Music looks like Heaven Part
II
By: Raven Ekundayo
Editor@excapthematrix.com
Part I of our talk ended with Raquel letting the readers of ETM know of her journey to her radio show “Infinite Possibilities” and the impact her listeners have on her. This is the conclusion to an amazing conversation. As far as moving interviews go, this ranks pretty high up there. I hope you’re ready to learn a little more about the soul sister Raquel.
Raven
– Ok wait, because that leads me to this question. You’re a lover of music. This
is something we’ve gotten to know quite well during this conversation. My next
question to you is what does music taste like to Raquel? What does it smell
like? What does music look like?
(Raquel smiles and lets out a light laugh. She then gets very quiet. She stares off in deep thought. The sun is shining bright and it’s so quiet after the question. Quill and I just sit and look at her.)
Raquel – Wow….
(Silence lingers a little longer)
Raquel – Music looks like Heaven to me. (Her eyes water up a bit and then words just roll out of her mouth quickly but with so much feeling) Music tastes like the best possible meal that you could ever come up with and you’ve never even had before ummm….what does it feel like? It feels like God embracing me….that’s what it feels like….yeah, that’s what it feels like, everyday.
(She starts to cry and I’m frozen. I’m so moved. Her tears come down slow and she isn’t sobbing, she’s just sitting peaceful as tears stream down her beautiful brown skin. This sister has been touched. I’m speechless. I turn to look at Quill and he’s crying too. I’m SO caught off guard by that. I’m beyond moved at this point. So we just sit quiet for awhile. The two of them deep in thought, the feeling of God and music and it being one in the same to them has taken them somewhere peaceful and beautiful, far from Columbia, Md, far from anywhere anyone who lacks the same love of music could ever comprehend)
Raven
– That might be the best answer I’ve ever….I can’t take the two of you.
(We all start to laugh. Quels breathes deep)
Raquel – Sorry.
Raven – No No, that was beautiful. Ok. So who are some artists that you’ve grown up listening to that still stick out to you to this day and who are some artist that are out now that mean something to you.
Raquel – I grew up of course listening to Michael Jackson, Prince, Madonna. I’ve always listened to all forms of music. I listen to Rock, I listen to R&B, I listen to House…I LOVE house music. I spent a lot of time in Baltimore when I was younger and a friend gave me a house music tape and I literally wore it out I played it over and over again. Janet Jackson stands out, Sade stands out, Prince stands out and of course Michael Jackson. As far as what I listen to now....Jill Scott, Jill Scott, Jill Scott….
Raven – I love you for loving Jill. Lol.
Raquel – I love myself some Jill. Number 2 would be either Erykah Badu or….wait. The entire Indie soul movement has me right now. They’re doing what Marvin (Gay) and Curtis (Mayfield) did back in the day. They have a deeper message to their music. It isn’t just about love, it isn’t just about sex, it’s deeper. They have my ear. I love Sy Smith, I love Choklate, Yahzarah is my girl. Number one is Jill Scott though. The Floacist is coming up on her heels though.
Raven – If the Floacist (Formerly of Floetry) is reading this she needs to understand that you have been pushing her something SERIOUS. Lol. She definitely gets love from you.
Raquel – Yeah, she knows it. We’ve been blessed to have communicated. She has a good message. That’s why I’m pushing it. We don’t have enough people pushing a positive message.
Raven – Ok, so what are your thoughts on the industry? What do you think about where the industry is headed? Do you think we’re in a positive place right now?
Raquel – I don’t think we’re in a positive place right now at all because the messages aren’t positive. Anytime I turn on the radio I still hear a lot of garbage. Nothing about garbage is positive to me. We have young people who are listening to this garbage and reciting it. It’s not feeding them. It’s like going to a fast food restaurant, I won’t mention any names. Lol. It’s like going to a fast food restaurant instead of sitting down to a real meal, where someone puts some love into the meal. They’re eating processed food. I feel like that’s where music is right now. This is why I take my job so seriously. I know that what I’m supposed to do is go after the music that isn’t being heard on main stream radio. I have to do my part to give them an alternative.
(Star bucks becomes a tad noisy and it’s time to look for a new venue. Raquel takes us to Centennial Park also located in Columbia. This park is awe inspiring in its beauty. Fall never looked so picturesque. We strolled pass the lake and found a nice bench looking over the water to continue the conversation)
Raven
– So, what’s next for Quels? Of course we know it’s not going to stop at
“Infinite Possibilities”.
Raquel – We actually I’m in the process of doing a number of things. I want to do an extension of what I’m already doing with interviewing people. I have a friend of mine that has an online radio station and I’ve actually just took on the position to do the music direction for that online radio show. So I’m doing that now because I love indie soul and I need to have my foot in it somehow. I’m also working on a radio show I want to do with indie soul music that incorporates some of the interviews that I can’t do for Infinite possibilities on this show. My big thing is I want to give those artist who aren’t normally heard a chance to be heard, and not just their music but the actual artist themselves; Their philosophies and what it is that they want to get out. I want to eventually get into doing voice over work as well so I can do commercials and things of hat nature. More importantly I just want to get into a position where people know if they get anything to me I’ll get it out to the public. The thing is I don’t even need recognition for it, you don’t even have to tell anybody you got it to me (laughs). I just want to be that vessel that gets it out to everyone else.
Raven – Ok, two more questions for Quels. What is your dream concert? Who would you put together?
Raquel – Ah…. (Smiles) Sade….Cassandra Wilson and Jill….yeah….yeah and Jill….Yeah. I don’t know who would go 1st, I don’t care, I don’t care if they all do it together. I say that because all of those women are artist. They’re not just singers, they’re writers, they’re arrangers. I would say Sade has the most consistent style where you always know it’s her. Now you don’t always know that’s Jill’s voice because she can sing as low and as high….
Raven – Exactly!
Raquel – You’re like, who is that? It’s the same thing with Cassandra. You’ll know her voice but the music will sound like jazz and another will sound like Hip Hop and you’re like “wait, that’s Cassandra?” When people hear “Sweet Justice” By Jill….
(I drop the recorder)
Raven
– I’m sorry. You said “Sweet Justice”. That’s my favorite song by Jill. You
played that on your show last week and man oh man! That’s what we should get
each other for 2008, the Jill Scott interview. Lol.
Raquel – Yeah that’s my goal too. I’d throw the Floacist in there too, but definitely those 3.
Raven – I was close to that a few years back with the Sugar Water festival. Floerty, Queen Latifah, Jill and Erykah. Great concert!
Raquel – Right right! I remember hearing about that.
Raven – Now my final question. When Raquel hears the phrase “eXcape the matriX” what does it mean to her?
Raquel – I think about stepping outside of the norm, stepping outside of the box and doing your own thing. To me the matrix is a program of what should and shouldn’t be, so if you’re eXcaping that you’re getting outside of what’s expected….
Check out Raquel on Myspace and let her know what you think of her show or this interview: http://www.myspace.com/usn_raquel
Also, you can check her out if you’re in the B-more/DC area by tuning into WEAA 88.9 FM Monday-Fridays from 10am to 2pm. You can also listen to the show online at www.weaa.org .
BE PEACE
Raven