Rebel Red finds her roots here in Warwick

Warwick—There are plenty of things interesting about Rebel Red—her passion, her choices and not least of all, her music. Influenced by the likes of Martha and the Vandellas, Dolly Parton, Bob Dylan, The Beatles and Ray Charles, this Warwick transplant just released her first album in more than 16 years called “Sex, Religion, Politics.” Her journey to this place, though, is intriguing. Red was born in New York City and grew up in England. She found music pretty early, playing piano at age 7 and picking up the guitar at 14. She fronted English bands on U.S. military bases mostly in Germany. It was a great experience for her. “It was hard work—six nights a week—but I learned a lot, and the soldiers turned me on to some great R&B, soul and country singers, taking me back to my American roots.” After Red returned to the states she continued with her music, cutting her first album called “Water Planet.” Ch-ch-changes “I’ve taken such a different place with my music since then,” she said. “This is Act 2.” But then she made changes in her life. A mom to two sons, she became passionate about yoga, specifically Iyengar yoga. She traveled to India several times to study and opened her own business, the Iyengar Yoga School in Waldwick, N.J. That business was very successful and, along with motherhood, she threw herself into it. That began her long hiatus form music. But then she had an awakening. About six years ago, Red, whose given name is Kim Peralta, moved to the Village of Warwick. Shortly after, a friend of hers called her out of the blue. He had found her old album, said it was incredible, and wanted to jam with her. They did—and she was bitten again by the music bug. “It was a spiritual awakening for me,” said Red as she sipped coffee at Caffe ala Mode. “God gave me this talent and I have a duty to do something with it.” That drive grew and grew until “I couldn’t suppress it anymore.” She began playing at some local open mics, including the Friday night venue at Caffe ala Mode, Thursdays at Bodles in Chester and one Saturday a month at the Mission in West Milford, N.J. She soon knew this was what she had to do with her life. “The most important thing is connecting with the audience,” said Red. “I might as well be at Carnegie Hall. When you connect with the audience and they take something from it, that’s just the best feeling you can have as a musician.” This ain’t no disco People are connecting to her as well. The CD released on June 1 is getting national airtime from Connecticut to Texas to Colorado. She describes her style as roots rock or swamp rock, with a lazy, laid-back beat. Some tunes are very danceable and uplifting; others more serious. “The album has a kind of 60s retro feel to it,” Red said. And while she named the album “Sex, Religion, Politics,” the topics of her songs are more like Relationships, Spirituality, Society. The album’s anti-war song, “Body Count,” is against the war, she said, certainly not anti-troops. It is #96 on Neil Young’s “Living with War Today” Web site. The tune “On My Guard” deals with the games people play in relationships. “Dusty Shack” is fun to listen to and includes her son’s friends in it. She also works with some pretty impressive musicians, including Dave Edwards, another resident of Warwick who Red describes as a “music prodigy.” Edwards, she said, plays drums with her, but also double bass, electric bass, lead guitar and violin. He will appear with her on Saturday, July 26, at the Railroad Green as part of the village’s Summer Concert Series, as well as on July 31 at the Lycian lawn series. The long and winding road Red is following that calling to make music full-time now. She has given up her business in New Jersey and teaches a Yoga class here in Warwick. She is already working on her next album, with six songs in the can and several more in the works. She has her own studio in her Clinton Avenue home and has started her own label called - what else - redZrecordZ. “This is a community co-op label,” she said. She is producing two other albums currently, by Mark McNutt of Warwick and Tommy Jay of Rockland County. Her outlook on music is a bright one. “Now, musicians control things (in the music business),” she said. “There are a whole lot of levels of success. The choices are not just you are a star or nothing. Independent musicians are successful—you don’t have to sign with a label to be successful. There are all kinds of outlets for songwriters and musicians. You do it for the joy of it.” Village of Warwick Summer Concert Series presents Rebel Red, a local favorite who blends urban & country with a little pop and R&B thrown in for good measure. Bring your chairs or blankets. 7 p.m., July 26. Free. Railroad Green. Railroad Avenue. Warwick. For more information, call 845 986-9463. FYI For more about Rebel Red, check out rebelredmusic.com or myspace.com/rebelredmusic. Her first CD is in more than 16 years - “Sex, Religion, Politics” - is available on CDBaby.com.