ASBO TV’s Tequila sat down with London-based alternative R&B artist Ronavella, to discuss her budding career in music. In both Ronavella’s fashion sense and music, she proves to have an impeccable eye for detail that champions a distinctly new artist. Often being confused as a rockstar, the singer defies expectations with an impressively diverse array of music ranging from trap to dark pop. Whether it is listening to Michael Jackson on repeat or deciding on the right pair of Doc Martens to wear from her selection, Ronavella certainly has a versatile taste that translates in her music.
Tequila
Hi, I’m Tequila here with ASBO TV and we’re interviewing Ronavella, a singer-songwriter from London in the UK. First, hello and welcome, I’d like you to tell me a little bit about your roots.
Rona
My mom’s Maltese and my dad’s Irish, but I grew up outside of London. And they obviously being from different parts of the world, listen to loads of different kinds of music. So, I had a pretty eclectic music taste growing up.
Tequila
Is there a particular song that springs to mind, when you think about what your parents used to listen to when you were younger?
Rona
Every single Michael Jackson album, that my mom had already. And Pink Floyd.
Tequila
Do you think that influences the music you make today?
Rona
Definitely. Definitely. Because I mean, it’s straight from that, it’s just Rock and RnB. But still kind of a little bit commercial.
Tequila
Do you find that you style, having a lot of tattoos, and the overall way you look influences the way that people perceive you before they hear your music?
Rona
Yeah. Everyone instantly assumes that I do rock music and that I’m in a rock band. Like the female lead singer of a rock band, basically that I’m Hayley Williams [laughs]. Which isn’t a bad thing!
Tequila
In terms of your music, it sounds quite alternative and also like RnB, with a sexy singing kind of thing going on. Do you think that that changes the way that people perceive you once they hear it?
Rona
Yeah, some people say that it’s quite like a contrast and that it works. Especially because my music is still quite dark. Even with my melody choices, you can tell that I’ve got rock influences in there – definitely lyrically as well. Some people don’t get it, but then when they hear it, they’re like, Okay, that makes sense. But then other people were just interested by it. So yeah, it’s a mix.
Tequila
How do you express yourself using your music, fashion and everything like that?
Rona
I think my fashion style and my music tastes make sense because I wear a lot of like, Doc Martens but then I’ll wear air forces. So it’s a mix of like street but still kind of, (I hate it) [laughs], emo-y.
Tequila
So you’re quite original in your style and you’ve always maintained your uniqueness about your versatility, is that what you’re trying to say?
Rona
Yeah, people can always tell if it’s me, like, without actually seeing my face, just because I wear weird stuff and it translates in my music.
Tequila
Music is such a universal language for everybody. Do you find that your music has brought a variety of fans to you? Or is there a specific type of fan that you engage with?
Rona
Yeah, I mean, my music has always gone down really well in America and more of the like, scene and emo kind of kids. But I don’t mind that, because they’re so aware of mental health and I do talk a lot about mental health in my music. So it’s definitely more towards that kind of person, but I do get quite a mix as well.
Tequila
Do you feel like the platform you have and the emotional feel to your music, allows you to connect with people and your fans more?
Rona
100%. I get a lot of people on social media messaging me, because I post a lot about mental health and stuff. They reach out to me asking what my opinion is on things, but I try not to get into it too much, because you can’t take on the weight of everything. But it is so important to me. The reason that I do music is because I was really bad at communicating about mental health and stuff when I was younger. I always wanted to help people with my music, that’s why I’ve always done this kind of thing, and to be able to do that is amazing.
Tequila
Do you find that stylistically, the way you put yourself out there on social media, affects the way that you’re treated in the industry as a woman?
Rona
I think to be honest, it doesn’t really matter how you put yourself out there as a women, like, you’re going to be treated differently. Yes, maybe more so because of my image and people do associate me with certain things. But you just have to stick to your brand and just say no. Also having a strong female team around you is important, and just people you trust in general. But that’s the same for most people, the music industry is difficult anyway, but being a female makes it harder. I mean, every female in the industry can tell you some horror stories. So yeah, it’s just having the right people around you and being militant with who you let into your space.
Tequila
In terms of COVID-19 and the pandemic, how has that affected your music style or the way that you’re putting yourself out there? Do you feel like the pandemic hasaffected you in that way? Or do you feel that it’s just affected live shows and things?
