The year 2013 proved a bit grueling for the band Ra Ra Riot. After playing 125 shows that year, the band took a moment to catch their collective breath. When making their latest album, Need Your Light, Ra Ra Riot wanted to take their time. "We decided we weren't' going to rush into anything," frontman Wes Miles explained. "That kind of provided us with a lot of mental freedom, and that's kind of where we took a lot of inspiration from the beginning to the end of making this record. That's part of what allowed us to have more upbeat music."

Now touring in support of Need Your Light, which includes a stop at the Triple Rock Social Club in Minneapolis, Ra Ra Riot stopped in to The Current's studio for a session hosted by Jade. Along with Miles, Ra Ra Riot comprise Milo Bonacci on guitar, Mathieu Santos on bass, Rebecca Zeller on violin, Kenny Bernard on drums and Lavena Johanson on cello.

On Need Your Light, Ra Ra Riot collaborated with producer Rostam Batmanglij, formerly of Vampire Weekend. Those early collaborations ultimately led to the realization of the full album.

Listen to the complete in-studio session to hear more about Ra Ra Riot's work with Batmanglij, about their origins as a house-concert band, and about the benefits of Wes Miles' decision to wear his contacts while performing onstage.

Songs Performed

"Absolutely"
"Water"
"Foreign Lovers"
All songs from Ra Ra Riot's 2016 album, Need Your Light, available on Barsuk Records.

Hosted by Jade
Produced by Derrick Stevens
Engineered by Michael DeMark and Sasha Druva
Visuals by Nate Ryan
Web feature by Luke Taylor

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