When it comes to rock music, authenticity and energy are everything. Few bands today capture that spirit quite like Ratchet Dolls, a high-energy rock band rooted in San Antonio, Texas. With a relentless touring schedule, a passion for loud, adrenalized music, and an electrifying onstage chemistry, the group has been making waves in the rock community. Blending NWOBHM, ’80s glam metal, blues rock, and southern rock, Ratchet Dolls are carving out their own lane.
In this exclusive interview with InMusic, Kevin Sauceda (lead vocals/guitar) and Sofie Abrams (guitar/backing vocals) open up about their journey—from humble beginnings to becoming a must-see live act. They discuss their influences, the creative process behind their new album, Bring The Noize, and what it truly means to keep rock ‘n’ roll alive.
Keep reading for an inside look at one of today’s most exciting rising rock bands!
What’s your musical genre?
Sofie Abrams (Guitar / Backup Vocals): For me, personally, it’s everything I like molded into one. From NWOBHM to 80s glam metal, from 60s blues rock to 70s southern rock…somehow I’m hearing all of it, especially in the new stuff we’re writing.
Kevin (Lead Vocal / Guitar): Exactly! I’d like to think of Ratchet Dolls as melting pot of all our influences. Just take a listen to our new album “Bring The Noize” — it’s the best representation of who we are.
How would you describe your music?
Kevin: Loud, authentic, adrenalized, and in-your-face! Just the way we like it… Thankfully our fans seem to enjoy it – especially when they see Ratchet Dolls live!
Sofie: Rock n roll, just the way we like it. People have so many different definitions of what they consider rock n roll…well, this is what it is for us.
What inspired you to form a band and pursue a career in music together?
Kevin: If I’m being honest, I started this band years ago in Brownsville, TX alongside musicians who just weren’t interested in touring or growing as an original band. It actually wasn’t until 2019 that Ratchet Dolls actually started touring and making an impression within the rock community.
Along the way, I met Ethan and Sofie while they were in different bands. Both were so driven and full of energy on stage which is exactly what Ratchet Dolls is about!
Naturally, we all stayed in contact with each other and would eventually tour North America together performing as Ratchet Dolls.
The beauty of it all is that we all agree on the direction of the band and we are all great friends. When on tour, we never fight, and when we hit the stage… magic happens! You just have to see it for yourselves!
Sofie: I saw myself playing professionally from the moment I picked up the guitar (I think I was 13). I practiced hard to prepare for the moment that I would actually have a band, and around 18 I finally found a band. We got out of my hometown (Boise, ID) and toured the USA together, which is how I met Kevin.
A few years later I decided to join Ratchet Dolls after filling in on guitar several times. It seemed like the right decision. So, I moved to San Antonio about a year ago and joined officially.
Kevin, Ethan, and I have really honed our chemistry on stage and it’s amazing to us that not only have we seen magic start to happen since this lineup has been together, but fans comment on it a lot lately. We can’t wait to see what else is in store for us.
How did you choose your band name, and does it hold any special significance for you?
Kevin: I wish “Ratchet Dolls” had this over-the-top meaning, but it doesn’t. However, it does have a crazy memory attached to it. You see, the name came out of necessity.
When the band started, we used to be named “The Skeptic”, but another band with the same name (who doesn’t even exist anymore) got signed… resulting in a cease and desist letter from their label’s attorney. Our band was so young at the time that we had no choice, but to lose the name.
We had shows lined up, and I decided to introduce the band as “Ratchet Dolls” which people seemed to like – even though it was silly.
The goal was to change the name to something serious, but it grew on all of us that we just decided to run with it all these years!
Can you tell us about your new single “Take Me Down”?
Kevin: This was actually the last song I wrote for “Bring The Noize.” I wanted something lively and upbeat that would help glue the new album together – and I definitely feel like it did!
The instrumentation along with all the gang vocals on “Take Me Down” immediately made this one of our favorite songs to play live during this tour. The crowd loves it and sings it back to us too which is awesome!
