Interview: RGB discuss new album, band origins, Israel-Hamas war and more

Written By Neil Shumate, OOTB Publications

Israeli-based indie pop trio RGB (Red, Green, Blue) recently released their second album A Place For Lovers, which follows 2021’s The Art Of Passing Time and 2020 EP In Sight. The band’s slogan “adding color to your life” complements their new album as it takes listeners on a colorful, relaxing, electronically backed journey from keyboardist-producer Alon Kenett with happy-sad lyrics and soothing vocals from singer-songwriter couple Roy Bartal and Noi Agam.

From the 13-song new album, RGB have released four singles (“Parties,” “Write About You,” “iCare,” “Unhappy”), and in conjunction with the album release, a new video for “Green.”

In this OOTB interview, RGB goes in depth detailing the meaning and concept of the new album, music’s impact on forming the band, affects of the Israel-Hamas war, future plans and much more.

Watch “Green” Video

In what ways do you hope A Place For Lovers will resonate with listeners?

We hope A Place For Lovers feels like a place of comfort and hope for anyone who listens. This album came from a really personal place for us—it was written during some tough times, and it’s full of the raw, “green” emotions we were going through.

We want listeners to know that it’s okay to feel those darker, complicated feelings because they’re part of what makes us grow. We’ve all been there, and we hope people hear their own stories in our songs and realize they’re not alone.

More than anything, we want this album to be a place where you can find some light in the darkness, connect with your emotions, and feel the love we’ve put into every note.

What’s your personal favorite song on the new album and why is it your favorite track?

It’s hard to pick just one favorite because it changes all the time, but "Meeting at Dawn" holds a special place for us. It was the first song we wrote for the album, and it really sets the tone for the rest of the story.

The song is incredibly intimate, yet the chorus, with the line "I don't wanna be alone," feels universal. Loneliness is something we all experience at times, and the whole idea of the album was to create a place of pure love, where we can feel a little less alone together, even if just for a moment. That idea is both beautiful and chilling, and that’s why "Meeting at Dawn" stands out for us.

Did the surrounding geography and environment while traveling in Georgia and Poland influence your writing on this album? If so, how so?

Most of our songs were written in moments of solitude in Roy and Noi’s little apartment, so we didn’t do much writing while traveling in Georgia and Poland. During those trips, we focused on producing, recording, and shooting visuals.

Being in those beautiful, quiet places allowed us to step away from our usual distractions and really immerse ourselves in what we love doing. It gave us the space to refine every song and fully dive into the process, bringing a fresh energy and focus to the album that might not have been possible otherwise.

How did the concept arise for the inclusion of such fun artistic visuals, both on the website and the music videos via GTV/Green TV, to incorporate into this album’s songs and the reimagined versions?

Early on, we realized the lyrics had a night-themed vibe, which led to the creation of Green TV—a space for escapism inspired by childhood memories of falling asleep with the TV on, where dreams and TV would merge into a surreal fantasy. Green TV is vibrant and colorful, contrasting with the sadness woven through the night and the album, embracing all emotions while offering a brief escape from reality.

To align the album’s energy with this concept, we start with “Pain Killer,” a soft, lullaby-like track symbolizing falling asleep, and move to “Meeting at Dawn,” marking the start of the night journey. “Green” acts as the gateway to Green TV, leading into more energetic, festive tracks that balance happiness and sadness. We end with “Parties,” where the TV shuts off, signaling the end of night and arrival of morning. When “Last Night” plays, it reflects on the journey, acknowledging that life is a constant balance of joy and sorrow—a true happy-sad experience.

What was it that made you first become interested in music, overall? When did you tell yourself: This is it, this is what I want to do?

Music has always been a part of our lives—it’s where we found freedom, self-expression, and a way to connect with the world around us.

Alon and Noi actually studied music together in high school, and Roy even saw Noi perform before they ever met. We all shared the dream of being musicians, but it wasn’t until we came together as a group that everything really clicked. That’s when we truly understood our vision and what we wanted to create.

We’ve each had our struggles and doubts, but being part of this group keeps us grounded. Music, for us, is about finding community, love, and a way to navigate life’s ups and downs. That’s when we knew—this is what we’re meant to do.

This October it’ll be a year since the Hamas-led attack on Israel. Being from the area, how has this personally impacted and affected you?

This year has been incredibly challenging in so many ways. The attack was shocking, and the instability in our lives since has been really draining. But events like this make you reflect on what’s truly important, and doing what we love together has given us a lot of strength during this time.

There’s been a sense of dissonance, trying to release music while there’s so much heartache in the world, but we also believe that the love and light in our music is needed now more than ever.

When we started this album, we didn’t realize how dark the night could get, and every day since, we’ve had to find the light, just as we preached. It feels like we were put to the test. Sometimes, it’s like our songs know what’s coming before we do.

In our first album, we said, "I can tell a war is coming, just don’t forget the art of passing time," meaning everything will eventually pass. We try to remember that. We never imagined we’d be releasing our second album in the middle of a war, but that’s just how life is sometimes.

What’s next for the band after this release?

We have some exciting shows planned for the year, starting in Los Angeles in October, so that’s something we’re really looking forward to. It’ll be really cool to finally play these songs live.

We’re also already working on new music, so there’s plenty to look forward to. And who knows—there might even be a "red" concept album in the works... maybe, just maybe.

Is there anything else you’d like to add?

We just hope you feel the love we’ve put into A Place for Lovers and that it helps you get up in the morning, no matter how tough it gets.

We wrote these songs when we were feeling down, so we hope they remind you that you’re never alone. Find the light, and remember—it’s okay to be "green."

Thank you so much for having us!

A Place For Lovers Track Listing

1. Pain Killer

2. Meeting at Dawn

3. Green

4. Write About You

5. iCare

6. Everything is Fine

7. The Corner of My Mind

8. Unhappy

9. Goodnight Moon

10. Pizza