Arc and Bow: What's your name?
Raissa: My name is Raissa.
AB: Just one name. That's always powerful. Where are you from?
R: I am from a lot of places. Mum is Spanish. I was born in Spain. I left when I was two months old. My dad is French and Algerian. I lived most of my teen years in Malaysia. I was in Malaysia for about ten years, so I would say that's where I grew up.
AB: What brought you guys there?
R: My dad's work. He does civil engineering.
AB: What was it like moving to a foreign country?
R: It's really all I've ever known because I've actually never lived in France or in Spain, even though that's where my parents are from, and that's where my passports are from. I've lived in Australia once, in China twice and in Malaysia twice. Then I lived in London for a while. Now, I've lived in LA for almost four years.
If there's one thing I could say about it, it would be that it's made me pretty good at feeling comfortable around lots of different types of people and environments. I don't really get culture shock.
AB: Was it hard to maintain relationships?
R: I feel like there would be something really nice about the consistency of growing up somewhere and staying in the same place. I think it's pretty healthy in a lot of ways. Not that how I grew up is unhealthy, but there are times I'm having a difficult day, and I wish I could just go see my parents or my friends from high school. Without that to ground you, you have to put in double the amount of work sometimes to remember who you are. I do miss my family a lot and I wish I could see the people I grew up with more regularly. I see my parents once a year, and I see my friends from school once every three years.
AB: Where are your parents?
R: My parents actually just moved to Saudi Arabia, but they were in Manila up until now.
AB: When you moved to the US did you go directly to L.A?
R: Yes. I signed a record deal. My manager at the time– I have a different manager now– was here. I had signed this record deal and I just moved.
AB: What part of L.A.?
R: In Hollywood-ish near Larchmont Village.
AB: I feel like when I come around to that part of town – maybe it's because I grew up on the West Side, so I'm romanticizing it– but, I feel this creative, sort of old Hollywood L.A. nostalgia.
R: Yeah, definitely I agree. It seems to me that even though all the record label’s offices are on the West Side, none of the creative people are living there.
AB: When did you decide that you wanted to be a recording artist?
R: Oh my God. I think I always knew I wanted to. I was 6 or 7 years old telling people I was going to be a singer. As I got older, I moved away from that, because I was growing up in places where there wasn't a music industry. I didn't know anyone. I didn't even know what a producer was until I was 18 years old. It didn't feel realistic until I moved to London when I was 19 to go to art school.
I wasn't studying music. I was studying applied art history. I had a moment of realization at that time that I couldn't give up on music. I knew I needed to give it a shot. I didn’t know how I was going to begin. I didn’t know anything or anyone, but I needed to see if I could make it happen.
AB: What was your first step?
R: You make decisions that you don't even realize at the time are decisions. Then you get somewhere, and people ask, “So how did you get here?” When I look back I’m like uhhh...
I became friends with this guy, Diako, he's now one of my best friends. We met when I was 19. At the time, he was an aspiring producer. We started working together a lot, and slowly started building relationships with other people that were making music. One thing led to another…it's hard to pinpoint exactly how I did it. I think I just kept my head down and kept making things that I was proud of.
AB: And you were just self releasing?
R: I released one song on SoundCloud when I was 19 and then took it down. Then I didn't release anything until January of 2020. There were long periods where I wasn't releasing music, but I was making a lot. I would tease things on social media. I was making friends with producers, other artists and songwriters, on Instagram, specifically. That is what prompted me to start coming out to LA. I'd become friends online with all these people that were working in music here, but I was living in London. I started saving up and making trips to Los Angeles. Then eventually moved.
AB: Do you have one producer now that you work with primarily? What is your music making process like?
R: I took a big break last year around the time that you and I met when we did the Arc and Bow photo shoot. I had just started getting back in the studio again. I met this guy named Evan Voytas, who's now become a good friend of mine. We just started collaborating on a bunch of music, and it was like the first time since I was a teenager where I felt a special sense of excitement for making music. The industry can really jade you. I’m sure you know the entertainment industry is the Wild West. It can be really tough, and prey on your insecurities. That’s why I took the break, but when I started working with Evan things changed. We’ve been collaborating on everything that I've been releasing recently.
AB: I’ve been listening to your music so much lately.
