Attending as many London gigs as I do, you tend to stroll across many different artists along the way.
Ravel Lumba is the prime example of this. From the first set of his I saw, I knew his music was not just incredible, but also raw and written from the heart. We clicked straight away and I’ve been fortunate to hear a lot of the young mans recent releases early.
Now, Lumba shifts his musical direction into something new. Inspired by Etta James, Ray Charles and many other jazz, soul and Motown performers and their raw records and vocals.
After spending this summer learning jazz guitar chords, shifting to an electric guitar and writing in a completely different way, he began forging the path towards his upcoming 5-track EP.
Lumba said: “I had this moment where I basically had to call myself out. Time to get real. I can see through my own bullshit. I’m not enjoying what I’m doing and it’s time for a change. Once I’d admitted that to myself, something shifted.”
‘The Real You’ was born from the experience Ravel Lumba has shared with others and the moments you see a peep beneath their chosen persona. He added “We all have masks and facades to some extent, but sometimes you get a glimpse of what’s underneath and realise the person in front of you isn’t necessarily the person they’ve been presenting themselves as.
this single finds it’s place somewhere between a vintage feel and not being overly polished, and marks what feels like a new chapter in Lumba’s music career.
It feels like he’s found a new direction and purpose, even if he hasn’t located the exact sound just yet. Keep your eyes peeled for the new releases, as Lumba works towards his next EP.
Written by Brad Halcrow for The Songbird HQ