretty subconsciously.
What does the title RA RA represent for you, and why did it feel like the right title for this album?
Ra Ra Viper: Ra Ra to us represents progression not only in our music, but also in our friendships as bandmates. Throughout the writing process, we spent a lot of time together just listening to all the latest music that we liked and talking about it; in fact, in some writing sessions we wouldn’t even write much; it was just about becoming inspired. I think towards the end we realised how much closer and cohesive we had become, both as mates and as songwriters. We felt it deserved the name because we believe that it represents all of the music we not only love, but also grew up with. There is a little piece of each of us injected into songs throughout the album.
What inspired the making of this project?
Ra Ra Viper: Jack from the band was once at a festival in Byron Bay, and he saw a band called “Hockey Dad” play; from there, he was certain that he wanted to start Ra Ra Viper. He and Oli, our singer, then bonded over music whilst driving to football games together, and from there we got together, and all started jamming. From there, the rest is history; our love of music has only become stronger, and being able to perform in front of people became infectious. We just could never stop!
Your new album explores a wider range of sounds, from dreamy and atmospheric moments to loud, guitar-driven rock. How did you approach creating that sonic diversity?
Ra Ra Viper: Honestly, we really just went with how we felt in the moment. When we thought something sounded cool, we just recorded it and stuck with it. There were no boundaries or anything like that; we wanted to have fun and make something that we enjoyed, and it turned out the way it did!
“Half Asleep Behind The Wheel,” featuring Little Guilt, has a very dreamy, cinematic quality. What inspired the song, and how did the collaboration with Little Guilt come together?
Ra Ra Viper: A couple of the band members actually live with the keys player from Little Guilt and have often worked on music together. We had also toured with them quite a bit and became really good friends. It was a bit of a random decision, but one day when we were together we were just like, we should make a song together! We all get along really well and enjoy the same kind of music, so it felt really natural coming together to work with them.
“Sister” presents a very different side of the album: loud and chaotic. What inspired the song, and how did the real-life story behind the lyrics shape it?
Ra Ra Viper: Sister was inspired by older bands such as The Dandy Warhols and the Brian Jonestown Massacre. The sort of phasing guitars felt like we were bringing a bit of their vibe into the track whilst keeping hard-hitting and heavier sections. The lyrics in the song are actually based on a friend of ours who got into a bit of an argument with someone at a house party many years ago!
Big Speak introduced Ra Ra Viper to a much wider audience, followed by festival appearances and tours with The Wombats and Old Mervs. Did those experiences influence the making of RA RA?
Ra Ra Viper: Those experiences definitely did play a part in the new record. Being given those experiences allowed us to meet new people, experience new places, and also play to bigger crowds. This then allowed us to discuss music and experiences more and open new doors to inspiration. It definitely feels like our music taste changed over these tours.
RA RA feels like a new chapter for the band. What do you think listeners will understand about Ra Ra Viper after hearing this album that they might not have understood from Big Speak?
Ra Ra Viper: I think/hope that listeners can hear that we are trying to be experimental and create something that, whilst it enhances older references, still feels new and refreshing. I think it will also help people to understand us as a band as well and maybe see the kind of influence others have had on our music.
If you had to choose one song on RA RA that best represents where Ra Ra Viper are right now, which would it be and why?
Ra Ra Viper: I think Sister best represents us at the moment. It reflects both melodies and classic hard-hitting rock and roll. We feel like we were able to extract everything from our musical influences as well as encapsulate our live show in one. We absolutely love getting sweaty and ramping up crowds, and this song is an absolute staple in doing this at our live sets.
You have Australian and New Zealand touring in the works, followed by plans for Europe. What are you most looking forward to about bringing RA RA to audiences around the world?
Ra Ra Viper: We are really excited about showing our progression as a band to people around Australia. We have come a long way since our last national tour, and we can’t wait to showcase that. In regards to touring internationally, we are so keen to get our music to a wider audience and introduce ourselves to people who may have never heard of us before. We also have had a lot of people overseas who have never seen us play live before, so it is going to be a great experience getting to show them our show and meet new people.
After everything the band has experienced since Big Speak, what are you hoping this next chapter of RA RA Viper looks like?
Ra Ra Viper: I think from here we hope that people around the world can see us as a serious band who want to bring our music to people around the world. Whilst it is still fun and a passion for us, we want to take it as far as we can and make the most of the rare opportunity that we have.
Finally, what would you like listeners to feel when they reach the end of RA RA?
Ra Ra Viper: We hope that people can walk away and think they have heard something that sounds familiar but also new and distinctly Ra Ra Viper. We also want people to experience the emotions we felt whilst writing the music and be able to relate to it on a personal level.
Message to fans and readers?
Ra Ra Viper: Thank you to anyone who has taken the time to listen and support us! We hope you enjoy not only this album but all of our music as much as we do, and you can relate to it in one way or another.
Quick Fire With Ra Ra Viper
What does authenticity mean to Ra Ra Viper?
Ra Ra Viper: Authenticity is a key value of all of us in the band. We try to portray this through everything we do, whether that’s through our music or meeting fans at shows. We want people to relate to not only our music but also us as people.
Do you think the best songs happen when you overthink them or when you simply let things happen naturally?
Ra Ra Viper: 100% when they happen naturally. We have spent weeks in the studio and walked out with nothing, and then sometimes within an hour or two we have written a complete song!
What is one thing you never want Ra Ra Viper to lose as the band continues to grow?
Ra Ra Viper: We never want to lose our ability to work collaboratively. We all bring particular skills to the band, and we like to say that we are a democracy; I believe this is our greatest strength, and I hope we never lose this.
Has your definition of success changed since the release of Big Speak?
Ra Ra Viper: I think it has; success is often based on streaming numbers, tickets sold, etc. However, now I think whilst those things matter from a business standpoint, success for us is also about loving what you are creating and having fun.
What keeps you motivated when you’re not on stage or in the studio?
Ra Ra Viper: Listening to music definitely keeps us motivated. We always take what other people have done and explore it. Seeing our friends do well in other aspects of life is also a massive motivator.
If you had to describe Ra Ra Viper in three words, what would they be?
Ra Ra Viper: Fun, Energetic, RaRa
What makes a great live show from your perspective?
Ra Ra Viper: The perfect balance between high and low moments. Being able to create a set that goes up and down and takes the crowd with it is so important; seeing crowds go from mellow at the start to heaving at the end is always so cool to see.
If Ra Ra Viper could headline any festival in the world, which one would it be?
Ra Ra Viper: I think it would have to be Glastonbury; we all dream of going there!
Is there an album that you wish you had made?
Ra Ra Viper: Fontaines DC, Dogrel.
What usually sparks an idea for a Ra Ra Viper song, a lyric, a guitar part, a feeling, a story, or something completely unexpected?
Ra Ra Viper: Usually it starts with guitars, but to be honest, it can come from anywhere! We have started songs with synths, samples, drums, bass etc. Its really pretty hard to say as it always starts differently.
