Raffaella Already Sounds Like an Indie-Pop Vet on LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I)
The post Raffaella Already Sounds Like an Indie-Pop Vet on LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) appeared first on Consequence.
A quick preface: I’m sure that Raffaella works extremely hard at her craft. There’s no doubt in my mind that she labors over her melodies, edits and re-edits her songwriting, and, I don’t know, runs through vocal warmups like Ron Burgundy before a news broadcast. But holy shit, does she make it look easy.
Even when the emotions get a little weightier on LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I), her latest EP, our August Artist of the Month’s songwriting and performing talents sound effortless. It’s as if she’s somehow placed a microphone deep in her subconscious and recorded the songs off the cuff as she sung them to herself. Each song is immediately familiar, like they’re already established hits, and her voice has the quality of an unknown star who’s discovered when an executive’s car happens to break down in her rural hometown. LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I), out Friday (August 12th), is the indie-pop equivalent of “I woke up like this,” and it’s an incredibly impressive display.
Dabbling in the sounds of indie-pop bops, singer-songwriter ballads, and pop-punk-revival bangers, the six-song EP showcases the breadth of Raffaella’s talents. Above all, it’s her range as a writer and the excellent, easy-going vocal performances that make LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) so exciting. The vibes shift from emotional to sardonic to unapologetic from track to track, and yet Raffaela is able to keep it light and fun, strutting over each instrumental with confident ease.
Opener “come to nyc, plz,” a piano-driven, ambient-backed ballad, is the quietest Raffaella plays it on the project. She’s love-sick, cautious, and self-deprecating as she explores the anxiety of the start of a potential relationship: The late-night facetimes, the excitement of a text, and the fear that at any moment you might screw it all up. It’s a love song updated for the always-online type of modern communication, complete with samples of a cityscape and an underplayed plea for Raffaella’s crush to come to New York City.
The ambience then leads into the following track, “BUICK,” before an upbeat, energetically-strummed acoustic guitar brightens the mood. As Raffaella sings of feeling okay when stuck in traffic or heading down the wrong road, she embodies the intoxication of being in the company of someone with whom you have a connection — no matter what complicated relationship status the two of you share. Along the way, she delivers one of the catchiest hooks found on the EP and even finds time to squeeze in a tasteful guitar solo.
Lead single “BLONDE” doubles down on the rock elements introduced in “BUICK.” The punkier tone is immediately obvious, as the track even begins with the feedback of an electric guitar plugging into an amp. “You’d be a lot happier if I were blonde,” Raffaella sings over down-stroked power chords. As she breaks into the first pre-chorus, the instrumental gradually expands before an all-out explosion of sound hits the first of many climaxes. The remainder of the song oscillates between syncopated and sarcastic verses and melodic pop-punk (or perhaps more accurately, punk-pop) choruses. “BLONDE” showcases Raffaella at her most anthemic, and, man, does it sound good when played loud.
“GROWN UP” and “drama queen.” keep it energetic and catchy as LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) moves into its second half. The former is sassy and bombastic, with booming drums and maximalist production. It’s the most dance-inducing track on the EP yet, a trend that continues as the LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) wraps up. “drama queen.” takes the dance-pop influence in a different direction, instead erring towards something closer to the party bangers of the late aughts. Distorted guitars and synths combine to back Raffaella’s auto-tuned vocals, resulting in a pure bop that owes its contagious energy to the work of Brittney Spears and early Kesha.
The EP comes to a close with “LIPSTICK,” a tune that fuses elements from each of the previous tracks to produce a song that’s at once nostalgic and forward-thinking. Vocal effects, a punchy backing beat, and guitar incorporation swirl together for a bittersweet, earworm chorus. In context, it’s a satisfying conclusion, ending the project with warm, tape-warped piano chords that make it near impossible to refrain from replaying LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) from the top.
As a whole, LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) is the sound of an artist who’s recently come into their own. Over the six tracks, Raffaella is fresh, but confident, self-assured, but not stylistically pigeonholed. Even with just a handful of songs to her name, she comes across like an artist with albums worth of experience, singing with the effortless confidence of someone that has nothing to prove. Ironically, that’s exactly what cements Raffaella’s bright future.
With a name that implies a follow-up — or perhaps a series of follow-ups — it’s easy to be salivating for more upon finishing “LIPSTICK.” Yet, with songs this replayable, LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) should have a long shelf-life, tiding us over while Raffaella decides what to grace fans with next.
Essential Tracks: “BLONDE,” “BUICK,” “LIPSTICK”
LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I) Artwork:
Raffaella Already Sounds Like an Indie-Pop Vet on LIVE, RAFF, LOVE (ACT I)
Jonah Krueger
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