What are your name?
My name is Raife.
What is the name of your duo and why?
Born stranger – because we were born a little strange…
What is your genre of music?
I would describe our music as pop ever so slightly off centre, with quirks.
Give us a little bio about you as a duo and individuals.
Maddox & myself met in 2009 when we started playing in a 5-piece band together, a couple of years later it disbanded and the two of us decided to start writing pop music together and from there it has been an epic journey of many tales, in which time we have found a fine balance between us both, myself being the calm and rational persona, and Maddox being the frantically inspired melody writer.
Are you a signed?
No.
Your released a brand new single ‘Generation’ Tell us the meaning behind the song.
It’s very much inspired by the youth of today. I believe there is a global conscious awakening of young people at the moment, young people are beginning to take interest in how the world is run, who by and how we can take better care of it and each other, this is inspirational for us both, and the song reflects that.
Describe the track in two words.
Banging. Drop.
It features Louise Setara
what was the writing process like?
Maddox, our writing partner Roby and myself wrote the song in my studio where I live in South Devon. Maddox & Roby sat over the piano over-looking the moors in one room, myself in the control room producing the track. It was a noisy Saturday afternoon.
what was the recording process like?
We took a demo of the track into Yoad Nevo’s studio in West London a couple of weeks later where we went over the fine points of the production with Yoad and were later joined by Louise who came in and brought the whole thing to life with her phenomenal voice.
Do you have any gigs coming up?
At the moment, we are focused on more writing over the summer and getting more material out there, but soon we shall start filling in the diary!
What made you go in to music?
Glastonbury Pyramid stage.
Do you have any festivals you will be playing this year?
Yes we are helping to organize a festival in Northamptonshire – it’s all too secret at the moment but it’s going to be on the weekend of September 16th and will be big!
Do you play any instruments?
All instruments you can hit with a stick and a little bit of keys.
Who are your influences?
I’m influenced by anything that is good. Right now, I love Sampha’s songwriting, Flume’s production and heavy, bassy techno.
How do you get inspiration to write songs?
By listening to the above.
Where do you see yourself now in 5 Years?
Writing more music with Maddox and my team, and performing that music in hot and sunny places.
When you’re not doing music, what do you do?
I like running and I only really do that to get away from making music, there isn’t much else really, but I like it that way.
What was the song you listened to most that influenced you to go more in to the music scene?
I wanted to be a rockstar when I first heard Nevermind when I was 11.
If your music got played on a TV show or Film/ which one would you want it to be?
On a montage documenting Arsenal’s epic journey to winning the Champions’ League in 2018.
What’s the best advice you have ever been given?
The long way’s a short way and the short way’s a long way.
What advice would you give to aspiring musicians not about the industry and just as an artist?
Make as much music as you can and don’t stop.
What quote or saying do you always stick by?
Dalai Lama – ‘Never Give Up’, more of a poem but it’s a winner.
You are coming back off tour
1/first place you visit – Slapton beach
2/first person you see – gf
3/first thing you eat – Pasta
When you are at a gig, what are 5 things you cannot forget?
Power supplies, clean clothes, petrol, sandwiches, friends
Do you have social media accounts so your fans can follow you?