R: Okay? And?
AB: I love it, obviously. It’s my favorite kind of pop. It has that electronic aspect, it’s emotional, and you sing in different languages. It's very dynamic.
R: Thank you.
AB: What was it like going from posting a track on SoundCloud to starting to get traction? What do you think was the biggest factor in getting some kind of momentum?
R: It was just putting myself out there, and meeting the right people at the right time. Covid kind of fucked it up a little bit. When you decide to do something yourself– I'm sure you feel this way with running your own business– When you decide:
I'm going to do something, I'm going to have to figure out how to do it as I go, but I feel like I have a unique perspective and something to say. So I owe it to myself to try.
It's not a straight line up. It’s a wave. You're constantly going up, but there are dips where you feel like What am I doing?
AB: It's like the stock market.
R: Literally. It's never trending upwards in a perfectly straight line. I think it's all about the right people at the right time. But also, there are things that happened to me in my career that while they were happening, I thought they were great, but then I realized that they weren't right for me. Which is why I actually left that original record deal. It was not motivating me to make my best work.
Sometimes the only way out is through. Trial by fire. Looking back, I'm glad certain things didn't work out because I don't think they were right for me. I actually think they couldn’t have worked out because they weren't right. Now I feel like I'm finally on the right path creatively. So I cross my fingers and hope that things line up again.
AB: Where do you want to see your music take you? What are the visions that you have in your mind?
R: The goal is to do a stadium tour. That would be huge. I really want to do a Tiny Desk. I would love to play Lollapalooza Brazil and Fuji Rock in Japan.
I'd love to do the soundtrack to a film. Start to finish. Maybe be the music supervisor or write the whole thing, or something in the middle.
Those are all big visions, but I think at the most basic level my goal is to create a community that's as big as possible and as inclusive as possible. Where people can really come together, feel seen and heard, and have a place to express themselves. I think that is what the arts are supposed to do. I think that's what pop music specifically is supposed to be.
AB: Who or what are your inspirations?
R: Missy Elliott is one. I feel like she doesn't get nearly the amount of recognition she should get, even though she already gets a lot. I love how seriously she takes her craft, but she doesn't take herself seriously. That's a very special thing that I don't see in very many artists, but I think the greatest artists have that. Prince had a really good sense of humor, for example. He's a huge inspiration to me. David Bowie. Lady Gaga. Obviously I was a little monster – still am. I admire people that are not afraid to commit to something.
AB: Do you ever get inspired by novels or film?
R: Yes for sure. Before I worked on my current project I made an EP – which hasn't come out and I don't know if it ever will – that was based on a collection of short stories called The Bloody Chamber and Other Stories by Angela Carter. It’s a modern, gothic recounting of fairy tales. Her version of Sleeping Beauty, Bluebeard etc. I feel like that book has always been an inspiration in my songwriting even without realizing it.
I've always wanted to write music for films. All my favorite movies and TV shows have really good music. I love David Lynch's use of music in his work. Angelo Badalamenti, who is his composer, is probably one of my favorite musicians ever.
AB: Do you have a favorite David Lynch film soundtrack?
R: The soundtrack for Twin Peaks is really perfect. Bowie's on it. Chris Isaac too. I love Chris Isaac.
AB: Did Bowie have a track in Lost Highway too? Have you seen that? I love that film and soundtrack. Strange movie.
R: Yes. Dream logic.
AB: Speaking of dreams, do you ever get inspired by yours?
R: Yes. I get a lot of nightmares. It’s the biggest issue with my sleep. I get really vivid, very stressful nightmares.
‘A La Mode’ specifically, which is the first single off this new project, was inspired by my recurring nightmares of being bullied at LA social gathering situations. People were being really mean to me and I couldn't speak to defend myself. I wrote ‘A La Mode’ off of that energy. It’s very tongue in cheek. A way of saying I'm not going to take you seriously.
AB: Are your nightmares traumatic for you, or is there a part of you that kind of appreciates the twisted way that your mind works?
R: I think a bit of both. I'll wake up pretty stressed. Heart pounding. Then I'll tell the story to someone, or just think about it in my head, and realize that's actually really funny. The way the mind works is really mysterious. Sometimes I'll have nightmares, and I don't quite know what they're about until much later. I think dreams are super powerful. That's why I like David Lynch. He talks a lot about getting his ideas from his dreams.
