We recently connected with Rach April Bassili and have shared our conversation below.
Rach April, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Are you happy as a creative professional? Do you sometimes wonder what it would be like to work for someone else?
In a nutshell, nothing makes me as happy or better yet, as “existent” as music and the arts revolving around it. As a hybrid singer/writer, so many elements come in the mix to create an entire identity to an artistic universe of your making. The freedom of creation/creativity is unmatchable. You are who you show and what you want to be. People feed off of it. They become part of the process as I start distinguishing you as an Artist for your signature assets. I have sacrificed and still am sacrificing a lot to be able to live out my life with music for a career. A career stemming from passion and unquenchable desire to make it – and by make it, two end results come in play here: being financially stable and being recognized. The latter always seems to come much easier yet at a lot of cost while the first seems to be a struggle to achieve with a rather unfair revenue. Entertainment in general is at the basis of human social euphoria and music is the universal language that everyone speaks in their own personal way. Ultimately it is hard to put a monetary value to this. But realistically, music-lyrics-performances while not physically palpable matters are valued by the expenses an artist spends to achieve them. People tend to take that for granted because they cannot “see” it. It is no secret performers are underpaid and while I will always strive to live off of my music, I try to maintain the effect of my songs, my lyrics, my heartfelt performances on people and their reactions, as my true reward. Nothing fuels an artist more than the roar of their crowd or those random comments and messages they get on their socials being thanked or complimented for their work. We sometimes have to lean on other income resources, we freelance, we work certain jobs- as long as they are relevant and cycling back to the main mission here.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I am a multigenre artist; I am the leading vocalist and founder of two bands: “April” & “Vibes”. I am a recording and released artist and collaborator, I have recorded original songs for my band April, have done recorded covers in studio and home sessions and have collaborated by recording songs with other artists around the world, I am a live performer and have performed for the past 14 years between Lebanon (my homeland), the UAE (where I am currently based), Los Angeles – CA, Alexandria- Egypt. I am also a voice over talent and have recorded jingles for several campaigns in the Middle East. With “April”, we play Progressive Symphonic Metal/Rock. With “Vibes”, we do live music entertainment rendering Pop. Rock. Dance singalongs, classics, oldies and new songs. I also front the Heavy Rock band “Dark Phoenix” in Dubai. Last but not least, I am a poetic-prose writer, I also am behind every theme, topic and lyric of every original song done by my band “April” as well as collaborating on other artists’ lyrics and vocals compositions. I am unique in the way I was among the first female artists to perform Progressive metal in the Middle-East as originals and covers; covering bands like Tool, Porcupine Tree, Opeth (fronted the third worldwide Opeth Tribute band called “Heritage”) and Dream Theater. I tackle psychological and philosophical themes and interpretations from real life experiences. I wear my alternative identity as an artist for 14 years now. I have done TV interviews and performances between Lebanon, Dubai and LA, as well as podcasts discussing my career.
Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative?
It is not uncommon that the Arts are often hindered as professions that don’t generate sustainable income, that they are not perceived as a serious job or career to pursue and that it is all taken for granted as if there is no monetary value to something that is intangible as music, untouchable. I have forever heard comments and criticism addressed to other artists or even myself that we should give up singing and music and performing and focus on other skills while equally and in parallel, being praised for what we do and be treated with the amazement with which people meet us upon hearing/watching us. They know we have a power, although they feed on, they do not understand – its mechanism, its process and how it comes into life – music IS the most powerful universal language that can bring everyone together, it is one of the purest forms of love. To be able to be part of that phenomenon is a blessing and a feeling worth fighting for. While balancing my music career with my full time job to make a living, I am tested every day and by the day my passion, vision, goal grow stronger because when you believe in something you give your all for it. Nothing stands in your way. It gets to a point where I know that if I drop and pass from this life, I am gone with the satisfaction knowing that I have done everything in my existence to have my voice heard.
What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?
The cheers and roars and tears of the crowd. This is the fuel to my engine; knowing that I have left a mark on someone, anyone in whatever way possible. Yes we all like the attention, we would all want fame and recognition and that is obviously attained at lengths through media, press, social channels and so on. But it’s the fact that I left an imprint of any kind after each performance, release, melody or word that keeps me going and that fulfills me to the maximum.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @rach_april
Image Credits
Images provided and permitted by source.