Q: Hi there! So happy to be talking with you today. I’m loving the old-school pop vibe “Blind Date” gives off. What was the inspiration behind this track?
RVKAH: Hey there, It’s great to talk to you as well! I’ve always been inspired by the sounds of the late 90’s and early 00’s which does seem to transpire in my tracks, but we also wanted the song to sound “worldly” and have a current feel per se – given the fact that I’m half Israeli. The track just came together quite naturally to be honest.
Q: I’m always interested in an artist’s musical journey; did you grow up with a musical family/do you remember what or who first made you fall in love with it?
RVKAH: I definitely do come from a musical family. My dad plays guitar, so you can bet I fell asleep to him covering The Beatles every single night. Wether I wanted to hear it or not haha. My family on my mom’s side also all comes from Vaudeville. My mom is also musically inclined and one of my great grandmother’s played the piano in silent films back then as well. Also… I’ve been listening to Elton John on repeat since the womb because of my mom – so I feel like that did something haha.
Q: Can you walk me a little through the creative process in making “Blind Date”? What was your favorite part of making this track?
RVKAH: When I first heard “Blind Date” it was an unfinished demo, but I really liked the vibe of the track and wanted to cut it. I went back and forth with the producer, Matt Browning, regarding the sound design of the song and then went to LA to record it. The darker pop sound came along due to the way I performed it, and the alternative – almost worldly – sounding post chorus instrumental, was influenced by a more Middle Eastern sound.
Q: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve received about the music industry, and how has it helped you navigate through it thus far?
RVKAH: Never do business without a contract or an NDA to protect your intellectual property at the very least. If someone wants to work with you but they’re scared by the idea of a contract – then you probably don’t want to be working with that individual. Red flag
Q: What do you hope listeners take away from “Blind Date”?
RVKAH: I hope listeners can take away a nostalgic, yet current vibe. I also hope it empowers them when it comes to dating… because the lyrics in “Blind Date” are all the thing we want to say on a bad date… but we are too nervous to say what we’re really thinking when we’re in an uncomfortable situation.
Q: If you were stranded on a deserted island and could only take three albums with you,, which would they be & why?
RVKAH: This really took me a minute to think about, because there are so many albums I would want to bring with me haha. But if I had to narrow it down to three… it would be the “Baby! One More Time” album by Britney Spears, “Esperanza” by Esperanza Spalding, and of course “Midnights” by Taylor Swift. Britney is one of the few pop girls on the scene that really influenced me growing up, so bringing her album would be nice as it reminds me of my childhood and one of the first albums that inspired me to sing in the first place. As for Esperanza Spalding, she’s one of the first jazz artists I was introduced to when I attended Berklee and fell in love with her work as both a jazz bassist and a singer. There is something so calming about her music and her voice, and it is pretty cool we both went to Berklee. It was great getting to see her perform and meet her, so the memories I hold with her music – absolutely would want that with me. Last album I would bring would be Taylor Swift’s “Midnights” album. She has been a huge inspiration to me lately, specifically regarding the way she captures her life in stories through her music so poetically, and she’s just so innovative when it comes to branding and marketing.
Q: What did attending the Berklee school of music teach you, and how has it helped you through your musical journey so far?
RVKAH: Berklee taught me a lot. Let’s start with learning how to read music haha. I’m glad my improvisational skills are strong, because sight reading was on the audition of admission! Apart from everything from music business, to conducting, to learning a lot about music theory – Berklee really opened my eyes when it comes to other genres of music. Being exposed to different musical cultures, made me a better singer. It actually made me a more soulful singer. Covering artists in school like Jill Scott, D’Angelo, and Erykah Badu – to name a few – helped me become a more rounded musician.
Q: Thanks so much for talking with me! Is anything exciting coming up that you want to let everyone know about? (shows, new music, any projects in the works, etc.)
RVKAH: Absolutely! “Blind Date” is the first single off my new album, but I will have a few more singles coming out after the new year before the album drops later in 2023. I am also working on a lot of collaborations that I am excited to put out. Right now I am collaborating with artists like KS, Velvet Cash, Zach Carney, Yung N.A.Z., and Pebo Wilson. I also collaborated again with Grammy-winning songwriter, Charlie Midnight again – alongside Jan Fairchild. I’m very excited for you to hear the upcoming music – there’s a lot 😉
Interviewed by Melissa Cusano
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