AB: Do you have any ritual/meditation/practice to tap into creativity?
R: That's a good question. I try not to go to the studio before my period. I am way too self-critical to get anything done. I try to go when I'm ovulating.
AB: Okay I've heard of syncing your cycle to physical activity, but never to being creative. That’s pretty magical.
R: I know it's literally life changing. I feel like for creating, ovulation is the best because you feel so good about yourself. You're not going to be self-critical and you're going to be able to just go with the flow. I definitely try to avoid my PMS time when it comes to being creative.
I ride my bike to the studio. Especially if it's a sunny day, I ride around the reservoir and it’s very calming and meditative.
I don't know that I have a ritual. Maybe I should. I think the most important thing is who I'm working with. I really like working with Evan. We just talk and hang out for about an hour before we even start doing anything. That's really helpful and relaxing.
AB: How does your songwriting process work for you? Do you usually have something in mind that you come to the studio with? Or does it just flow out when you’re there?
R: That's a good question. I feel like my songwriting process has changed a lot on this new project. I used to focus much more on songwriting than I do now. Right now, I’m very interested in production, and how sounds move through your body and make you feel. I’ve been letting that dictate what I'm writing. It’s much more of an embodied process for me. Instead of going from my head to my body, I'm going from my body to my head.
AB: I love that. That’s so in right now.
R: For sure. I feel like there’s a collective shift going on. We've been locked in doors because of Covid, and we’re all feeling this societal collapse going on. We need to remember that we're actually animals, and part of nature, and not machines.
With that said, I do sometimes have ideas that I write down from random bursts of inspiration and think yeah that's a good punchline. Then in the studio, I might pull up my notes to try to use it in a song or build around the idea or the sentiment.
In general, I try to be quite flexible with my process and to have as much humor as possible. Some of the songs on the project started off with jokes and ended up really sick. Having a sense of humor, and being able to play around and discover, is very important to me.
AB: What do you want people to feel from you and your art? What's the association you want people to have?
R: Joy. Finding joy even when things don't feel great or look great. I think joy is everything. I believe we're all capable of it, and there's joy to be found everywhere– whether it's going for a walk, dancing, or spending time with a friend. Joy is a secret weapon against a world that constantly tries to undermine us, sell us things, and prey on our insecurities.
AB: When you're looking to create something that makes people feel joyful, but in the lyrics you’re sharing a negative experience, how does that come together?
R: When I write something that's painful or sad and make a song that isn't upbeat or joyful seeming – because not all of them are – I think the act of being truthful and honest is an act of self-love. You're letting something go. You're not letting that negative thing define you. You're not hiding. By releasing that negativity, you are creating space for joy.
My hope is that when someone listens to one of my songs that isn't obviously joyful or upbeat, they're able to let go of their own shit. Honesty is very important to me in my music. Even when I write about things that are really sad or my mental health, I never write it from a place of pessimism.
Of course, sometimes I feel like my life is over, but that's just sometimes, not the whole story.
AB: You said you were interested in making music for film. It makes me wonder, how does that come into play when you’re making a music video?
R: I've learned over time, that for me, music videos are actually a very different format to films. Where I’m at right now, I’m not looking to make music videos that are very film-like. I think that they are trying to achieve different things. When I was starting out, I was more interested in the narrative. Now, I don't think that's necessarily relevant because the song is the artifact. The video isn't the artifact.
I'm really interested in strong images that aren’t fussy. I'm very interested in vulnerability. Obviously, you want to be aspirational and to create a dream, but my whole concept for this project is light and tight. It's not complicated. It's not heavy. I can achieve it with one person and one camera. It doesn't mean that my music video can't be cinematic, it's just a different approach.
(Check out clips from some of Raissa's videos here: A la Mode , Penita, Hearteater )
AB: What's your favorite album?
R: Of all time?
AB: That's such an annoying question to be asked – What's your favorite? But what's something that you listen to and think this is damn near perfect?
R: Monkey Business – Black Eyed Peas, top to bottom, perfect pop, R&B, hip hop album. Insanely good. They have a James Brown feature. They have a Justin Timberlake feature. They have a Jack Johnson feature. The whole thing works so well together, but all the songs are so different.It's a perfect album and it has I think seven singles on it.
