
Every songwriter worth his weight in catchy hooks has a story to tell—one that is gripping and compelling in its intensity. Raheem DeVaughn is that gifted storyteller, a young man with volumes of short stories that have found their way to The Love Experience, his stellar debut album.
We chat with Raheem DeVaughn.
Live in The Garden tonight—is it gonna be hot?
Yeah. I get my ten or fifteen minutes of fame tonight.
Life has to be crazy.
It’s good. Taking it all in.
Have you always been into writing songs?
I think as long as I’m able to write great songs then I need to write. I’m not a control freak and I feel like I have a lot of great songs in me. I can feel it in my writing.
When did the songwriting start?
With the singing. I think they have both been hand-in-hand. I wanted to write and become a great writer and arranging and try different things.
Sometimes you can sing and can’t write, sometimes you can write but can’t sing—you have to feel lucky so do you think of it as a gift?
Definitely a gift. It doesn’t come from me—it comes through me.
Was getting signed something you went for?
If it happened it happened—I’d still be doing music. Being signed was a blessing. I know a lot of people would like to be in my shoes, but its work.
Did college help you a lot?
It helped me define what I wanted to do. Ultimately I did drop out so I could do music.
Well, you got to see a bigger world.
No doubt.
Now that you are in the world the entertainment business…
…I don’t have no fears. I take it as it comes. I try to stay focused and keep grinding. My focus right now is to keep making great music and keep doing shows.
How hard has it been?
I think it would have been harder if I wasn’t the type of person who invested in himself. The hardest thing is having patience. I have a lot of music out in the world right now circulating. I think everyone has to keep up with me.
Well and the slow schedule of the record label.
No doubt.
With continuously writing and knowing you won’t have a new record out for a year or so is it tough because the songs might get lost in the mix?
No, that’s why I try to make timeless music. The plus is that it is timeless but the negative is that people think they could put it out any time. I don’t get caught up because this record is two years old but it is timeless.
Who is your idol—those who you wanted to make timeless music like?
Prince, Marvin Gaye, any of the earlier Brian McKnight stuff, even New Edition. Those songs are timeless. The producers they were working with were at the top of their game. You take your time with it. I try not to do music for the moment.
When you write you can feel it and understand it better.
When you know what you are writing it you know how you want it to be.
What has been the biggest surprise?
I can’t say I’m surprised. I’m doing the same thing I was doing when I was discovered but on a bigger magnitude. I’m not trying to sound ungrateful because I know I’m blessed but I’m trying not to bask in the glory of it all.
What has it been like to perform in the larger venue?
It’s dope. It gives me a better opportunity to win people over.
How are you getting around?
Tour bus.
Do you interact with any of the other artists on the tour?
I kind of stay in my own little world on the road but it has to be family oriented.
You have such a wealth of knowledge on that bus have you tapped into it?
Definitely. There is a lot to learn.
People dream about getting signed and get to the point you are at. What do you dream about now?
I’m trying to get to my eighth or tenth record. That is where my mind is at now. I just want to stay creative.
+ Charlie Craine
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