After establishing himself with a breadth of dynamic releases throughout last year, New Jersey-based rapper Rafayel is back at it once again to deliver his bouncing new single 'Sedated'.
Lifted from his newly released studio album 'The Divine Son', which is available to stream now, 'Sedated' sees him bringing back more of that bold and infectious flow he is known for. With its riveting textures and pulsing atmosphere throughout, he continues to shine as one of the more exciting names on the rise right now.
So with the new single available to stream now, we sat down with him to find out more about his origins and what has been inspiring him most lately.
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What was the first instrument you fell in love with?
The first instrument I fell in love with wasn’t really an instrument it was Melodie’s in music that caused me to gravitate to music overall melodies were intriguing to me. I was big on reading and writing poetry at a young age and writing became second nature through practice hence I honed in on self expression and self reflection and self discovery and that led me to the start of me making music. VirkoSounds/ my producer is more in tune with all instruments from piano, guitar ect hence we compliment each other well. He’s the Dr. Dre to my Eminem for lack of better words.
What kind of music did you love when you were younger?
As far as what music I liked growing up, well I was raised on a lot of Spanish music because my background is Dominican from a cultural standpoint that’s what my parents played constantly. But aside from that I was captivated by the legends such as Tupac and Biggie and their legacies to me were very inspiring and influential. Also growing up I listened to Eminem, 50 cent, Dipset, and various other artists. I loved all the music. I feel that I’ve learned a lot from all genres of music and how music is used as a tool to inspire others to tell their stories.
What was the first album you remember owning?
The first album I remember owning was The Marshal Mathers LP.
What is the one song you wished you could have written yourself?
The song I wish I would have written has yet to be written. Me wanting to have written someone else’s song would go against everything I believe in. What I write is written from a higher force beyond myself. It's god given from my perspective and I’m just a vessel for those messages and subjects to be explored and expressed. Every other artist has written what they were supposed to write themselves so I don't wish on things beyond my control.
Do you have any habits or rituals you go through when trying to write new music?
I don’t have any specific habits or rituals when writing songs. I try my best to allow the instrumentals to guide me through the maze of emotions I’m feeling during that particular moment in time and expressing them accordingly. There are times where inspiration comes from within and sometimes external influences and sources play a role in it. I’m very good at understanding other people’s experiences and allowing myself to feel them for myself in its entirety which helps discuss various topics on various songs and instrumentals. I’ve studied the Greats and became great. I studied Melodie’s and hooks and mastered the craft through practice, dedication and sheer determination to become one of the best writers and artists alive. At least that’s the trajectory I feel I’m on.
Who are your favourite artists you have found yourself listening to at the moment?
My favorite artist is me at the moment and I’ve found myself revisiting my old albums and previous projects recently to understand where I’ve come from and where I’m headed and where I can take it next. It's really me vs me. Don’t get me wrong I love listening to other great artists such as Eminem, 50 cent, Juelz Santana, Kendrick Lamar, and most definitely lil Wayne. If I had to choose an artist I’ve listened to a lot throughout the years I would have to say Lil Wayne simply because of his work ethics and diversity and how he’s influenced the rap/hip hop culture. His legacy has been very innovative and inspiring throughout my years of making music. Jayz is also an intriguing artist to me from his business savvy approach to his own way of approaching music as well.
If you could open a show for anyone in the world, who would it be?
If I could open for any artist in the world it would more than likely be Eminem because I do believe he’s the greatest rapper of all time if not Eminem definitely Lil Wayne.
What do you find is the most rewarding part about being a musician?
The most rewarding part of being an artist/musician is having the ability to inspire others. I aspire to inspire the youth to not be afraid to chase their dreams no matter the circumstances. I feel as if music saved my life growing up, it kept me from getting deeper into the street life and I found music as an outlet that helped me become a better person. My father was involved in the streets and did his time in the penitentiary per the obvious consequences that come with that world and he was and still is my hero but I wanted to be better and do better. Music is also therapeutic for me. I get to vent and let my emotions run free in the most meaningful and enjoyable ways possible while being able to reflect on those feelings, I feel it beats keeping them all bottled in if you ask me.
And what is the most frustrating part?
The most frustrating part is not being able to reach the world at a much faster pace but it seems as of late it’s becoming harder to go unnoticed which is a good thing.
And what is the best piece of advice you have received as a musician?
The best piece of advice would be (Keep going, what’s the worst that could happen if you get better?) That advice resonated with me the most because it became clear to me and I understood that it’s not about the destination it’s about what one becomes on the way there and that’s the most important aspect of all of this.
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Rafayel's new single 'Sedated' is available to stream now. Check it out in the player below.