We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Ra7ael. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Ra7ael below.

Ra7ael, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had waited to pursue your creative career or do you wish you had started sooner?

I had this instructor once—someone who had worked with major artists—who listened to my first single before its release because I wanted honest opinions and know if it was the right choice. They interrupted it even before getting to the actual chorus and started saying that I wasn’t ready to come out because the lyrics were senseless. I remember drowning in tears in front of them and asking what I should do, since I had worked so hard on it and wanted to release something in order to finally start my career.

Now this song is the second most popular in my catalog and my friend’s favorite.

Sometimes I wish I had been one of those kids whose parents dragged them to every audition and casting in town. But at the same time, I know incredibly talented artists who started releasing music way after I did. So I think, at the end of the day, it’s all about just starting somewhere instead of waiting for the perfect moment that doesn’t really exist.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Ra7ael, singer/songwriter and music producer raised and born in Rio de Janeiro.

My introduction to music started when I was around eight to ten years old, writing silly songs while playing with my toys and listening to artists that weren’t really meant for my age. I’ve been to dance, acting, and painting classes, but the world of music has always had my heart.

When I dropped out of fashion college after one quarter enrolled, I decided to take my music seriously and I started working two jobs at the same time—one of them being an internship inside a prison and the other a home office position—just so I could afford my music degree in Los Angeles.

I have only released singles so far, but they have already reached over a million streams, all with pure independent management. My sound blends pop with hip-hop, with touches of experimental and alternative influences. Fashion still plays a big role in my identity—it helps me express my vision and communicate who I am without having to say too much.

I think my journey shows that you don’t need a label, a huge team or a huge following in order to attend awards or work with top-tier producers.

Alongside music, I’ve also worked as a model through casting websites and even unconventional platforms like Craigslist. My portfolio includes well-known brands, small businesses, and also posing for a few artists’ merchandising promos. One of my goals is to be cast for a Fashion Week season. Even after countless auditions, I haven’t had that catwalk moment yet—maybe it’s because I’m, ironically, 5’7″.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

Some goals change throughout the years and some of them stays the same. However, the one that keeps me up all night trying to find ways to achieve it is how to create visuals and content that feel made for the new generation of entertainment, but are timeless at the same time.

The real struggle is figuring out how to put all of your thoughts into just a few seconds of content without overwhelming people with too much information, while still being able to catch their attention.

So my new priority right now is investing more in visuals and trying to give them the same level of effort that I put into my own songs. For me, it’s not just about making content, it’s about making moments that stick.

What can society do to ensure an environment that’s helpful to artists and creatives?

They could start by not streaming artists made with AI and letting new artists to grow in the industry without them hearing every time to give up after releasing something new. There’s a difference between not being into something and posting inconvenient statements about someone’s art.

Singers already have to compete with each other and deal with the nostalgia that has set so many expectations. Now they’re also losing streams to people who can generate songs without putting in the same time and work.

It’s not only about the money, but also about the credibility of artists, which is already twisted and often looked down on.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ra7ae1/
• Twitter: https://x.com/ra7aeu
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@Ra7aelMusic
• Soundcloud: https://soundcloud.com/ra7aelconcetto
• Other: https://linktr.ee/ra7ael

Image Credits

Daniel Farray