Today we’d like to introduce you to Raguel Gabriel.

Raguel, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I’ve aways had the deepest connection to music. As a child and even as an adult today-it’s my refuge and the passion inside of me that refuses to die. I grew up in the church in Trinidad where of course you were surrounded by music and I think that’s where the seed was planted. Mum, dad and my sister-we were all musical. I was exposed to every type of genre as I grew up but it was not until I fell into classical music that I think I found my true voice. It was classical that got me through one of the hardest times in my life-the death of my father-and it completely rewired my brain. That’s the only way I can describe it. There is this version of me before I discovered classical, and the version of me after. The latter being a more positive, less anxious, peaceful and openminded man. To say when everything really started? Well, that would be when I was offered the role of Tony in a musical called West Side Story. I say it like that because at the time I had no idea what that musical was-and I was not even looking to get into musicals or theatre. I had a look and I had a voice and I wanted to sing so I did it. At the time I was very much enamored with that rounded tone that classical singers possess and I started to imitate it as much as I can. After wrapping up Tony, everyone around me suggested that I pursue formal classical voice training and so I found an amazing teacher who taught me for years and my voice completely changed. I became a classically trained tenor and found myself successfully performing in fully staged operas, musicals, plays and more. After I played Marius in the Caribbean premiere of Les Miserables I was inspired to audition for drama school in NYC. I wanted to explore acting (with text only) so badly and so long story short, I was accepted by the Stella Adler Studio in Manhattan where I studied for three years alongside continuing my singing and voice work. After graduation I worked like crazy to stay on as an artist in the US and through the ups and downs-I am still here. Its all been a journey directed by my heart, my compass. It’s like one thing leads to another, step by step. The one thing I never dreamt I’d be was a producer. That title came out of the need to express myself the way I want, truly. As a singer and actor you spend a lot of time yielding to others’ direction and vision. As a producer, it’s the opposite. People seem to have a thought of what someone with a classical voice must look like, what place they should be from, or even the things that person should be involved with. While classical music is special to me-all music remains so as well. So I keep exploring and challenging myself. A wonderful memory of mine was being a part of a Rock and Roll inspired play and a Rhythm and Blues musical. I’m currently in a phase where I am enjoying exploring a huge amount of new classical songs that somehow align with where I am in my life and what I am going through. In 2021 I produced my first ever recital of songs by Franz Schubert in NYC which completely resonated at the time. It was the first project under my very own RTG Productions. Sometimes I wonder if I could ever sing that music again because I’m not in the place I was and feeling certain emotions I was at the time. Last year, on the weekend of my birthday, I produced the follow up recital called ‘Night and Dreams’ in NYC. It included the most beautiful songs that had been with me for two years and frankly, they all touched me because I was going through exactly what the texts said. Thoughts on life, death, mortality, loss and the feeling of finding someone finally that you love, resting with them with closed eyes on a brand new morning. At this point I am still in NYC and have many new pieces that I am working on with my coach. When, where and in what form I perform them is yet to be determined but as always-my heart will tell me the details.

Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a bumpy, long road so far, and the journey keeps getting more challenging. It’s a dangerous journey when you decide to follow your heart in a world that’s continuously telling you how you should live your life. The life of an artist is not going to be a ‘normal’ one. Then with every challenge you overcome, the next one is usually even tougher than the last. In that way I can see that I am growing. I often think about grapes being crushed so that the finest wine could be made, or the pressure that diamonds have to go under to become the way we know them. So it is when you want to move forward and keep becoming a better version of yourself. In that way I expect tough times to come and know that they are for a reason-so I can handle the next thing. As a performer there is always the question of ‘where do I fit in’ or ‘is this really worth it’. So I hold onto the reasons why I keep going after my dreams, those deeply rooted ones that no one can take away. As a producer of course there is always the factor of money and the resources it takes to put out a project. It takes a lot of work and determination but I am someone who works towards the thing I want as long as I have to, and I’ll get it. If I want something passionately, there is no distance or time factor to stop me from going after it. It took me 13 years to get to drama school, 5 years to produce my first recital, 2 years to do the second. I’ve been through enough at this point to know that I have the strength to overcome any struggle if I stick with it and don’t give up. Especially if it’s in the area of my passion!

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a classically trained tenor and actor who have had successes on the operatic, musical and theatre stages. One of the things I am really proud of is that I took the time, and still make the time to work on those crafts. I wanted to train formally as actor so I did, after years of doing so as a tenor. This has really seen me through and given me an edge. I call myself a singing actor because I could never really sing without acting. It’s my belief that in every song there is a character and it is the singer’s job to become that. No matter the genre you are singing. I can’t tell you how many times the world just disappeared when I was on stage and in the zone and totally lost in performing. A compliment made at my last recital from a patron was that she saw the music in my body and it was telling the truth. To me that was the greatest acclaim to be received as a singing actor because it meant I did my job and the music was truly living within me.

What matters most to you?
There are a few things I can mention that matter to me the most, and that I give my time to. My artistic dreams and passions-I’ve been given a voice and a gift and it is my burning desire to follow it as my purpose in life. It has given my life meaning and direction and a reason to go on. Nothing else gives me the particular joy that singing does and I am blessed that I was given my gifts and strengths in this area. It matters to me that I simply go on and keep moving ever forward on my journey, even though the road is unclear at times. It still remains that every decision I make in life, is geared towards getting closer to the next time I can be on stage. Fitness is another area that matters to me. So much so that my strict discipline when it comes to that, seems unnatural to some people. I am up at 3am to start my workouts at 5am. It is in my blood and just my lifestyle. No matter what, I get to the gym without excuses. Now, love. Love has come along unexpectedly (which I have heard is how it usually shows up) and my heart is beating in a different way. I am feeling new emotions that I have never really felt and completely fallen and care deeply for this enthralling, amazing human that makes me smile. It has become important to me to pay attention to this side of my life, to which I have never really done in the way that I am now. It’s just the way that it happened, so unplanned. My resting place. It is affecting me both as a human and as an artist and adding a whole new perspective on life that I intend to explore and nurture.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.raguelgabriel.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ragueltgabriel/

Image Credits
Andres Hernandez Studio NYC RTG Productions