Ravel Lumba
Meet UK-born UK Open Mic performer Ravel Lumba:
Hi Ravel Lumba, thanks for joining us! Let’s get into it:
Do you play solo only, or also in a group?
Solo
How old are you?
31
Where were you born?
UK
Where did you grow up?
Leicester – East Midlands.
How did that place influence your music? (if at all!)
Doing as many gigs as possible and playing with people live, learning we skills.
Where are you based now, and why?
Shepards Bush. Gigging around
What got you into making music in the first place?
Because I love song-writing & performing live and telling stories.
What instrument/s do you play?
Singing
Guitar
Guitar
Percussion
Harmonica
Who would be in your top 10 musical influences, and why?
Vashti Bunya, Nick Drake, Amy Winehouse, Trevor Hall, John Lennon, Bob Dylan.
Do you write your own songs?
Yes
How many years have you been writing songs for?
10
What process, or processes, do you often find yourself using when you write songs?
I like to pick up the guitar and let whatever’s inside me flow out into a story through harmony & lyric.
How long have you been playing open mic nights?
10
Why did you get into playing them in the first place?
Because performing live is the best feeling ever.
What advice would you give new performers who are just starting out playing their first open mics?
Learn all your favourite songs, then build onto writing your own everyday, and gig as much as possible – you will learn new things about your craft the more you get on the stage and just do it.
What’s the hardest thing, for you, about playing open mics?
Nothing. I enjoy all of it.
What’s the most bizarre, or fun, open mic, or gig, you’ve ever played, and why?
Playing gig at Three Crowns in Picadilly, the crowd sang back my songs to me and it was a magical feeling.
If it’s not already, are you hoping to make music your full-time career?
Yes
What do you currently find the hardest and biggest obstacles to moving your music career forward?
Just promoting myself, but I’m doing the best I can with the tools that I have.
What’s the one truth about you that people often find surprising?
I taught myself guitar & song-writing.
What’s the most exciting project you’re working on at the moment?
I have an 6 track EP that I’m self releasing in a couple of week.
Do you have your own music video, channel or playlist you’d like to share?
https://www.instagram.com/reel/DCth_aPOEvy/?igsh=MXV5ZXltNmNrYW9qeA==
Do you have music on streaming? What’s you main streaming channel to send people to?
Where is the main place should people go to find out more about you?
We’re done! Anything else you want to share before we go?
I can’t wait to be performing live for you. See you on the stage.