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North East emo pop rockers Red Remedy talk about the inspirations and narratives behind their new single, and how their new line-up has give the band a fresh lease of life
With a new line-up and a refreshed sound, North East emo pop rockers Red Remedy prepare to release their new single, Stockholm. Here, lead guitarist and songwriter Zach Barlow talks about the track and the narratives behind it.
We’re Northern, loud and emotional. That’s how I’d describe Red Remedy. Our new single Stockholm is the best representation of that – a track that blends the raw emotion of rock with modern influences like electronica and pop. We’ve always taken inspiration from bands like Hot Milk, Yours Truly and Pierce the Veil, and this song channels that same intense energy. It’s about emotional captivity, the feeling of being trapped in a relationship where you’re tied to someone you know you should walk away from, but something keeps you there.
The song’s narrative is deeply personal. Stockholm is about being held hostage emotionally. The fear of being alone and the mental battle that comes with it is something I’ve experienced, and I think a lot of people can relate to that. The first verse sets that tone:
“You don’t want the truth, so you make your own / I don’t want you to, cos I’d be so alone / Let’s rewrite your past, and make sure you’re mine.”
It’s about willingly distorting reality just to stay connected to someone, even though you know it’s wrong. There’s a lot of vulnerability in those lines, and it hits hard when we play it live. Syren’s vocals bring out the rawness of the emotion, especially when the chorus kicks in.
“Stuck here, helping the hurt and weary / I’m the accomplice to the one who took me hostage / I won’t leave until he’s taken all I am.”
That chorus is the core of the song. It’s about giving so much of yourself to someone that you end up trapped, drained, and feeling like you’ve lost who you are. Syren nailed it — her voice captures both the strength and fragility behind those words. Live, her performance pulls everyone in. The energy shifts and the whole room feels it.
Having Reiss (our drummer) and Syren (vocals) on board has been a game-changer for us. Reiss brought this urgency to the track that drives it forward. His drumming pushes the song to the next level, especially during the choruses when everything comes crashing in. It’s a perfect blend of our rock roots with a modern, dynamic sound. And Syren — she’s just incredible. She has this raw power that lifts everything we do, especially in the more emotional tracks like Stockholm. Her ad-libs during our live sets make every performance unique, and her connection to the lyrics gives the song a whole new dimension.
Dean (our other guitarist) and I are constantly blown away by how much Reiss and Syren have added to our sound. We’ve always been about blending genres — rock, pop, electronica — and now, with their input, we’ve hit our stride. Something is electrifying about the way it all comes together, especially when we’re on stage. When Syren hits those notes and Reiss powers through the drums, it feels like the whole band is firing on all cylinders. We’re Northern, loud, emotional—and this song is us at our best.
The second verse digs deeper into the emotional loss that comes with toxic relationships:
“Thinking about my past, is all a blur now / Talking is such a task, he’s all I have now / Slowly losing a part of myself.”
It’s about how you start to lose pieces of who you are when you’re so consumed by someone else. You lose your sense of identity. We layered in some atmospheric elements to give this part a foggy, disorienting feel — it mirrors the way everything feels hazy when you’re trapped in that kind of relationship. It’s that moment in the song where everything slows down before the chaos hits again with the chorus.
Stockholm represents a real turning point for us as a band. With Reiss and Syren, we’ve evolved, pushing the boundaries of what we used to do. We’re always looking for ways to mix things up, whether that’s pulling from rock, pop, electronica, or even something unexpected. The direction we’re heading feels like we’ve finally found the sound that truly represents us.
We’re incredibly excited about what’s next. Taking Stockholm live has been an amazing experience, and we’re just getting started. This song isn’t just about love or pain — it’s about reclaiming a sense of freedom. We want people to feel that when they listen or see us live. It’s raw, emotional, and liberating, and we hope the audience connects with it the same way we do.
