RAQUELA and the Confessions of a Disco Diva
-Carolina Taylor 4/1/04

Being a musician, and having had the honor of working with some top-notch musicians both classically and in the local arena, I can say what is sometimes lacking in the music industry at large, is fresh, positive energy. There are always opinions, clichés, and ego, GOD, tons of ego. Of course that’s mostly the label guys, not so much the local musicians in the New York area; who, though a varied lot, are by route a very humble group. But still, finding a new idea or a new scene is like stumbling into the NYC emerging artists’ scene itself. The group of close knit personalities, gather together, always ready to extend a hand to those newly establishing their niche, their style. The established offer a soft smile and a warm cup of coffee to the newbie's, from local coffee shops to open-mics, to open stage venues. And it’s into that snap of energy, that true talent seems to collect, and draw its power. But there’s a buzz in the energy of one lady in particular, that’s fresh, and exciting. She says she’s somewhere between 20 and 40, but she’s got an amazing smile that seems to transcend any age barrier. But it’s the pedal-to-the-metal energy of this self-proclaimed disco-junkie that comes flying off the pages of her bio, and walks right up to you and sits in your lap when you have the chance to talk to her.

Her name is RAQUELA, and she began "Confessions of the Disco Diva" back in June of 1995. At the time, she called it "Theatrical Electronica". As she puts it “I believe that we all have a "diva" somewhere hidden, deep down inside, just dying to get out... wanting it to stay out!” This diva is trying to “retro-lutionize” the world of techno-dance. “Disco is Dead!” she says. WHAT??! WAIT! Disco is dead? Damn, there go my retro shirts, Platinum and Abba downloads, and parties to rehash those funky nights spent in European hostels (don’t ask). Well according to THIS Diva, it’s only dead if you haven’t been introduced to the latest craze. Although now she calls her style "Theatrical Dance", it doesn’t totally have a name yet, at least not one it can stick to long enough to sweep the charts. But that’s all about to change. The origin of hip-hop can be traced back through the years, to Disco, and she throws it back out into the funk of today’s musical arena, with a light hearted hand, and a playful tug at our memory banks. And it’s starting to stick with more than just the local scene.

Like so many other musicians, who struggled to make sense of 9/11, and find a way to put hope into words, Raquela wanted most to give the people of New York something to smile about again. In a world filtered through grunge-rock-rap-pop sounds, that sometimes seem to drown out the purity of raw talent, this lady’s pipes (think Kathleen Battle-her strongest musical influence, with a Ru-Paul edge), and her sassy and sexy attitude, give her major punch with a crowd. She even had her “kisser” electrocuted at the “Blues Brothers Live” show, but kept right on singing. Brings new meaning to the term, “sizzle”! Raquela brings her cabaret-stage “sizzle” to life in the form of dance music and prose. Her Diva persona has a lot of her tossed in with a One-Hit-Wonder’s dreamland gone awry. She’s wacky, and silly, full of juice. Oh, and so is her persona! Her lyrics are sardonic at times; yet reminiscent of the polyester, afro-lined world she boogies through at warp speed. From her beat selection, to her timbre as she lightly skips through her register, to her stylish “character” monologues, she is eternally: The Disco Diva.

She says she has made mistakes, but has no regrets. And that when you see her in action, on stage, that’s the message she is trying to get you to go home with. The divine “Diva” springs from her imagination into a one-woman act that centers on the party that life “should” really be. She is testing out her groundbreaking beats and ideas from the center of Time Square, where she lives, “sometimes by myself, sometimes not. You know how that goes”. She says NYC is a unique vantage point for the wellspring of her writing. It’s a place, she says, overflowing with “performers and other people with special needs. It’s a special place.”

Raquela’s personal history is as varied as her Diva’s Persona. She grew up a California girl, but has sung all over the world. Some of her fondest moments trace back to years spent traveling and singing in Japan. Although trained at BIOLA University and UCI, She performed with such memorable artists as Tom Bosely (Happy Days) and Michael Proctor (The Fifth Dimensions) along with Jeff Tratca (The Bold and the Beautiful) and Loretta Chandler of “Fame” (TV Series). She’s seen a lot in her 20-40 years, but little seems to bring the Diva down. Whether she’s singing, acting, juggling or riding unicycles, she’s constantly learning. She regrets very little of her life. Mistakes, as well as amazing accomplishments (In 1995 she was nominated for the Perot Award, in recognition of Outstanding Female Performance for her role as “Diana” in “A Chorus Line”), get thrown into her “mix”.

