TransVocalizers — Raven-O

Raven-O’s pic from the God Shave… CD

The very last installment of this particular column for last year was a review of the compilation CD God Shave The Queen. One of the best titles ever for a drag act album, it originally was released in 1996. One of the artists featured was a very soulful singer by the name of Raven-O.

I really enjoyed Raven’s voice and contacted her about an interview.
The first thing I learned was that there’s a lot more to this incredibly talented individual than the one track on an almost 20 year old CD. And the persona that appeared on that CD has been set aside. Raven is now presenting a more male image as he pursues his career in acting and singing. It’s with great pleasure that Transvocalizers/TGForum has this opportunity to introduce to our readers Raven-O.

TGForum: I read on your web site that while growing up in Hawaii, you had a movie role at age 14, then won a dance contest at 17. Quite an amazing background at that age. What got you interested in being a performer?

Raven-O: I was very shy and introverted as a kid, but I loved to sing and dance so my mom would always have me perform for my relatives at parties and in school. I would love to do any kind of performance oriented thing so it started with my family and mom.

TGF: What was your first passion; acting, singing, dancing, comedy?

Raven-O: Singing.

TGF: Obviously, your family was very supportive, correct? What do they think of your career now?

Raven-O: Well, my siblings were always supportive, but my parents not so much. They did everything to block me getting into the performing arts. I paid for everything on my own. I paid for all my dance classes and all my training. I went to all my rehearsals and performances on my own. It was very strange, they didn’t really support my talent. But my mom loved to show me off to relatives at parties. Then even that stopped. If I sang at home, my parents would tell me to shut up. They told me I sounded like I was killing a cat. My dad never came to one performance. My mom only came to one and that was after I had been in the business for more than 10 years.

TGF: Any formal training in music, voice, acting, etc.?

Raven-O: I was dancing and singing in shows before I had any training. When I started my dance training, I really started getting a lot of attention and more work. I trained in ballet, modern, and a few other styles. I always sang growing up, but I did study voice eventually. I went through a lot of teachers, but all of them really didn’t help me. In fact, they did more harm than good. Then I met and worked with my current teacher, Don Lawrence. He saved my voice and changed my musical life. My acting was all natural. I took a workshop once but I learned most of my craft on stage. I was performing before I started training in anything.

TGF: Musically, what were your influences growing up? And, what do you listen to now?

Raven-O: I love music and I would listen to everything from Hawaiian music (I am Hawaiian so it was always playing in our home). Jazz, rock, country…just everything. I listen to all the same music I grew up with along with every new style (rap, hip-hop). I love all music, but my favorites are jazz, rock, and Hawaiian music.

Raven’s new look.

TGF: How old were you when you first started working as a drag artist? What got you started in drag?

Raven-O: Well, to be 100% honest, I always looked at my time doing drag as more of an acting role. I would say I was a drag artist at the time because for a while I was only getting gigs in drag. No one would hire me out of drag, so I went with it. I started because I was the choreographer for a drag review/show at The Boy Bar in NYC and one night someone didn’t show up. I filled in and I guess I was a hit! So a new phase of my career was born. I don’t really do drag anymore.

TGF: I really liked the tune Living Pains from the God Shave The Queen CD. Your voice is incredibly feminine. How much work have you put into getting your singing voice to sound so good?

Raven-O: Thank you. Well, that voice was my “drag persona voice.” I don’t sound like that anymore. I still have my range and some of that tone and quality but my voice is a more complete and fuller sound now. I don’t over train or over think my singing. I let it be as natural as possible and use the tools I learned from my teacher Don Lawrence.

TGF: That album is 18, almost 20, years old now. Has your regular singing voice changed much since then?

Raven-O: Yes.

TGF: I found out about another project you did with Joey Arias and Sherry Vine called One. The three of you did a 10 year run at the Bar d’O and apparently this CD was promotion for that venue, right? Was it recorded live or in the studio? Are copies still available anywhere?

Raven-O: It was not recorded live. It was done in a studio, and no, it’s no longer available.

TGF: Another project that you’ve been involved with is the Goth project, The Pious. What lead you to this style?

Raven-O: Well, Raven O and The Pious is my homage to the ‘80s and that sound. My partners Scott Meola and Kenyon Phillips and I wrote all the music for this album and it should be out in the summer (of 2014). I love all styles of rock. I started actually singing in rock bands so I always have my hands in that genre of music.

TGF: Perhaps the most interesting item on your resumé is your stint with Cirque Du Soleil’s Zumanity. What type of character did you play? Was your involvement as an actor, singer, dancer, or combination thereof? And, what was the overall experience like?

Raven-O: I was one of the MC’s for that show for 3 years. I did everything: sang, danced, acted, comedy. It was fun and wonderful. I made lifelong friends and I learned so much. I really loved my time with Zumanity.

