RGB, a pop trio comprised of singer/songwriters Roy Bartal and Noi Agam and keyboardist/producer Alon Kenett, use their pop sound to spread happiness and joy, all the while recognizing that life can take you to a dark place before finding that light again. The fully independent trio writes, creates, and produces all of their music and videos. We talked to them about the process of creating their sophomore album, A Place for Lovers.
Roy and Noi, you were brought together by your love for each other and music - how did RGB come to be?
Noi: We had both been doing music for most of our lives, but when we met while traveling, we just had fun and remembered how much joy there is in making music together. I think I've always been more careful and restrained in a way, but when I met Roy, he had this carefree vibe, like, "What's there to overthink or be scared about?" and he was like, "Let's make a band!"
Roy: Yeah, I guess I just had this feeling that this is what we should be doing together. The more we grew as a couple, the more our dream of the band grew with us. We always laugh and say, "Oh, none of us knew what we were getting into." What started as this silly band idea slowly became the theme of our lives.
When bringing Alon into the mix, how did you come to this decision? Were you worried at all because of your existing tight-knit dynamic?
Roy: Noi and I were acoustic for a little while as we wrote our first songs, but for me, the idea was always about creating a community. So, pretty quickly, we expanded to a full 6-member band, which became the base for creating our debut album, The Art of Passing Time. We went through a few versions of RGB, but after that album, it was clear that we found the core of RGB with Alon as the three of us.
Noi: I actually knew Alon from high school, and when we were looking to expand, I immediately thought of him. His optimistic energy from those years just stayed in my mind until the time was right, and when Alon joined us in 2020, it just clicked. Musically, we were always on the same page, sharing similar visions but we also realized we saw RGB's future the same way, both musically and as partners. It felt like everything finally fell into place.
Alon: We really wanted to create a little family, and that's exactly how we feel after the last four years together. We know each other so well and have been through so much together. There's no replacement for that feeling.
Now, congrats on your sophomore album! How has this album process differed from your debut album?
Noi: Honestly, most of the songs on this album were written when I was really depressed, and I felt like I needed to be truly honest and write about the complexities we were feeling. The first album was about the idea of time passing, enjoying the good in life while it lasts, but knowing that dark times will eventually come. In this album, the night has definitely come. So, what now? How does this sadness affect our relationship? It's almost like a yin-yang idea, and now we're exploring the darker side.
Alon: Yeah, I totally agree. This theme really inspired us musically. We felt like we could venture into darker, more experimental areas and really highlight this concept in our production. Also, it was all made in Roy and Noi's small apartment, and I feel like that intimacy ended up really resonating in the music.
Roy: I also think the fact that this is the first album we've solo-produced, just the three of us, gave us more freedom but also a clearer vision and more time to experiment, whether that meant merging our ideas or letting them go. Whatever's best for the band or the song—that's what we focus on. No ego involved.
When you enter your sessions, has each been different, or do you have a very specific process when it comes to songwriting for y'all?
Alon: We're flexible in our approach. Roy sometimes writes as he produces, while Noi usually completes a song on the piano from start to finish. Sometimes, our first sketch of the song stays mostly the same, while other times, it remains an open canvas and might take a complete 180-degree turn halfway through the process. But overall, we just go with whatever the song needs. The one constant is that we always produce together—that's our favorite part.
Roy: Noi and I usually write separately and then bring our ideas together. We both need some solitude during the process. In those vulnerable moments, you have to be really honest with yourself.
Noi: Exactly. In that moment of writing, you have to feel free of judgment and free to be as dramatic and exaggerated as you need to be. It's like, we can talk about our troubles after, honey, but right now, I just want to share this really cool thing I created last night—want to listen?
Which track from A Place for Lovers are you most excited for the fans to hear?
Roy: I think "Meeting at Dawn" will be a really cool song to share. It was the first song we wrote for this album, so in a way, it's the song that started it all and really puts the whole story together.
Alon: Funny enough, it was also the last song we finished producing for this album. Roy almost gave up on it at some point, but we just knew we couldn't give up on it. It was so fulfilling when we finally cracked it.
Noi: I think it's also one of our most intimate songs on the album, so it brought out a really special shade in our production—dark, mysterious, and beautifully melancholic in a way.
Which track is your favorite to perform live?
Noi: We haven't performed it live yet, but I think "Green" will be special. We wrote a part for the song that didn't make it into the final track, so we've been testing this idea where we teach it to our audience during shows. When we first tried it out in our sessions, it was such an emotional moment. We really felt like we were already with our audience.
Alon: That's what I love about it. Even though we haven't performed it live yet, I can already imagine how strong the bond with the audience will be. Adding something unique like that during a live show is really exciting.
Roy: Yeah, it's like a little secret we'll get to share with them, and we all know secrets keep us close.
What's next?!
Roy: We can't wait to perform these new songs. We've put so much of ourselves into them, and sharing that live is going to be incredible. We've got some gigs in Los Angeles this October and are planning more shows for later this year.
Noi: This journey has been so special to us, and we're already thinking about what's next—maybe a project with a red concept, maybe not. Anyway, we're having too much fun creating to slow down now.
Alon: We hope to make a little community for our listeners. We've poured our hearts into this, so we hope they feel the love and that the album brings them a little bit of light.
Emily Treadgold
