After the enormous response to his stunning debut single 'Faith' earlier this year, fast-rising artist RAPHAEL returns once again to deliver his shimmering new offering 'Dreams'.
Capturing more of that wondrous R&B-inspired pop he is quickly earning a reputation for, 'Dreams' makes for a rousing return to form for the artist at the helm. With his warm and embracing voice layered across a soaring production throughout, he is continuing to cement himself as one of the more passionate names doing the rounds right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and inspirations over the years.
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What was the first band or artist you fell in love with?
This is gonna sound very old school, it was a band from the sixties, called The Carpenters. My parents loved them and played them at home all time and I was mesmerised by their harmonies.
Did you ever form a band when you were younger and if so, what did they sound like?
I was in a duo, boy and girl, very briefly. We were called Tetra and it was put together by a management company. I think we sounded like a cross breed between Eurythmics and Wham. It didn’t work out because they wanted us to do euro dance and I was more into Pop / Rnb. It was a learning experience and one that taught me that at heart I was a solo artist.
What has been your primary inspiration in writing music?
It’s always been the same process, in that I have a real experience that moves me or touches me and to deal with it or to express it, I use lyric and melody to air it. I wrote all of my songs that way and it feels inspired and it’s a gift. I’m self taught on piano so I will usually compose my chords around my lyric and melody when that has come through.
What is a song you wish you had written yourself?
There are so many beautiful songs in this world. I love Say a Little Prayer by Burt Bacharach. One of my favourite tunes of all time. I’m still standing, Sir Elton John is another one. That song gives me life.
If there was any moment in your career you could relive, what would it be?
I like to look ahead. I am loving my career at the moment and I feel like I am making the music I was destined to make. It’s taken me time to get here and finally I feel every lyric, every beat and every melody stands for something real on my new record. This is exactly how I want it to be now and I am living the moment now that I would probably want to relive in a few years, maybe if you ask me then..
Which artist would you most love to share a stage with?
To be fair, if it's an artist I love and admire, I will want to be in the audience and watch them perform. I would love to sing Can’t Take That Away with Mariah in a non-public setting. I would just love to sing that second verse and bridge with her.
And is there an artist you would love to collaborate with as well?
I would love to collaborate with an opera singer. Not sure who or what but she would be a soprano and she would add beautiful ethereal lines that would transport you to a different planet. We would compliment each other on the record and we would never sing the same line but around each other. Always been a little desire of mine that maybe one day it would materialise.
Where do you see yourself in five years time?
I honestly don’t know. Five years ago I wanted to quit music because I was so disheartened. I wouldn’t have had a clue that I would be here doing what I believe is my best work and being a musician that I can be proud of. I chose to be grateful instead of giving up and for the gift of music I decided to make music I would be proud of. Just simply doing that is my reward from all of this.
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RAPHAEL's new single 'Dreams' is available to stream now. Watch the new video for it below.
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