If you’ve been listening to house or drum and bass music over recent years, then there’s high a chance that you’ve stumbled across one of Raphaella’s tracks, whether you knew it or not. Raphaella is not just a talented singer and songwriter but also an accomplished producer with over 500 million streams to her name. She has made significant contributions to the success of numerous superstar acts, including Little Mix, Anne Marie, David Guetta, Martin Garrix, MNEK, Martin Solveig and many more.
Not only has she worked with chart topping names, but she’s featured on a bounty of tracks with underground names such as house icons Gorgon City, MK, Sonny Fodera, D.O.D and more as well as Rudimental, Wilkinson, Skepsis, Friction, Dimension, Culture Shock to name a few from the world of drum and bass.
Today, we dive into her latest single, ‘So Good,’ produced by Shift K3y. This track is a vibrant addition to her repertoire, capturing the raw energy and euphoria of underground music culture. ‘So Good’ features liquid elements and dynamic basslines, topped with Raphaellas vocals that inspire positivity to listeners.
We spoke to Raphaella to learn more the new release, her other collaboration work, and future plans.
Hey Raphaella, thanks for speaking to us today! Really enjoying ‘So Good’, it’s got such an uplifting feel to it, perfect for summer. We just wanted to ask you a couple of questions about the track and how it came to be!
Can you tell us about the inspirations behind the track?
I wanted to make a track that felt like Summer for 3 minutes, no matter where you are or what the rubbish UK weather is doing.
The track is produced by another dance music heavyweight Shift K3y, how did this collab come about?
I was in a writing session with Lewis (Shift K3y) and my good friend Negin Djafari – I think our managers or publishers had organised the session. I actually didn’t set out to write that day but as soon as I free-styled, the chorus, melody and lyrics started to take shape and I knew it was something I wanted to release.
Can you talk us through the studio process for creating ‘So Good’?
Yes! So I remember it was an unusually hot day & Lewis (Shift K3y) has this outside converted studio with a skylight which I was staring out of & I had this overwhelming feeling I wanted to pause the feeling or warmth, happiness and peace forever & put that feeling into a song. I also love emotive chord inversions and progressions & as soon as Lewis started playing the arped guitar line I asked to freestyle melodies. That’s actually normally how I love to write – freestyling melodies with bits of lyric until you craft & stitch the song together.
The lyrics are packed with emotion, what’s the story behind them?
So, to me ‘So Good’ is the story of an early evening at a Summer festival with your friends or your love – I always love those nights because the air feels almost electric and alive, there’s a warm breeze and the taste of salt and anticipation – I’m always so grateful to be alive in those moments. I wanted to make the verses incredibly real – like you could close your eyes and touch that night and festival. I’m also really inspired by Persian Sufi poets like Rami & Hafez who write about getting drunk & intoxicated on love and the universe. As I’m also sober I love that idea and wove that into the second verse and chorus of ‘So Good’. So ‘Mixed spirits tonight & I’m not even drunk yet’ is actually referring to how many people are mixing in the crowds & their beautiful spirits.
You’ve worked with huge names in other genres such as pop and house as well as drum & bass, which sound is your favourite to produce?
I actually love producing in every single genre, but what I love most is slightly left of centre synths and sounds. I started producing in alternative electronic music- like James Blake and Bon Iver, so as long as I feel I can add that element of experimentation with a left of centre analog feel, I’m in 🙂
Finally, what’s next for Raphaella, and do you have any advice for other vocalists who are finding their way in the music world?
I have so many exciting releases lined up for the next few months – both collabs and solo singles which I’m so excited for the world to hear. What I would say to vocalists finding their way in the music world is write on your own to find your own voice first. When you’ve found your voice & lyrical tone that feels like you, your identity as an artist will be so clear 🙂
Thank you so much for you time Raphaella!
‘So Good’ is out now via Destructivo Records, check it out here.
ratemyrave 