FIVE THINGS - RAVEN
Blazer - Daniel W. Fletcher, T-Shirt - Jordan Luca
London via Margate composer, producer and multi instrumentalist Raven has collaborated with many well-respected artists including Kate Tempest, Paul Weller, Mica Levi, Kwes and Bullion. His music upholds a balance between the orchestral and electronic, abstract and conventional. Parallels can be drawn to the artist Arthur Russell, in terms of their diversity, creating tracks you can dance to, but also songs and music for reflection.
We sat down with Raven to get his “5 Things” /
What was the moment that changed your world ?
When I decided to focus on making music by myself 2 years ago. This decision coincided with some big changes happening in my life. I’ve spent the last decade playing in bands, the social side of that is great, it’s like a family, you share the creative journey together and have a collective vision which you’re trying to realise as a unit. I try my best to align musical development with personal growth, they’re inseparable and for me to carry on that journey I had to focus more selfishly on my own ideas. There were emotions I had to process that were quite personal, things that only made sense to realise on my own terms.
Sweatshirt & T-Shirt - Nicholas Daley
Where in the world is your physical and spiritual home ?
I currently live in Margate, it’s pretty much the furthermost southeast point of the UK.
My parents separated when I was young so I always lived between 2 places growing up, rural countryside and London. I actually really enjoyed the back and forth between the 2 places, never got too tired of either. The result of which is I feel like I’m from both and neither at the same time.
What does the world need now ?
It’s a very extreme time we live in - globalization and greed are killing the planet.
Love, compassion, understanding are vital for moving forward.
I think we need a more holistic approach to finding solutions. Everything is so much more complicated and connected, not as binary as a particular party might suggest. If we are going to try and solve any of the real issues we face it will be through cooperation and understanding.
Blazer - Nanamica, Hoodie - C2H4, Coach Jacket - Xander Zhou, Trousers - Filippa K, Trainers - Asics
Who and what rocks your world ?
My 2 year old daughter - I feel very lucky to have her around.
Having a kid is very deep because you get to remember your own childhood from a new vantage point, it’s a powerful thing.
I’m into this notion of repetition in 7 year cycles. By the age of 7 you have in essence formed into the person you’re going to be fo the rest your life. You learn to ‘adult’, add unnecessary layers that you spend the rest of your life trying peal off. But really inside you’re the same as when you where young.
Kids can teach grown ups so much. They have an unfettered view on the world which is so beautiful, if only more people could hang on to that.
Jacket - Lou Dalton, Jeans - Daniel W. Fletcher, Trainers - Asics, Vest & Bag - RAINS
How do you use the world to inspire your creative process?
Recently I’ve been enjoying going to the sea at night. It’s really energising going down on the beach when it’s dark at low tide, it can feel like another world.
I’ve been trying to imagine how I could turn that feeling into some music. I think that my sound has quite a broad range of influences, there is so much in the world that inspires, I don’t want to be stuck in one place musically. I try my best and reflect the myriad of worlds I’ m exposed to.
Jacket - Lou Dalton, Jeans - Daniel W. Fletcher, Trainers - Asics, Vest & Bag - RAINS
