Meet Avery Raquel | Alternative Soul Singer/Songwriter and Billboard charting artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Avery Raquel and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Avery, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
I am an Alternative Soul Singer/Songwriter from Toronto, Canada. Music has been apart of my life for as long as I can remember. I started singing at age 4 and soon after began performing professionally when I was 10. I have always been drawn to a creative and artistic lifestyle/career. From singing to acting, including work for Dreamworks, Disney, radio and film, and then professional stage productions, I just love performing. I typically perform over 50 shows a year, and currently have 4 solo records out and a new EP on the way for 2024. I have enjoyed every minute of it. Having a career in the creative field has been so inspiring and has allowed me to change peoples lives with the power of music. I am also fortunate to have been awarded for my songwriting for few years now, and it is so special to be able to connect with people through the things that I create.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.

As mentioned before, I have been performing for quite some time. I have had such wonderful opportunities and experiences musically, including charting on Billboard back in 2020, being a grand prize winner in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest in 2022, as well as other notable performances across Canada, the United States, and now into Europe.

I began professionally singing Jazz. Being classically trained, those two disciplines allowed me to hone my voice and craft to be able to sing almost anything. As I progressed through my own songwriting, I started to find my unique voice, which led to my latest self-titled album. I consider it like a rebirth, as an artist. It’s genuine, honest, and who I am today. That latest project of all original Alternative Soul is reminiscent of, and my love for RnB/Soul music of the past, but with a more current, contemporary style. Influenced by artists and songwriters such as Carole King, Amy Winehouse, Etta James, Lauryn Hill, Bruno Major, Allen Stone, and so many others, I created, on this new collection of personal, yet relatable songs, a soulful fun mix of RnB/Soul and Pop, with a flavour of my past Jazz, and Blues experiences.

Getting to this point has not been easy at all. It has required a lot of time a dedication to my craft and this industry. I finished my undergraduate degree in early 2023 with a Honors Bachelors degree in Music. I am currently in Valencia, Spain, working towards my Masters in Contemporary Performance and Production at Berklee College of Music. I have had a lot of support and I am forever grateful for that. But truly it is still all just a matter of hard work and determination. I have learned a lot about rejection, especially in the music industry. There is a lot of talent out there, and I am a little fish in a massive ocean. I think the best thing to remember is that I am unique in my artistry and have qualities that others don’t, and I can still stand out from the crowd.

Music is my passion and I hope I’ve inspired some of you to listen to my music and create this new connection.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

As in most careers it takes a village. My career thus far has been with the help of many many people. Specifically my family and friends, and of course fellow musicians in the industry. My parents have always been my greatest supporters in many ways. I likely wouldn’t be doing what I’m currently doing without their guidance. I’ve also had the great fortune to meet many industry professionals who have helped guide my path. From my first producer, Greg Kavanagh, to the many musicians who I have been able to perform with for the last decade, it’s been wonderful to perform and learn from the best. I generally perform with a 4-piece band, and my fellow Canadian musicians and friends have always been supportive of my endeavours. The last album was performed on and produced by an amazing guitarist and producer, Nick Tateishi. I have to thank him for his vision on the last album. Of course, now I’m meeting new fans and professionals in Europe, which I hope can further push me to new limits as I forge a career in this industry.

Website: https://averyraquel.com/

Instagram: https://instagram.com/averyraquelmusic

Twitter: https://twitter.com/realaveryraquel

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/averyraquelmusic

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/averyraquelmusic

Image Credits
1: Jemall Earle 2: Mike Ford 3: Greg Kolz