For up-and-comer Rafi, music stardom is about making a good impact

For rising singer-songwriter Rafi, being a star isn’t necessarily about being famous or achieving a certain lifestyle.

“I have a very specific definition for myself … I can say that I have become a star when I feel like I’m starting to create an impact and influencing people in a good way. As someone still making my way in this industry, I’m trying my best to put out a good message,” she told the Inquirer in a recent interview.

Through her debut EP, “Before Me,” Rafi tells stories she hopes might resonate with listeners, like the complexities of romantic love and the journey toward finding one’s sense of identity. “I Stay Silent” is about how guilt and shame stop people from speaking their truth. “Unpaid Debt” tackles the burden of being on the receiving end of unrequited love. “Fine Wine” is about waiting out a futile relationship and hoping that the other person ends it so you don’t have to. “Anything for You” urges you to love yourself first because otherwise, people will walk all over you.

“The final track encapsulates the EP,” she pointed out. “Working on the EP helped me build a stronger sense of self.”

Musical influences

The 20-year-old singer-songwriter’s sweet, soothing tone lends itself well to her works’ guitar-driven sound that vacillates between simple and emotional, and between whimsical and uplifting. Tracks like “Unpaid Debt” have echoes of 1990s alternative while others, like “Fine Time,” are tinged with folk and country sounds.

“I think my songwriting calls for that kind of singing and storytelling. But I do want to try other genres, like R&B … and just about everything,” said Rafi, who cited the likes of singer-songwriters Lizzy McAlpine and Moira dela Torre as some of her musical influences.

Rafi, who’s currently managed by Star Magic, also enjoys listening to Ariana Grande, Bruno Mars, Sabrina Carpenter and Olivia Rodrigo. Among Filipino artists, JK Labajo, Belle Mariano, Lola Amour, UDD, Maki and Bini are right up there for her. “These are artists I can get inspiration from … I just love music,” she said.

While her vocals on the EP are relatively reined in, she does have the ability to go for power when needed. After all, she started out in musical theater, undergoing workshops at Repertory Philippines when she was just 5. She also honed her singing skills at The Music School of Ryan Cayabyab.

“I would love to branch out. I also dance, so I hope to make songs that you can dance to,” said Rafi, who started out writing songs when she was in high school.

The business aspect

As much as she enjoyed that side of her, being a singer-songwriter spoke to her more. “I realized that this is what I’m passionate about. I will always love theater, and I would do it again given the opportunity. But for now, my focus is music because it allows me to stay true to myself and get creative,” she said.

Though she always had the voice and the knack for writing, Rafi wanted to further her knowledge of music—not only its creative aspect, but especially its business side. As such, she decided to major in music business at the Berklee College of Music, where she’s an incoming third year student.

“It’s better to familiarize myself with the business aspect, so I can protect myself as an artist and be more versed on how to navigate the industry. There are lots of technical terms, contracts. If you don’t know what you’re getting into, you can get [in trouble],” she pointed out.

Content creation

Rafi knows very well that social media has become an indispensable tool for musicians. And so, she makes use of her skills in content creation—TikTok videos and YouTube vlogs—to give her audience a realistic view of what her life and creative process are like.

“People need more authenticity online. It can be easy to compare yourself to others, because social media tends to focus on the highlights. But I hope to make people feel less alone and show that I’m human,” she said.

Juggling a music career, studies and content creation “is definitely a challenge,” Rafi admitted. But she’s not about to rush and end up with something half-baked. After she finishes school, Rafi plans to go “all-out.”

“I don’t want to pressure myself to reach a certain degree of fame … Good things always take time.”