The Fame Monster, Lady Gaga. I also think it’s perfect top to bottom as far as dance pop records go. This Is Not A Test, Missy Elliott. Joni Mitchell's Blue.
AB: I'm going to listen to Missy Elliott more now.
R: Under Construction is so good. She does skits in between all the songs.
AB: Is there a music video that you really feel inspired by?
R: There are music videos that I loved growing up, that when I've looked back, they just haven't aged that well. One that has, is ‘Alejandro’ Lady Gaga. The production was fucking insane.
AB: Are dance and choreography a big part of your live performances?
R: Yeah. For sure. Now, more than before. I think after moving to LA, I realized how much I missed dancing. Literally just going out and dancing. I think the city doesn't really have much of that in the nightlife scene. I realized dance is such an important part of my self-expression and processing of feelings. It used to be that if I had a bad day, I went out and danced with my friends all night, and just immediately felt self-actualized.
When I dance, I'm embodied. I'm not just a robot. I'm an animal. I’m a living, breathing organism. Dance has become way more important to me with this project. I haven't danced properly in years, and I haven't necessarily been training or choreographing. I would love to eventually work with a choreographer for this project. Dance is and will be a big part of it.
AB: Where do you go out and dance here in L.A.?
R: I live close to Zebulon. There are some nights where my friends and I will just walk there to dance for an hour or two then walk back.
AB: What's your ideal day?
R: I wake up pretty early. Go get a pastry somewhere. Work out. Probably do pilates or yoga. Shower. Spend some time with my man. Go to the studio. Work. Play a show. Come back home. Get into bed. Watch a movie. Go to sleep.
AB: How would you describe your style?
R: I've been going through a style transition in the last year. I'm always comfortable. If I'm uncomfortable, I won't wear it. I want to be able to move. I like a balance of girly and masculine. I've been really into things that are a little bit more utilitarian. Clothes that are like gear– that have a use. Shoes that are like hiking shoes. Cargo pants. Lots of pockets. I want to feel comfortable and free.
( instagram @THISISRAISSA)
AB: Do you have any style muses?
R: I think there are a lot of people whose style I love, but not because I would necessarily dress that way. My mom and my grandma have incredible style. My friend Moose. I think Julia Fox has amazing style. She is really doing something with her looks. I love when people are doing something, you know, no matter what it is, but they're like, doing it.
AB: Favorite brands?
R: I love JPG [Jean Paul Gautier]. I think you can probably tell by my shirt, but this is actually not JPG. It’s a French brand called Cop Copine. There's a couture brand I really like called Miss Sohee, by Sohee Park. I think she's incredible. I love Adidas. I love Miu Miu.
AB: What does Cop Copine mean?
R: Copine means girlfriend. Cop doesn't actually mean anything by itself, it's just a fun stutter kind of thing.
AB: Are you going to do French songs?
R: I've written a couple. I don't know why it hasn't happened yet. I don't want to force it, but I have a feeling it's going to happen.
AB: I love listening to French music. I obviously can’t understand it, but it’s just a feeling.
All black or color?
R: Color. I used to wear all black, now I'm color. At the moment, green is probably my favorite color. Green and red.
AB: I love green. Anything green I’m attracted to. Furniture. Wall color. Clothes.
R: Green is definitely the color of my year.
AB: Silk or Fur?
R: Silk…actually fur. I think I want to be a silk girl, but I'm actually a fur girl.
AB: Neutral or Red Lip?
R: Like a brick. Like a brown.
AB: Do you have a signature color?
R: I do. It's Chanel Rouge Allure 212 Caractere.
AB: Favorite city?
R: Barcelona. So far. I've never been to Japan. I think Tokyo or Kyoto might dethrone Barcelona. For now, Barcelona for sure.
AB: What's your favorite piece from Arc and Bow?
R: The Soft Rib headband. I wear the gray and the white one at least once a week.
I think the width is great. I love how thick it is. It keeps my ears warm in the morning, especially when I ride my bike. I always get so many compliments.
AB: Thank you. Thank you for this. You are the coolest.
R: Thank you!
Listen to Raissa's music here:
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