Raquel Lily – I’m Leaving

By starrymag | April 22, 2020

By: Jamie Steinberg

 

 

Q) How would you describe your sound?

A) I describe my sound as indie-soul/R&B.

Q) Who are some of your musical influences?

A) Some of my influences include Marvin Gaye, Stevie Wonder, Ms. Lauryn Hill, Whitney Houston, The Beatles, Amy Winehouse, Bruno Mars, Magic City Hippies.

Q) Talk about the story behind your new song “I’m Leaving.”

A) “I’m Leaving” is about the reluctant withdrawal from toxic relationships and reminiscing about moments from the past. It’s an anthem for those who need that extra push from another perspective. It tells the listener that its okay to move on and live a healthier, more fulfilling life. It’s a song in defiance of the cookie-cutter norm of shutting up and just letting things be. The song was written as I was moving away from toxic relationships myself, on the floor of my old apartment, in between moving boxes and an air mattress, sobbing with my guitar in my lap. Writing it was cathartic and I felt it gave me the strength to persevere through such a tough time in my life.

Q) What do you think it is about the song that fans connect to?

A) I think people respect honesty and can smell when something is genuine. “I’m Leaving” is just that. It was a purge of all of my emotions at a moment where I just needed to tell myself this was something that had to be done. The lyrical content of the song isn’t just throwaway words that rhyme randomly. They dig deep into the perspective and soul of someone who desperately needs a change and I think this is something anyone can relate to. We all have growing pains in life. I just happened to encapsulate mine in a song that people can enjoy and learn from.

Q) How does the video for the track play into the message behind it?

A) The video was a collaboration with a friend of mine, Akioboy (Ronnie Moore Jr.). Working with him in the past has always been amazing because we always seem to come up with eerily similar, if not the exact same, concepts. The video plays a little into my own life. Though the scenario was not particularly a house full of anime waifus, it is similar in that trying to leave a group of friends will have its difficulties. There will be push and pulls and, even if you want to leave, something may hold you back from doing so, whether that’s you, your doubts, people holding you back, etc. I also really like the horror aspect of the video, so it was more of a fun project than it was a reality. The message in the video however, is just one way the song can be conveyed.

Q) What is your song writing process? Do you need music before you can create lyrics?

A) I usually write melodies first, without any music whatsoever. Melodies usually are written alongside lyrics, which then sprout chords on my guitar. I don’t like to be boxed in by chords or a structure and I like to see where my ideas go without restraining myself in any sort of key or chord progression. Once I have lyrics, melody and chords down I record a demo and I take it to my keyboardist/co-writer Martin Castor, who helps me with the theory and shaping up any arrangements that need to be polished. We then present it to the rest of the band and come up with a full band feel for it, which then turns into a live track. Eventually, we hit the studio once my production ideas are succinct. I don’t like to waste time writing in the studio, so I elaborate on the demo and add some production elements to it well beyond I book time. After the studio, I take the raw tracks from my band and produce everything from the ground up. Sometimes I end up completely scrapping parts, like the bass, and rewriting it after it was recorded in the studio. The song structure at this point, doesn’t typically change though. Only parts here and there, like added percussion or extra instruments. I do all of the comping and production. I hand it on and off with my mixing engineer until I feel like I am close to my entire vision.

Q) How much of hand do you have in the production of your music?

A) I do most of the production of my music. Sometimes I get ideas from my mixing engineer, Fred Mohns, who’s really good at fattening up parts that already exist or finding new parts to make something else in the song pop. I spend a lot of time producing my own stuff because I truly believe no one I can hire, no matter what sum of money, will care more about the project than I do. I truly love my songs. There’s a relationship between the song and I when I spend THAT MUCH time at the studio. All of a sudden, I care about all the weird pans I do or the effects that are literally a second long. I care and I notice and, bottom line, that’s all that matters to me. I have tried working with producers in the past, but I always feel like I have such a strong creative vision that it’s a waste of everyone’s time if I don’t at least try to get it as far as I can before asking for help elsewhere. Being my own producer gives me the ultimate power to have my own release schedule and it’s great because I never have to ask somewhere what stage the song is in. I just know where it’s at because I was the one who made it!

Q) Your debut album I’m Leaving features eight songs. What was your process for picking these tracks?

A) I’ve been a local gigging musician in the south east for years and played as many bar, restaurant and local festivals you can think of. This allowed me to really hone my style and with it, my song selection. In addition to that I’ve been streaming music live on the platform, Twitch, for over three years which gives me an even more unique experience of directly interacting with my audience. This gives me instantaneous insight on why my songs move people or what needs work. Playing online requires thick skin though. If your song sucks, trust me, those anonymous people in the chat will let you know! Picking my songs were more about how I want to represent myself as an artist. It’s no longer about how many songs I can cram into one body of work. Because the album is a concept, I wanted the story to make sense. So, it was quite easy to make sure I nixed the songs that didn’t flow well.

Q) What can fans expect from a live Raquel Lily performance?

