by abby crabill
photo courtesy of ravive
Ravive is a singer-songwriter that shares her experiences through a dark pop style known as "ghost pop." On April 8th, Ravive released her debut EP, titled Trauma Response, as an autobiographical collection. Ravive is known for the dark subject matter of her songs that act as a type of therapy for not only herself, but her audience as well. She continues to connect with others through her raw honesty and sinister sounds. Keep an eye on Ravive because she has plans to give us more music in the future.
Can you briefly describe yourself for those who may not know you? Who is Ravive?
Ravive: “I’m Ravive, I call my music ‘ghost pop’. I also toy with alternative elements to try and create a haunting blend of dark pop music. I used to be the lead vocalist of a band called VISTA, that’s where a lot of listeners likely know me from. But Ravive is an enigma, I don’t like to put myself into one small box. I want to continuously explore and experiment.”
What first got you interested in exploring music?
Ravive: “My dad when I was three years old. He was a classical guitarist and I wanted to copy his every move.”
Who would you consider to be some of your greatest inspirations?
Ravive: “Britney Spears. Joan Jett and The Runaways. Miley Cyrus. Ashlee Simpson. Avril Lavigne.”
Can you tell me a little bit about your debut EP, Trauma Response?
Ravive: “Trauma Response is a 7 track collection that guides the listener through a handful of traumatic experiences and what my vices were for each one. For example, the opening track ‘Built To Be Sad’ delves into learning about my genetics and how that affected me. The coping mechanism or vice was drinking at college. The whole EP is really exploratory, I uncovered some things I didn’t know about myself when writing it. There are a lot of sonic elements here, but I still wanted to create a cohesive body of work with Trauma Response.”
Each track on the EP feels extremely personal, what is it about the music that allows the listener to relate with you?
Ravive: “I’m not sure, but I hope it’s the honesty. Music has always been a source of transparency for me. If one person connects with what I’m saying, I feel successful. I want to connect with others through this art form and let them know that they aren’t alone in their thoughts.”
What is it about music and writing that is therapeutic for you when coping with traumatic events?
Ravive: “I’m able to project outwards instead of inwards. Keeping things in has never done me any good. A lot of people think I reveal too much or say too much. I do what feels the most comfortable for me, and that’s what matters the most. If I don’t feel comfortable saying something, I don’t. But if I’m outwardly expressing something, it means that I’m both comfortable and feel safe doing so. I have the opportunity to connect with others through these songs, and that brings on the feeling of safety. Writing really allows me to get the bad thoughts out of my head and onto paper or into a song.”
Writers have a saying that goes, "Bad for life... good for writing." Do you agree with this? What does it mean to you?
Ravive: “I can’t write about happy things. I know that sounds rather pessimistic, but the only way I feel I can productively write is if the subject matter is dark. I hate saying that that quote is true, but it is for me.”
Do you think that you will consider experimenting with lighter sounds in the future?
Ravive: “I don’t think so. What I’m writing is my core, and it feels the most natural to me. I’ve always written in a dark manner, even as a young kid. It’s therapeutic for me to write in a confessional way. ‘Bedroom Talk’ is probably the lightest song on this record, production-wise it still maintains the darker core. But I think that’s as light as it’s going to get sonically. At least for now.”
What else, both musically and non-musically, do you hope to accomplish this year?
Ravive: “I’m currently planning my wedding, so I’m hoping to make a good dent there. I want to release more music this summer, probably a few more singles. I hope to get added to a Spotify editorial playlist, that’s a huge goal of mine.”