Interviews: Raquel

On this new occasion, we have had the opportunity to interview the Rock band Raquel from Colombia. Check out this band and follow them on their FACEBOOK PAGE.

1. Where did you get the idea for the band name, you plan it or come out just like that?

The band's name emerged because the group needed a name to participate in a festival. "Raquel" is the name of one of our own songs, and that's what gave the group its name.

2. Why did you want to play this genre?

Among all the members, we agreed that we always wanted to play rock. However, forming a rock band in our area is complex since the music scene is monopolized by other genres.

3. Did you know each other before the band was formed?

Interestingly, this band is made up of three men named Santiago and one named Alex. Santiago Lopera (guitar and lead vocals) met Alex (guitar and vocals) in the city's music scene, and they became friends, forming various musical groups over the years. On the other hand, Lopera met Santiago Torres (drums) while studying music professionally and academically. A similar thing happened with Alex; they were involved in several projects together but never dared to form their own band. Santiago Velez (bass guitar) already knew Torres because they had been in a band together, and he had also shared musical spaces with Lopera. When it came time to record the songs, they decided to add a bass guitar, so they felt the need to include a bassist. That's when Torres recommended Velez to join the group.

4. Each band member's favorite band?

Currently, these are each member's favorite bands:

Lopera: Idles and Black Midi.

Torres: Idles.

Alex: Clandestino.

Velez: Royal Blood and Rammstein.

5. Who or what inspires you to write songs?

What inspires us to write songs is Latin American daily life. Everyday experiences have given us the inspiration to express and create stories through music.

6. Where was your last gig?

Volta Fest in Medellin is a music festival organized by the record label we belong to.

7. Where would you like to act?

Due to the context and message of our music, we would like to perform in various places in Latin America, with a special interest in Mexico, Argentina, and Chile. However, we don't want to limit ourselves to specific locations; our goal is to take our music everywhere possible.

8. Whom would you like to feature with?

We would like to collaborate with Edson Velandia and Omar Rodriguez.

9. Whom not?

We are open to collaborating with various artists; therefore, we haven't ruled out collaborating with anyone.

10. Have any of you ever suffered from stage fright? Any tip for beginners on how to beat that?

Lopera shares his story: "Yes, I've struggled with this, but it hasn't happened in a while. It's very important to study and strive to improve on whatever your instrument is. Having things clear in your mind is what can help you play with confidence."

Initially, it's essential to be mentally calm and not overthink the situation. Perhaps looking for spaces where we can gradually expose ourselves, such as in rehearsals, in groups, or in small private concerts. It's never wrong to seek psychological help; surely, with the guidance of a professional, good results can be achieved.

11. What bands have inspired you the most?

Our influences and inspiration come from different groups, some are aesthetic references, musical, or based on the message they convey. Phil Rocker, Edson Velandia, Omar Rodríguez, León Pardo, Octavio Mesa, Gildardo Montoya, Draco Rosa, Idles, Turnstile, The Clash, and Johnny Cash.

12. What's the weirdest thing a fan has ever asked you for?

So far, the strangest thing a fan has asked of us, considering we think we're nobody, is for photos and autographs.

13. What do you think of your fans?

We love them, and we're totally grateful to them for their support, for coming to our concerts, and for learning the songs so they can sing along with us live. We hope our audience grows, and we can build a good relationship with people.

14. What do you think of our site?

We've been observing and we think it's great; we believe that our country needs more sites like this where we can stay informed and learn about new music within these specific musical genres.

15. Something add?

First of all, thank you very much for providing us with this space. Secondly, we invite you all to listen to our group. If you like rock and stories with a humorous twist, this band is for you. You can follow us on social media as @raquel.musica, and stay tuned because this year we'll be releasing more singles and an EP.