A) Fans can expect a lot of energy and charisma from me. Because I’ve been online streaming for so long, I feel like it’s really let me cut my teeth on crowd interaction. I used to be really afraid to mess up lines or say weird shit on stage. I used to write down what I’d say between songs because I’d be so nervous and I’m such a perfectionist. Saying weird shit on stage is definitely a part of the experience now because it’s so me. Mostly, I do like to take the audience through an emotional journey. For me, it’s not about making the loudest noise or waving my hands so high up everyone will pay attention. It’s about harnessing that energy and taking people along for this interactive, immersed ride. There’s nothing more rewarding than when people come up to me after the show and tell me how my songs spoke to them so deeply. This is always the goal!

Q) What songs off I’m Leaving are you looking forward to performing live?

A) I really love performing “fuccboi,” which is my next single. No matter what crowd I’m in, where I am, what demographic, this song always grabs people. Whether making them nod their head from the groove, laughing at the punchlines or intently listening to the lyrics, it’s always one that shocks people into attention. I love getting that reaction, especially in a room full of people who don’t know me. It’s like they get a sense of what my humor and attitude is like in a little over three minutes. It’s also really fun because I feel like it’s a good song that showcases my vocals.

Q) What do you hope listeners take away from listening to this album as a whole?

A) I would love for listeners to feel like they related to at least one of the songs on the album. I want them to feel like they have been there before because that’s what the album is about. It’s about growing and leaving tumultuous times. Each song has to do with self-reflection, strong ideas and beliefs. I think it’s really easy to just shut yourself off from social pressures and things that happen in your life, but the album is meant to say, “Hey, I know how you feel. I’ve been there to. Listen to what I learned from mine.”

Q) You’re well known for your presence on Twitch. What makes that platform such a perfect place for you?

A) Like I said before, it makes it a great place to try out songs and see how people react instantaneously without having to go to your local open mic. Instead of doing three songs publicly, I usually stream for three to four hours at least three times a week of pure musical performance and banter. It helps me become a better singer, musician, performer and overall entertainer. It also helps me sharpen my tongue. As much as my own community supports me, it’s the internet. It’s full of wild, mischievous randos who are there to tear your whole world apart. Twitch also really helped me figure out who I am because streamers are basically a caricature of themselves when they’re live. If your branding of yourself isn’t on point, you’re not giving people much to grasp. You truly have to know who you are, your purpose, and your brand is to be a successful live streamer.

Q) Where are some of your favorite places to perform and what makes those locations so significant to you?

A) I really love performing in Birmingham, AL. When people hear me say Alabama, I get all sorts of eyebrows raised (which is what makes saying it so fun!). I lived in Birmingham for four years and I still very much consider it home for a lot of reasons. All of my band members are from there, so it’s always a homecoming when we get to play there. Birmingham taught me how to sing soul, be a performer and how to sit in with musicians that are leagues beyond me. On top of that, Birmingham has an amazing and underrated music scene. Some of the most talented people I know come from that tiny city in the South. Mostly, I love coming back because I receive so much amazing support from people who have been following me for years. It’s always incredibly heartwarming to see those people stick by me all this time.

Q) Who would you most like to collaborate with on a song in the future?

A) If I could pick three people, it would be Paul McCartney, Stevie Wonder and Bruno Mars. Paul because The Beatles and his songwriting is what ultimately inspired me to write, Stevie because he is my musical/vocal idol and Bruno because of his production and his musicality.

Q) What album/band are you currently listening to and why do you dig them?

A) Currently, I’m listening to a lot of Keisha Cole because one of my Twitch fans originally donated to me to learn a bunch of her songs. Turns out, I really dig her style and I’m really glad it gave me the chance to really dive into so many of her songs. I’m also listening to Magic City Hippies’ Modern Animal, which is hugely inspiring because the producer, Pat Howard, produces pretty much everything himself. You can just hear the songs oozing with his character and love. They’re songs that you can tell he cares so much about just based on the production alone. On top of that, they are 100% indie, so it’s truly inspiring to see fellow indie artists climb from a similar background.

Q You are a part of social media. Why is that such an important way for you to connect with your fans?

A) I’m not really keen on ever getting signed by a major label and I don’t think it’s really necessary these days. What IS necessary is social media. Even if I were looking for a major label, I feel like one of the first things they look at are numbers. If the numbers are strong, it must be an indicator that they’d sell well for the label. For me, it’s more about engaging with as many people as possible with my own reach and power. Organic growth and fans that will stick by you because they love you and not because you were shoved down their throats through paid ads in my opinion is the way to create a long-lasting legacy. I think social media is a really unique way to engage with fans unlike before. I am also kind of a control freak so to be able to harness my own image and posts is just how I would prefer it.

Q) What would you like to say to everyone who is a fan and supporter of you and your work?  

A) A lot of people know they can engage with me directly through my socials and through Twitch, live. So, I would tell them to keep following me because ya girl got so much more in store for you and thank you for believing in me! [smiles]

 

Watch The Video For “I’m Leaving”