What is the meaning behind this song?
Kevin: “Take Me Down” is very tongue-in-cheek and is themed around a somewhat ‘dangerous attraction.’ The lyrics describe a crazy relationship between an infatuated guy tangled up with a fiery woman way out of his league.
He’s diving headfirst into trouble, and loving every second of it. He knows he’s playing with fire… but he’s also unsure he can handle the heat!
The music video captures both the raw energy of your performance and the camaraderie within the band. What was the filming experience like?
Sofie: It was pretty relaxed and chill, which is exactly what we wanted to portray in the video. I think fans definitely liked the change in vibe….how casual it was in comparison to “The Enemy” and “Loud! Loud! Loud!”.
We like it too. It’s a very accurate portrayal of how we interact with each other and how silly we really are. The band has shared so many different stages with so many artists, and somehow we always seem to be the goofiest out of everyone there. You can totally see it when watching the “Take Me Down” video – but I’m not complaining!
You recently released the new album “Bring The Noize.” If you were a listener picking a song from the LP, which track would you choose and why?
Kevin: Such a great question! It used to be “The Enemy” for me because I wrote the song about my personal experience dealing with inner demons. However, these days It has to be “Loud! Loud! Loud!” for me.
Playing it live every single night this tour has really helped to shape the song to what it was meant to be – LOUD! It sounds amazing through headphones and stereos, but the energy and electricity in the air when we perform the song live is just amazing! Hands down, my favorite track today.
Sofie: Hmm… it’s hard to pick since I already know every song and I’m trying not to be biased. Honestly, I’d pick “Hit The Ground”. As a new listener, I see the album cover: it’s a guitar cab on fire. Ok, that’s pretty rock n roll.
I figure the tone of an album should be set by the first track, and I see the first track is “Hit The Ground”. I’d want to hear the opener to an album with a title and cover art that gives me such great expectations. Not only that, but with the song title and the fact that is the first thing you hear, I’d want to see what this band really thinks “Hit The Ground” means!
What has been the most rewarding part of your journey as a band so far?
Sofie: I think we can all agree that seeing progress is SO huge. Not just holding onto a dream, but holding on and continuing to pay your dues, and eventually seeing that you’re not just “paying dues” anymore. You’re moving up. It’s no longer just a dream – it’s really happening.
We can see it on every tour. It’s just been getting better and better. That being said, we do have some exciting announcements coming up for this year.
What is a message you would like to give through your music and why?
Kevin: I feel that music these days, especially rock music, is extremely overproduced and fabricated. There was a time when rock n roll was loud, dirty, and imperfect – and THAT made rock n roll perfect. We want to give our fans that experience again!
I kept all of this in mind when writing and self-producing “Bring The Noize” – making sure the album was not overproduced or autotuned and that all of its flaws remained. I believe this is the most authentic form of Ratchet Dolls we can give our fans. My only hope is that they can appreciate it… I think they do!
Sofie: I agree with Kevin – rock n roll should be imperfect and that’s part of the beauty. It’s really party music in a way, or at least that’s the vibe.
If you’re having fun at a party (they do say time flies when you’re having fun), you’re not going to notice every single thing that may have gone wrong, didn’t go your way, or that one person that soured the mood. In our case, it’s that one sour note. Big deal, it’s rock n roll!
This music is about having fun and escaping sadness or stress while listening, not dwelling on it or being overly deep.
Is there anything else you’d like people to know?
Kevin: We have a very special announcement coming up very soon which will be bridging the gap between us and our fans around the world! We are very excited to share these news with you and encourage you to follow us on Facebook or Instagram – whichever you fancy! The announcement is coming soon so please keep an eye out!
Sofie: Thank you so much for continuing to listen to us and watch what Ratchet Dolls is up to! It was a pleasure to connect with everyone a little more through this interview. Oh, and what Kevin said!
Listen to Ratchet Dolls’ new single “Take Me Down” on our Spotify playlist:
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