Interview: How darkwave duo Red Mecca Survived chaos and relapse
Jun 2026 08

On their new album Red Mecca, a duo from Northern Sweden, successfully blend darkwave, post-punk, synthpop, and cinematic electronica. But it was far from certain that this album would see the light of day. Vocalist Susanne Jonsson’s sister was murdered, her relationship crashed and Jan Strandqvist fell back into drug and alcohol abuse. Release Magazine editor-in-chief Mikael Kahrle asked the creative duo about their painful journey, their genres and influences – ranging from Tubeway Army, Joy Division and Cabaret Voltaire to Massive Attack, why the former vocalist Frida Madeleine left and and receiving some remarkably honest and interesting answers. [more...]