Rhian! is a singer-songwriter living in London who is from Port of Spain, Trinidad, and who supports the LGBTQ+ community. At the young age of four, he began singing in the congregation where his father was the pastor. Before relocating to the UK, he regularly performed as a teenager on the local scene. He graduated from the London Center of Contemporary Music with a degree in Performance and Production. This talented individual has a variety of skills and joined the commercial gospel group Souls of Prophecy before appearing frequently at various gatherings and locations in central London and other parts of the UK. Prior to setting out on an exciting journey to Shanghai, China, where he performed until 2019 to sold-out crowds at The Pearl Theatre, he represented Trinidad at the 2012 World Championships of Performing Arts in Los Angeles. Rhian! relocated to London during the pandemic, where he has been writing and recording songs for his upcoming EP and building a reputation for his electrifying live performances.
Rhian! wants to use his releases to share his personal journey with the world after tragically losing his mother to cancer earlier this year. His experience has been one of survival and triumph. He hopes that his music will uplift, encourage, and heal. His entire life, music has brought him happiness and been his savior. To him. life is music!
A sassy, upbeat track with a runway-like feel, “I Need Your Love” is from the upcoming EP by the artist, “The Real Rhian!” On the day of its release, it peaked at number 21 on the UK iTunes chart and is sure to get listeners moving. His six-track EP of HOT dance remixes, which he released on August 12th, peaked at number four on the UK iTunes Dance Albums Chart and number nine on Trinidad and Tobago’s Apple Music Dance Albums. “I Need Your Love” is an upbeat, pop-influenced anthem co-produced with Paramour. A perfect foundation is created by pulsating basslines, nostalgic house melodies, bubbling synths, and Rhian!’s shimmering and alluring vocals, which give this sun-drenched affair vital texture. Dance-pop newcomer Rhian! is attempting to spread his sound to a wider audience with his upbeat and optimistic debut single, “I Need Your Love,” after spending the previous year developing and honing his sound. Check out the song and the exclusive interview below:
1. Can you tell us a bit about where you come from and how it all got started?
RHIAN!: I was born on the Caribbean Island, Trinidad but I am based in London, UK now. I sang my first solo in church when I was 4 years old and I’ve been singing ever since.
2. Did you have any formal training or are you self-taught?
RHIAN!: I grew up in a musical family. Everyone sings and/or plays an instrument, so there was music around me from a young age. I sang in various choirs as a young boy and that really helped me develop my ear for harmonizing and understanding chord progressions. I then studied music production at the London Centre of Contemporary Music.
3. Who were your first and strongest musical influences and why the name ‘RHIAN!’?
RHIAN!: Mariah Carey was a huge influence on me growing up. I was enamored by her beauty and vocal range. She’s such an underrated songwriter. Rhian is the name that was given to me at birth. It’s a strong name and I’ve added the exclamation mark for effect.
4. What do you feel are the key elements in your music that should resonate with listeners, and how would you personally describe your sound?
RHIAN!: I write from my heart. The way that the melodies and lyrics come to me is so special and spiritual that I feel I must share it with everyone. My sound is very eclectic but all very me. Wait for the EP and you’ll see what I mean.
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 EDM?
RHIAN!
:It’s been quite a journey from the little boy singing in church. I’ve since then travelled the world which has influenced me as a person and as an artist. I’m still growing and evolving. My first single is EDM but I’m not just one genre. I say this all the time; I write from the heart. My songs are my babies and I can’t send them back. Wait for the EP and you’ll see what I mean.
6. What’s your view on the role and function of music as political, cultural, spiritual, and/or social vehicles – 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?
RHIAN!:
I write whatever comes to me. I never try to force a topic on myself to keep up with a trend or what’s current. If it’s not coming from a pure place of authenticity, it will never work. Music inspired me growing up and still does. I want to give that back and also inspire others. I don’t think I will ever write about anything that will divide people. We all have a lot more in common than we don’t.
7. Creative work in a studio or home environment, or interaction with a live audience? Which of these two options excites you most, and why?
RHIAN!:
Please, don’t make me choose. The creative process of building an idea from nothing to a complete song is very special and magical. Connecting with a live audience is something also magical but there’s that element of electricity and the exchange of energy that creates a high that is indescribable. I can’t choose.
8. Could you describe your creative processes? How do usually start, and go about shaping ideas into a completed song? Do you usually start with a tune, a beat, or a narrative in your head? And do you collaborate with others in this process?
RHIAN!:
I’m very inspired by the environment I’m in and I like to take long walks or go to places that I’ve never been before. A song usually starts with me humming a melody. I’d then sing that into my phone so I wouldn’t forget it. The lyrics usually come pretty quickly after or attached to the melody I’m hearing in my head. I would then go to a piano or keyboard and figure out the chords. I’d step away and sit with the song in my head and start playing with arrangement ideas. When I do get to the studio, I have a pretty good idea of the direction I want my track to go in. I work with the super talented producer, Paramour. We’ve collaborated on 6 tracks so far and have a great time in the studio.
9. With social media having a heavy impact on our lives and the music business in general, how do you handle criticism, haters, and/or naysayers in general? Is it something you pay attention to, or simply ignore?
RHIAN!: I’ve put myself out there so it’s expected to have some criticism and not everyone is going to like me. I’m not for everyone and I’m totally fine with that.
10. Do you think is it important for fans of your music to understand the real story and message driving each of your songs, or do you think everyone should be free to interpret your songs in their own personal way?
RHIAN!: My music is very personal to me and each song has its own special meaning to me. I write in such a way that I’m not too specific about any scenario or situation. I would like whoever is listening to my music to interpret in their own personal way that is special to them.
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