Emerging pop artist, Rachaayluu, has captivated listeners with her unique sound. Taking inspiration from contemporary pop icons like Sabrina Carpenter, Chappell Roan and Taylor Swift. Her debut track โSober,โ released in 2019, showcased her euphoric vocals in collaboration with Dan James Griffin. Check out the exclusive interview below:
1. Your roots can often shape your journey. Can you share a story or moment from your early life that had a significant impact on your path into music?
Rachaayluu: I will always remember performing in a school production at age 9, where I was paired with a group of boys because they lacked confidence, and I was the loudest and most comfortable on stageโsomething that hasnโt changed for me since. During my teenage years, I did stage makeup for a college production of Anything Goes, and it was then that I realized I wanted to be on the stage rather than behind the scenes. From a young age, I was encouraged to be creative, and I am very grateful to have had supportive parents who backed my decision to pursue this path.
2. Did your musical journey begin with formal training, or was it more of a personal exploration? How has that shaped your unique approach to your craft?
Rachaayluu: My musical journey began on Friday nights, when I would imitate singers on X-Factor, urging my dad to vote as if I were a contestant. Iโve always been creative, but it wasnโt until after school that I started to see singing as a possible career path. I initially pursued Musical Theatre, although my teachers recognized early on that my true passion was for pop stardom rather than earning a Tony Award. The training I received in Musical Theatre was crucial in shaping me as an artist and enabled me to explore Rachaayluu as a character within my music, granting me greater creative freedom and ultimately more confidence.
3. Who were some of the most influential figures in your early musical life, and how did they inspire your sound? Also, whatโs the story behind choosing the name โRachaayluuโ?
Rachaayluu: Growing up immersed in 80โs pop music, I was deeply influenced by that era, which shaped my artistic and aesthetic style and the music I craft today. Additionally, listening to artists like Dolly Parton and Fleetwood Mac inspired me to infuse my lyrics with genuine emotion and vulnerability. The name โRachaayluuโ stems from a childhood nickname from school, it was a combination of my first name Rachael and my middle name Louise, the spelling had many variations but eventually this spelling resonated the most.
4. What do you believe sets your music apart? How would you describe your sound to someone discovering you for the first time, and what emotions or experiences do you hope to evoke in your listeners?
Rachaayluu: Someone recently described my music as โglitter pop therapy,โ and I proudly embrace that label because it perfectly captures what I aim to create. My music is all about blending fun, vibrant energy with a touch of emotional depth, which I believe sets it apart from more conventional genres. I love to craft songs that are irresistibly catchyโsongs that you canโt help but sing along toโwhile also incorporating contrasting themes that add layers of meaning and complexity. This juxtaposition of upbeat melodies and lyrics with deeper, sometimes introspective or provocative themes creates a unique listening experience that invites listeners to explore different moods and emotions.
When someone discovers my music for the first time, I want them to feel a sense of joy, excitement, and escape. My sound is characterized by bright, vivid colorsโthink shimmering synths, lively beats, and energetic melodies that evoke feelings of happiness and celebration. I aim to produce high-energy tracks that lift spirits and inspire movement, but I also enjoy infusing my songs with a sense of vulnerability or commentary, inviting listeners to reflect or connect on a more personal level.
Ultimately, I hope my music serves as a form of therapyโsomething that offers comfort, motivation, and a little sparkle during both the good times and the challenging moments. Whether youโre looking to dance away stress, find a moment of levity, or simply enjoy a burst of color and energy, I want my music to be a soundtrack for your mood, a source of positivity, and a reminder that life can be both fun and meaningful at the same time.
5. For most artists, originality is first preceded by a phase of learning and, often, emulating others. What was this like for you? How would you describe your own development as an artist and music maker, and the transition towards your own style, which is known as POP?
Rachaayluu: When I first started creating music, I had no idea what genre I fit into and ended up starting with LoFi Pop with no examples to learn from. Whilst studying in London I fell in love with RnB drawing inspiration from artists like Jasmine Sullivan and SZA but my writing style and production eventually fell more aligned with contemporary pop.
6. Music often transcends entertainment. Whatโs your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles โ and do you try and affront any of these themes in your work, or are you purely interested in music as an expression of technical artistry, personal narrative, and entertainment?
Rachaayluu: I believe music provides a unique space to explore conversations that might be difficult to have otherwise. As an artist, I sometimes find it challenging to fully open up about my vulnerabilities, especially regarding my political and cultural beliefs. However, this year Iโve created music that delves into these areas in meaningful ways. While I often write about love from an independent womanโs perspective, Iโve realized that the songs Iโve been too scared to shareโthose addressing heavier topicsโare the ones that resonate most with people. Iโm excited to incorporate deeper themes into my new music.
7. Do you feel the rewards of your musical career match the energy and passion you invest in it, or are there different kinds of fulfillment youโre still seeking?
Rachaayluu: I donโt see the success of my creative projects solely in terms of numbers. For me, the greatest reward is hearing people sing my songs back to me or telling me they canโt get my music out of their headsโthose moments mean more than any streaming stats. Coming from a working-class background, Iโve always understood that my time and resources are limited. So personal connections with listeners are especially meaningful. As a creative, I think true fulfillment is hard to achieve, but Iโm constantly looking to build more genuine
connections with future fans and I dream of going on tour, so that is a big aim I have left to fulfil.
8. Can you walk us through your creative process? From the first spark of an idea to the finished track, whatโs the most essential part of your process, and how do collaboration or external influences shape your work?
Rachaayluu: My creative process always begins with the music itself. Once I find a track that truly resonates with me, the lyrics tend to flow naturally. I often draw inspiration from particular words or phrases, which was how I came up with my song โIt Is What It Is.โ Recently, Iโve learned the importance of stepping back and giving myself space from a song. Revisiting a piece thatโs only half-finished later on often provides fresh perspective and clearer direction, helping me avoid creative burnout. External influences also play a role by introducing new ideas and giving me the creative influence to explore things outside the boundaries of typical pop.
9. Whatโs been the most challenging hurdle in either your personal life or music career, and how has it shaped you as an artist?
Rachaayluu: Navigating a more complex music industry with the challenges of social media and self-comparison has been the biggest hurdle for myself as an artist. Working full time alongside creating music restricts my time and investment opportunities and ability to create the much-needed online content. I have managed to adapt and find a good balance between the demands of an online presence and the resources I have available. Being from a working-class background, I have had to find my own opportunities and funding to create projects and so Iโm grateful to have had this experience as it has forced me to become more resourceful and creative.
10. On the flip side, what moment or achievement in your career so far has made you feel the proudest, and why? And letโs talk about your latest release and future plans.
Rachaayluu: BBC Introducing have played a huge role in creating opportunities that I consider to be my biggest successes. Playing the BBC Introducing stage at Nozstock Festival is a performance that I will always treasure and BBC Introducing Hereford and Worcestershire have continued to support each release since. As an independent artist, the support from such a huge radio network has been essential for widening my audience and gratification of my music. I was recently made Artist of the Week with my latest track Text Me Back, released in April 2025. Summer 2025 will be my biggest release season yet with another upbeat, feel-good track called Kissing Strangers to be released shortly and a contrasting slower paced single called Broken Glass which explores darker, more vulnerable themes.
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