TFword in Conversation With Raphaella

We had a chat with the Anglo-Persian singer and songwriter about her latest single, her love for collaboration, her Persian roots, and lots more.

In a time where music is becoming increasingly uninspiring, artists like Raphaella remind us why we have our souls entwined in the artform. It all started in 2015, when Raphaella made her debut with UKG pioneer Zed Bias, followed by collaborations with Dutch duo Easy & Young and Mike, and it was these releases where her love for collaborations shone through.

Since then, the multifaceted artist, writer, producer, and vocal producer has worked with heavyweights of dance music like Rudimental, Martin Garrix, Martin Solveig, Little Mix, MNEK, D.O.D, Galantis, Mark Ralph, Armin Van Buuren, MK, Gorgon City, and Anne Marie, to name a few.

With over 500 million streams spanning across several genres and the biggest names, Raphaella made her first solo release in September this year. Embracing her Persian roots in her music and the tune’s artwork, Raphaella delivered ‘Holla At Me’ – a club-ready deep house anthem that is also an ode to the 90s pop era.

We were keen to know Rapahella’s thoughts on her latest release, how her journey began, her love for working with such a wide range of genres, and here is what she had to say:

TFword: Hey, thanks very much for taking the time to speak with us. Where are you speaking with us from?
Raphaella: From my studio in North London.

TF: Having collaborated with industry heavyweights over the years, your first solo release ‘Holla At Me’ is a proper feel-lifter. What are your thoughts on how the release has shaped up?
Raphaella: I’m so happy with the amazing reaction and support it’s had so far. I was super nervous with it being my first solo dance release, but Spotify, Apple Music & Radio 1 have been so lovely.

TF: When did you start working on the tune?
Raphaella: Probably last Christmas was when I first had the track idea & then I kept working on the final mix over the course of the year.

TF: Coming back to monumental collaborations, your catalog is loaded with them. How has the experience been for you working with such a wide range of artists and styles?
Raphaella: It’s been so amazing to work with such incredible people, but I think what’s so lovely is that when we’re in the studio, we’re all equal. It doesn’t matter who’s just had a top 10 or who’s just played Wireless MainStage – egos are left at the door, and we’re just there to make art and something we love. Working in such different styles has been so much fun as well; it means I’ve got to experiment with no pressure or expectations and all of that exploration has led me to my own sound.

TF: You spoke about ‘Holla At Me’ being an inspiration of ‘No Scrubs’ by TLC. Talk us through the creative process of the tune.
Raphaella: So I originally started to make the beat for another session I had; I didn’t actually sit down and decide to write for me in that moment, which for my own songs is quite unusual. I had made the bass line and the percussion parts, and I just kept singing the melody of TLC’s ‘No Scrubs’ hook. I immediately felt there was something special about it and decided not to take it into my session and keep it for myself!

TF: Take us back to the time when you started making music. How did it all begin and how do you think your music has evolved over the years?
Raphaella: I actually wrote my first song when I was 9! My parents later gave me this Tascam 4 track recorder and I would write all these songs on the piano, layering each part until I realised 4 tracks was never going to be enough haha.

I started producing on Logic when I was 15 & taught myself through just experimenting for hours & then the first music I used to make was much more experimental and closer to Bon Iver and James Blake, so I think having fallen in love with dance music it’s evolved to be much more commercially lead, but I still love creating analog synth parts and experimenting with experimental vocal processing. That’s what I love about dance music- it’s so varied there can be room for everything.

TF: We would also love to hear your thoughts on how you embrace your Persian roots in your music. Tell us more about it.
Raphaella: My mixed heritage is so important to me. I think like all art it’s an extension of who you are as a person and all of the experiences you’ve ever had. I think all of my music has elements of that whether subtle or overt – from what I like to call snaky melodies, to traditionally Persian artwork.

TF: What does Raphaella have in the tank for the rest of the year?
Raphaella: So ‘Holla At Me’ is excitingly the first of a series of singles I’m going to be releasing over the next year… so watch this space 🙂

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