Singer, songwriter and producer Raphaella has worked with Rudimental, Little Mix, Gorgon City, and her own projects. The tackles the Q&A the way the approaches her music – with passion.
Tell us about your background, your upbringing, and your introduction to the world of music.
I’m half Persian, half English/Scottish and that has always really informed my musical background, choices and inspirations. I grew up listening to a mix of traditional Persian music with amazing quarter tones and inflections, and then Bob Marley & Nina Simone. My Scottish grandfather had the most amazing record collection & would play everything from French chansons to jazz and Ravel. My great-aunt was a concert violinist, and I first started playing classical music when I was 6 and played violin and piano – growing up in orchestras & then did a Music Degree. I always loved playing classical music, but hated the way I felt there was no room to create & less room to be innovative so I was always writing my own music instead of practising for my music exams. I got signed to my current publishing company just as I was graduating & have been lucky enough to be doing it ever since. I’m also a massive nerd and took 5 A-levels including further English, so nearly did that at university instead. So I think my love for books definitely helps when writing lyrics and building stories.
You have written with and collaborated with many producers and artists, as well as released music. What skills did you need to develop to be able to work with other creatives so confidently?
I think whilst having a real sense of self is important, there’s no room for ego when you’re creating with other people. From writing a lot on my own, I grew a confidence in my own abilities that I knew I was capable of writing a song entirely on my own, but the skill of creative openness is probably the most important thing to develop. Everyone has their own creative world & you learn so much from each person’s new perspective.
What were some of the barriers you experienced, or still do experience, as a woman in the music industry, if any?
I think as a woman it can sometimes feel like you have to prove yourself or work 5 times harder for your production ideas to be listened to. It’s funny because I have a music degree and have produced since the age of 15, but often in a room full of guys – they will turn to each other to ask if any one has any ideas on chords, not the women. There was one time a few years ago I was in a room with 3 guys who couldn’t get the mic to work with the interface. I owned the same interface myself, but they kept asking each other- never once turning round to ask me or my female co-writer. Spoiler: both of us knew what was wrong – the phantom power was off hahah. We left them like that for about 15 minutes to see if they would ask us. Spoiler: they didn’t.
What would you say to your 16-year-old self about being a woman in music… what to expect, the difficulties, the excitements?
Trust yourself and your instincts above all else and don’t take other people’s insecurities personally. I think when I was super young I got taken advantage of by other people’s visions & intentions. I got signed to an awful 360 deal where my voice wasn’t listened to or respected, they just wanted to ‘mould me’ into the artist they wanted or thought I was. They picked apart my image, they made me cut my hair, change my clothes and insinuate I needed to lose weight. I took it deeply personally and thought it meant I wasn’t good enough- but in hindsight I now know they were just trying to take control and make me feel like that for their own gain. So to my old 16 year old self and every other 16 year old girl I say… unapologetically be yourself. Wear what you want, make what you want, sing & write what you want!
How did you get into music production, songwriting, and performance?
My mum & dad gifted me this 4-track Tascam recorder for Christmas one year – I think I was about 12 and I was *amazed* at the concept you could record more than one layer into it at a time! I would layer piano, vocals and drums but quickly realised 4 tracks would never be enough haha so when I was doing my GCSE and A-level music I came across Logic and it was like a whole magical world of endless possibilities so I begged my parents to buy it for me for about 2 years. Once I got it I just would spent hours experimenting. At around the same I was going to Pineapple Performing Arts School and our music teacher Daniel Thomas was an incredible Gospel choir singer and director. One day he turned to us while playing a chord progression and said ‘sing’. That was my first time improvising and it just completely changed my world. That’s the basis of how I write every song- so I probably have him to thank for my whole career!
What can we look forward to hearing from you in the next few months/year from your creativity?
I have a super exciting collab coming out in the next month or so… and then my first solo release of the year roughly 4 weeks after that! Excited is not even the word. I’ve been doing so many collabs which I enjoy so much, but I can’t wait to share all the new solo music I’ve been making in the last few months. It’s something I’ve produced myself and is House music with a sprinkle of alternative weird.
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