Rona
I mean, it’s definitely affected live shows. But yeah, I think it has definitely affected me as an artist. I actually scrapped a lot of music over the pandemic because I was working on so much stuff. I’ve even scrapped some of the stuff that I did during the pandemic, because I just feel like, emotionally within myself, like where I am mentally, it just doesn’t sit right with me anymore. And this goes back to how my music is very emotional and mental health based as well. I don’t really feel right putting things out if they don’t sit right with me anymore, just because of where I was in my life. I write about life experiences, so, if I don’t want to be putting out that experience and that energy into the world, then I’ll scrap it. There are things that I wrote before that I wouldn’t put out now. But yeah, I think other than that, I worked a lot more on my vocal production as I do it all myself, so all my processing and things are a lot of the effects created in my music. I have that in mind when I’m writing, and I’ll do it whilst I’m writing. So that’s just got better now as it has changed a lot.
Tequila
In terms of like, being able to put yourself out there post pandemic, do you feel that because you’re quite emotionally connected to your music, you find it hard to find suitable collaborations? Are you quite streamlined in who you collaborate with?
Rona
Yeah, I’m very lucky in the fact that I know a lot of amazing artists, like my playlist is predominantly made up of a lot of my friends music. I love all of my friends’ music. So it’s not that bad for me, because I kind of already know a lot of the artists that I want to work with. And I think because my music is so like, in one lane, you kind of can’t really be going out of that lane. If you do go outside of it, then it starts to bring in a new fanbase.
Tequila
Who has been your favourite collaboration to date?
Rona
That’s a tricky one. Well, okay, Koder. Because we’re so close. And we weren’t even together when we did that – that was during the pandemic. We shot the video over FaceTime. And I think you can’t do that unless you’re really close to someone. Yeah, even being in studio with him afterwards. Like, he’s just great to work with.
Tequila
His music is very much grime based, he’s an MC, very much a different vibe to the breathy sexiness of your music. Do you feel like putting those two things together created a vibe that was a little bit different, maybe a little bit edgier for him?
Rona
Definitely for him, yeah. I mean, I’ve worked with Jiggavelle and Genesis Elijah as well and they’re kind of similar. I find that I work quite well with rappers. But him more so, because he’s got a more of RnB vibe to him than the other two. It was different for both of us. I feel like we sort of moulded into the other ones style, just kind of met in the middle.
Tequila
And talking of collaborations, dead or alive regardless, who would be your dream collaboration?
Rona
It would have to be Michael Jackson. Female wise, though, someone like Kehlani, or Summer Walker. They’d outshine me but RnB wise, definitely them. The songwriting is insane, like the lyrical content of Kehlani.
Tequila
I’m not actually surprised that you picked those two because of the versatility of your style of music, and the versatility of their style of music throughout the years. The movements are quite similar. I feel like it would be quite a good collaboration. Even the three of you maybe.
Rona
Yeah, for sure. Like Kehlani definitely bounces between different genres. She can do pretty much anything.
Tequila
Moving forward, what kind of style are you going for? Are you going to keep more consistent and sexy. Are you moving into more of like a different vibe with the different months?
Rona
Yeah, I’m trying to break into different genres a little bit, touching on more electronic stuff like garage, house and things like that, because I definitely feel like that’s where a lot of things are moving now, especially the UK scene. Where my music so far, works better in the US. It’s important to me to actually be able to reach like, my home market as well. But yeah, I’ve always loved garage and house. I think when you’re an artist, and you write your own stuff, it’s so important to be able to do other genres as well.
Tequila
And obviously, there’s always the argument with artists and fans of artists losing their authenticity or selling out because they’ve gone into a different genre, or they’ve taken a different route. How do you feel about that?
Rona
At the end of the day, music is still a product. Like, any product has to take its roots to sell, and then it will come back to what means most to you. But I mean, the Weeknd is a perfect example. He had to go commercial to make it to where he is now, and no matter what you do, you’re going to have some people who love some of your songs and ones who don’t like some of your songs. So, I feel like it just is what it is you just have to do it.
Tequila
The last two questions for the interview are going to be a little bit different. I want you to give me one cult piece of clothing that you will wear forever, that you will never let go of. And then I want you to tell me what the last song you listened to on your phone was.
Rona
I have to say Doc Martens don’t I. I’ve got about 10 pairs. I love them and they’ve always supported my music as well, like they’ve actually supported my music videos. I worked for them before as well and they’ve posted my work too, so they’re a fantastic brand. And the last song I listened to was ‘Tapped in, Pt. 1’ by HLE JU.
Images: Brandon Thomson (@Brandontookthis)
Words: Brandon Thomson
Interview: Tequila
