Press

Austin Chronicle - June 2021

Fronted by Rose Sinclair and Sophia Johnson, and with more than a name nod to Bob Wills, Ida Red's debut full-length sweeps with jazz-toned Western swing that tributes tradition while still licking remarkably fresh. The Sam's Town Point regulars raise a quartet to rip Wills' "Fat Boy Rag," Tennessee Ernie Ford's "Tennessee Local" and "Rock City Boogie," and the 1946 title track instrumental honoring female pioneers Mary Lou Williams' Girl Stars. Sinclair's steel guitar rivets against Johnson's six strings on originals like the lurking "Spider Blues" and sendup "Ida Blue." Johnson's vocals breeze "Restless," but the trading off on "Twin Guitar Special" captures the pair at their best. – Doug Freeman

Austin 360 - Artist of the Month May 2021:

www.austin360.com/story/entertainment/music/2021/05/01/ida-red-austin-artist-of-the-month-sams-town-point/7299734002/

Dim Lights Thick Smoke - Interview with Sophia:

​dimlightsthicksmoke.org/issue/2021-04-09-sophia-johnson/

Dave Stuckey on Ida Red:

Tight twin steel & guitar? Sweet, swinging singing? What's not to like from "Harmony Grits", the debut disc from the great Texas outfit Idea Red? Nothin', that's what! 
​
Sophia Johnson (guitar, vocals) and Rose Sinclair (steel guitar), who are driving the Ida Red train, serve up a solid selection of covers (including the Benny Goodman-via-Bob Wills 'Mission to Moscow', Django Reinhardt's 'Swing 42', Tennessee Ernie Ford & the Dinning Sisters' 'Rock City Boogie' and the title track, Mary Lou Williams' swing gem 'Harmony Grits' - re-tooled for steel and standard guitar - and a sharp selection of originals, written separately and together, like the fine and mellow 'Restless' and the slinky instrumental 'Spider Blues'. They've assembled a swell bunch of Austin's finest to back them on a set suitable for dancehall or dwelling! 

Light's in the parlor, fire's in the grate - slap this disc on before it gets late!

Lloyd Maines on Ida Red:

“Rose Sinclair and Sophia Johnson are not afraid…  They stepped up and recorded some swing tunes that had to require many hours of rehearsal just to learn the melody and then the harmony to that. In country music, it’s called 'twin guitars.' Of course in their case, it’s guitar and steel. They both keep true to the traditional western swing style and they do it in high-tone fashion.  Also, great vocals from Sophia. I know good western swing and these ladies knock fire from it. Thanks for keeping it real.”