Republica vocalist Saffron Sprackling and guitarist Johnny Male trace the creation of their hit “Ready to Go,” detailing their early studio setup in London’s Shoreditch, the influence of the acid-house scene, and the band’s upcoming 30-year anniversary UK tour beginning October 16.
Building the Studio and Recording in Shoreditch
Long before Shoreditch became a trendy London neighborhood, the band rented a space to build their own recording studio with a vision of mixing acid house with indie rock. Saffron Sprackling recalled spending all their money on a vocal booth she named Hattie Jacques, honoring the Carry On films and Cockney rhyming slang for shakes. Within that booth, the group recorded roughly 100 mixes before finalizing the track.
Johnny Male noted that the band used an Atari ST computer with only MIDI capabilities, forcing them to sample all guitars into an Akai S1000 out of necessity. Vocals were captured on an 8-track digital recorder as the members pooled their equipment, resources, and technical skills while learning computer music in its infancy.
Lyrical Inspiration and the Battlecry Chorus
The songwriting relied on a close collaboration between Sprackling and Male, who wrote most of the lyrics and melodies. Male played acoustic guitar while Sprackling wrote down ideas. The lyrics focused on daily life, going out late at night, and observing the world rather than exploring existential themes.
The track’s anthemic hook originated from the line “Ready to go,” which Male described as a potential battlecry. Sprackling added the phrase “It’s a crack, I’m back!” inspired by the Irish slang word craic. Pairing large choruses with electronic beats proved difficult due to the tempo, but Sprackling relied on her punky vocal delivery to drive the rhythm.
Visual Identity and International Success
A chance encounter at a hair salon led Sprackling to dye her hair blood red like a London bus. Jarvis Cocker previously told her that a strong hook and a great hairdo define a pop star, and the distinct visual helped the band stand out during an era when female-led alternative groups were rare.
After touring the United States, the song gained heavy rotation on MTV, signaling a massive breakthrough for the band. Male remembered seeing crowds react live as the track caught on internationally before repeating that success in the UK and Europe. In later years, pop artist Olivia Rodrigo told Sprackling she grew up with a poster of her and sang the track on her world tour.
Republica anniversary tour dates and song origins
When does the Republica anniversary tour begin?
The 30 Years of Ready to Go UK tour begins on October 16.
Who wrote the lyrics for “Ready to Go”?
Saffron Sprackling and Johnny Male wrote most of the song’s lyrics and melody.
What inspired the lyric “It’s a crack, I’m back!”?
The line was inspired by the Irish slang term craic.
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