An Interview With The British Singer-Songwriter, REBECCA RAW!

Rebecca Raw is a British singer-songwriter whose songs are a unique blend of pop, soul and folk elements. Growing up in suburban London, Rebecca began learning the cello at the age of seven and shortly after, picked up the clarinet too. She sang in choirs throughout her younger years and the classical tradition was the backbone of her training right up to her obtaining a music degree from Cambridge University.

Alongside this, she developed a love for performing jazz, soul and pop music and once she graduated, Rebecca began dividing her time between teaching the cello and performing as a singer at events. Having always been fascinated by great lyrics and captivating melodies it was only natural that she herself would begin to explore the craft of writing songs.

Her debut EP ‘Deep Within’ (2017) is a bold statement which partners intimate storytelling with a rich, contemporary sound.  Her honest and thought-provoking lyrics are the heartbeat of this offering and her smooth, mesmerising voice is the compelling communicative vehicle that defines this release. Rebecca tells authentic musical stories with insight, warmth and sensitivity. She comments that “each song was born as a personal response to a challenging time but hope prevails in my life and I always try to encapsulate this in my music.  As others reach into the heart of these stories I hope that they will discover for themselves more treasures of this rich, wonderful, crazy thing called life.”

The first track on Deep Within is called ‘Connection’. It is the signature song from the EP and was premiered by Dan Golding on Premier Praise radio. Rebecca explains that this song is “an intensely personal exploration of a widely-shared experience: the desire for deeper, more dependable relationships in a time when many are shallow and fleeting.”

Learn more about Rebecca Raw in the following All Access interview:

Thanks for your time! So where does this interview find you today? Is there music playing in the background? If so, what is it? 

Hey hey. It’s so lovely to ‘chat’! I’m currently attacking the to-do list so that I can switch off over the weekend. I’m always overly-optimistic about what I can achieve though so we’ll see whether that works out or not. And yes, there is music on. I’m listening to an artist who I discovered only yesterday when we shared a stage at a local music night. Her name is Alex Cambridge and she has got something great going on! Check out her EP Long Story Short.

How is 2017 treating you so far? Did you approach the start of this year any differently then you did last year? 

2017 so far has been like a crash course in extreme sports so my approach to life has been more impulsive and less measured than I would usually/ideally go for!

Growing up, did you always want to be a musician? Can you recall your first musical memory? 

I have pretty much always wanted to be a musician. I was exposed to lots of music from a young age as part of family life and then when I was 7 the school’s visiting cello teacher played the cello in assembly and I was enchanted and asked straight away if I could start learning. That’s where it all kicked off I guess.

Could you see yourself doing anything else today? If you weren’t a musician, what would you be doing? 

I’ve always thought it would be fun to host a retreat house in the countryside.

Let’s talk about your debut EP, “Deep Within” that was released this year. What was it like putting this collection together? Were there any surprises about the process that came up? 

It’s been really fun putting this EP together and in some ways the whole thing is a surprise because the music has evolved so much during the process. That’s one of the exciting things about any creative pursuit I think – you never know exactly what you’re creating until it’s finished.

Generally, where do you get the inspiration for your songs? How do you go about putting a song together? In particular, how did your EP’s lead single “Connection” get written? 

Every day life presents a different experience, a different emotion, a different perspective and I just try and draw from those. Connection got written as a reflection on the frustrations of building relationships in the 21st century. We’re navigating such fast-paced lifestyles that often people don’t have much time for each other and despite being more connected than ever, many of us still get lonely. This song is my personal plea.

Do you have plans to tour this year with this EP? Where can fans see you perform live next? Do you enjoy playing live? 

I love playing live and I’m going to be performing quite a lot in the coming months, including doing a series of house gigs which will be really special. This coming week I have two London nights – one with London Songwriters Collective and one with The Round – come along! Also check out www.rebeccaraw.com for future gigs. I have a mailing list and I’m on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram so connect with me on as many of those as you use and you’ll be kept up to date.

What artists have continued to inspire you and your music? Who would you absolutely love to work with in the future? 

Urgh – Brooke Fraser. Do you know her?! I mean personally? If so, could you please put me in touch?! I’m such a mega-fan. I try and be cool about it but I just can’t – her songs are incredible. She’s it as far as I’m concerned.

At the end of the day, what do you hope your fans take away from your music? What do you hope is the message of your songs? 

Genuine, solid hope is one of the core values in my life and hopefully (no pun intended) that comes through in my songs for others to latch onto.

Is there anything else that you would like to share with our readers about yourself or your music? 

Shout out to my hubby – he asked me to be his girlfriend 11 years ago today and I’m immensely glad that he did!