Aisha RaQuel
Aisha RaQuel’s music is best described as a melting pot, being that it’s got a little bit of everything. Take her song “Sayonara,” the first on her July 2020 album Iridescent: In just the first minute, you’re catapulted onto a rollercoaster of genre, going from synth to tribal to lofi to a pop and hip hop combo. Hailing from Hattiesburg, Mississippi, RaQuel refers to herself as a “soul rebel” due to the fact that she’s always “been determined to bring [her] heart’s desires into reality, even as a kid.” From her debut, a 2017 EP entitled New Rebel Groove, she’s kept her promise. Her “groove” is unlike that of anything else we’ve heard here at whenimakeittola. With the release of one more single (“C.F.S.P.”) along with the aforementioned Iridescent album, Aisha RaQuel is far from slowing down. We recently spoke with RaQuel about how she started making music, who she’s working with in a dream collab, and more!
How did you start making music?
I remember gaining a lot of musical influence from my surroundings at a very young age, due to me spending large amounts of time with my Grandma. We would always go to church, like nearly every day, so I was around lots of singing and instruments. I grew a deep passion for music starting around age 3, when I first heard the song "We Are The World" by Michael Jackson, in my preschool class. I remember closing my eyes and just letting the music soothe me. That is when I knew I wanted to create tunes and bring that exact same feeling to others. In grade school, I loved to dance and play baseball, but music was always just my "thing". I wrote my first song around 4th or 5th grade, which was ironically the same time I discovered the internet. I started posting songs on YouTube around 2009, and the rest is history.
What’s your favorite non-musical activity?
Whenever I'm not making music, I have to be doing something both artistic and technological because I love both. I'm a literal nerd for different creative softwares and anything dealing with art, period. If I wasn't a musician, I'd likely be doing all of the behind the scenes things like shooting videos, creating graphics, and engineering.
You recently released your debut album IRIDESCENT. What was your favorite song to write off of your new album?
Ah yes! It's exciting to finally have an actual album out in the world. It's a bit hard to choose one specific song as a favorite because none of them have the same vibe lol, but “Sayonara” and “Uh Huh” were the most unique ones to write.
What’s the biggest message you want fans to take away when they listen to your music?
I want my supporters to take away self awareness from my music. No matter what vibe I approach, that seems to be the underlying message. Be aware of who you are and what you come from. Be aware of all you encompass as a human being: your mind, your physical body, your unique soul, and your Spirit of oneness. Be aware of the energy you're putting out into the universe because we are all connected to each other.
What’s some advice that you would give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to trust her journey, take it one day at a time, and always remember she is divine! Also, don't ever be afraid to do things on your own.
Who would you love to collaborate with?
I would love to collaborate with some of my favorite artists whose music I resonate with heavily, like Kendrick Lamar, SABA, and Lauryn Hill.
What should fans keep an eye out for in the future?
A whole lot of nature-inspired creativity. In many different forms. Stay tuned!
