Once again, the live music night venue at our Granville Street cafe brings you the best coffeehouse tunes you’re going to get anywhere from Vernon BC to Nashville, Tennessee — which just happens to follow the musical trajectory of the talented Raquel Cole. This young BC-born guitarist with a distinctive country style recently picked up Best New Artist of the Year from the BC Interior Music Awards and has been writing, playing and recording some amazing tunes across Canada and the USA. She’s playing alongside the Winter Buskers and Cece Caroll and the Fab this Friday — so enjoy some soulful, mellow tunes this week as you kick back with a coffee and cheesecake!
We actually got a chance to chat with Raquel about her music and where she’s headed. She is our latest coffeehouse musician profile:
TO. What inspires your music and songwriting?
Raquel. Life is full of inspiration if you keep your eyes and heart open to it.
That and putting yourself in interesting situations can always bring forth a good story to write a song around.
Musically, I listened to the Beatles, Roy Orbison, Bryan Adams, Shania Twain, Keith Urban. Really, I just love a good song.
TO. What’s the secret to your success?
Raquel. Honestly, there’s no secret. I think people are looking for something authentic and real. I hope my music is exactly that, and I will continue to put my all into it.
TO. What’s your songwriting process?
Raquel. For me, the music usually, if not always, comes first. I’ll play around with a melody on the guitar, and start singing words that somehow inspire lyrics and eventually a song.
TO. How did you get your start as a musician?
Raquel. I was always singing growing up. It just came natural for me, I heard music and had to sing along. My parents obviously took note of that and got me singing in church and local events at an early age, from there it just kind of took off. I got my first guitar when I was 9 years old, and a year later I was already writing songs. Writing songs was definitely how “I got my start as a musician.” Lots of girls my age could sing well, but not many were playing guitar and writing songs.
Having traveled to LA, Nashville, and many other places, Nashville definitely stuck out to me a I am thankful for all the opportunities I’ve had so far in my career, and I’m very excited for what’s to come!
TO. What’s next for Raquel Cole?
Raquel. This fall, I am going on tour with Grammy Award Winning, country band, Diamond Rio, performing in theatres and arenas across the southern United States. I can’t wait to get on the road and travel to all these places, as well, I will have a brand new EP that I’ll be promoting on tour! Another fun fact; my good friends and songwriting partners, the Truman Brothers (Ben Truman and Chad Truman) are joining me on tour, and we are ready to rock!
Check out the full live music schedule to make sure you get to see your favourite musicians in our Vancouver cafe. Bring your friends to enjoy some rockin’ music with your favourite coffeehouse treats!