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TGF: I like the name Raven-O. Is there a story behind it?

Raven-O: Oh yeah. The short version is I was singing in a rock band and we were on tour. After a show we were in a diner getting some food and the guys in the band said I need a cool rock and roll stage name. We were all very drunk and high. I said, “OK, whoever walks through the door next, whatever is on that person’s T-shirt will be my stage name. We will leave it to the gods of rock.” A big biker/trucker type walked in and he had a T-shirt on that said “Raven” and that became my name. The “O” is the first letter of my last name, so the universe/fate named me.

TGF: What advice would you offer to anyone just starting out as a musician, singer, entertainer, and/or drag performer?

Raven-O: Be kind to others and humble, but never take any shit from anyone. Take the high road always. Work hard and listen more than talk. You can’t learn anything if you won’t shut the f*** up.

TGF: Any future recording plans?

Raven-O: Yes, lots of recording coming up. I’m finishing the Goth album and a new jazz album.

TGF: Any other future plans you can share at this time?

Raven-O: Well, I’m at The Duplex with my jazz trio and going on tour this summer around the U.S. and Europe so I’m gonna be a busy boy.

For more information concerning the upcoming gigs and recording that Raven O has mentioned, please check out his website. The aforementioned God Shave The Queen CD is hard to find, but can be located on some sites such as Amazon.com. We’ll keep you posted when Raven-O releases some new music.

ALSO THIS MONTH

Spandau Ballet

Spandau Ballet

In the last installment of Perpetual Change I made mention that 1980s icon Boy George will soon be releasing his first studio album in 18 years. Well, I guess there’s a trend happening. Another ’80s act, Spandau Ballet, will be performing their first U.S. show in almost 30 years. The band will be performing March 12th in Austin, TX as part of the 2014 South By Southwest Film and Music Festival at the legendary Vulcan Gas Company. A documentary film on the band, entitled Soul Boys Of The Western World, will be screened earlier that day. All five original members — Tony Hadley, John Keeble, Gary Kemp, Martin Kemp, Steve Norman — have returned for this engagement.

Justin Vivian Bond

In character as the widow.

Justin Vivian Bond — a.k.a. V — has recently finished his role in the Classic Stage Ckompany’s production of Bertolt Brecht’s A Man’s A Man. V said this about being a cast memeber: “I played the widow Begbick. I had accepted the role for many reasons, not the least of which being that I was excited to be cast as a woman.” (Check out V’s latest post regarding this and other adventures on V’s website.

Rev. Yolanda

Rev. Yolanda has re-written part of her live show, Rev. Yolanda’s Old Time Gospel Hour, and has included new songs, new stories, and will be showcasing her band The Yolandaleers more. The next performance is March 16th at NYC’s The Duplex. Yolanda is also offering, for a limited time, two free MP3 downloads of her songs Love Divine and I Love Myself.

David de Alba

David as Judy

David de Alba has posted a link to one of his extremely rare CDs, entitled Then And Now that can now be heard on YouTube. Originally released in 2002, the actual CD contains live performances recorded during the late 1970s and early 1980s in San Francisco and Miami. David’s CDs are extremely hard to find and to have a link to one of them is a real treat for fans old and new.

Calpernia Addams

Another YouTube video that’s been posted recently is from Calpernia Addams. It’s her rendition of Bye Bye Baby from the movie Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Done with Cal on autoharp, the video is simple but very well produced. Her voice is amazing, and has gotten so feminine sounding over the years, and her overall vocal control is excellent. This is definitely one of her better videos. She also managed to achieve a look that’s kind of a hybrid of Marilyn Monroe and Bette Midler.

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NEW MUSIC

Scarlett Rabe

Rabe

Scarlett Rabe’s Scarlett EP has just been released. Among the project’s seven tunes is the debut single Battle Cry. This one song is probably the best rocker on the project and will definitely see some radio time.

Scarlett Rabe is described as a “…classical piano prodigy turned soulful singer/songwriter…” Granted, that’s only a short introduction to a new talent, but it definitely makes the point that her keyboard playing is the main focus. Her writing, however, is not to be overlooked. Besides the single Battle Cry, the other most intense tune on the project is Hitchhiker Heart. It’s also probably the best production moment. Scarlett Rabe’s voice is more mid-range alto, and somewhat reminiscent of Adelle, but only mildly. She has her own focus and style, and it will be worth the wait for a full length CD to eventually be released. Produced by Mark Needham and Aaron Edwards, except Live Before I Die produced by Billy Mohler and Mark Needham. Check out the CD insert for musician and writer credits.

Excerpt from Battle Cry

Tags: featured, music, Musician, Raven O

Category: Drag Queen, Music, Transgender Fun & Entertainment