She comes from a crazy family, but manages to stay centered on what’s truly important. Sh's not sure about having a family, but with the climb she is scrambling towards in her career, she knew it would be premature to bring a child into her current lifestyle. “I knew the road I was on was selfish.” Besides, the right “one” hasn’t come along. So for now, she settles for more than one! (Wink, Wink). Raquela wants whatever woman wants, but with ten times more ambition to taste along the way. She spends her down time enjoying the mundane trials of her day; from making dinner, to taking walks in the park and “people watching”. But what she wants most, is the music. And she wants to bring the music scene with her, spliced through her decades of moments, and snapshots of an American mesh. She gives people something to dance and laugh about, in the world and ambiance she creates; free of war, and politic, and dissent, free of color, and separation of spirit.

Raquela and her "Confessions of a Disco Diva" create a new zone; and it’s a hipper more vibrant zone. She teams up with a variety of electronic artists from Europe to the U.S. But she’s the front woman; she’s the lyricist, arranger and vocalist, oh, and don’t forget, the performer as well. Her high-energy story bounds across the stage, and your stereo with “erotic innuendo, tragedy and humor”. She’s got the pipes of a cabaret babe, but the soul of an Aretha protégé.

She has an eclectic career background as well; “My Secret Lives” played with her in full force at the Duplex in 1998, which was musically directed by Kim Douglas Steiner, she more recently starred in a successful workshop for the new Off-Broadway Musical “Bat Boy”, directed by Scott Schwartz where she originated the role of Ruthie/Ned, and her latest noteworthy stage moment came in NYC’s Premier of “Nice Town” a play by Alex Ladd. The girl loves the limelight, and the limelight loves the Diva.

What makes Raquela different?

Her fearlessness. “I would never sign CREATIVE CONTROL over to anyone. Depending on what their ideas were, I would be open to hearing them first and if it were great, I’d do it. I really do enjoy collaborating. I don’t think there’s such a thing as bad ideas, just misplaced ones.
Her humility. In her own words, she is a “Gregarious, Eccentric Slob”, who loves her family, singing and her “lovers”. Did she say lovers? I have trouble finding just ONE! Oh, to be a Diva.
Her creative motivation. Raquela says, “The music inspires me. When I hear sounds like two stones hitting each other, the guy next to me might hear an annoying noise. I hear a note, a timbre. I have a need to create and a drive to express it.”
Her Experience. What you hear within the measured pump of her songs is the spice and dash of real life. You hear the words of someone who has walked through her life, and can look back on it, with an air of reflection, and wit. What is wholly refreshing about this “pure German/Mexican all around American woman” is that she has not let her creativity distance her from the awareness of pivotal transitions that make or break you as a person, as a musician with sincerity. She says it’s a day-to-day battle to even remember her lyrics on stage, because she feels such a connection with the pulse of the crowd and the music. She can break into a monologued character shtick in the blink of an eye, and serenade the audience accapella, but then go home, and call a friend, make love, make song. And you hear that in her music.

She feels connected to the vibe and musical voice of New York especially, and feels a call to start a new phase in the Metropolis. “Each of us needs to have downtime, and to laugh”, she says. And I dare you to listen to any of her samples; Drive, Work, I Knew It, Disco Never Died, as well as many others, and not want to fishizzle your sizzle right along with her. You have to laugh. That’s what this songstress brings to the table. Nostalgic, light hearted fun, and techno-driven talent. “Everybody takes their own path”, she says, ”everything happens for a reason. As long as your goal is backed up with an inspiring dream, then wonderful things are sure to happen.”

What is her translation of "Theatrical Dance", you ask? She described in two ways; The songs had to tell a story or take you through a journey that would require the singer to act in voice where Spoken Word is allowed. This would also mean that the composition would require elements of many different changes, like two or three chord progressions that simply build into the climax of the songs tale. This is not like your usual standard songs that consist of verses, chorus and a bridge. Raquela also defined Theatrical Electronica in performance; Her ridiculous costumes and wigs, along with her outrageous themes, lyrics, addictive melodies and over-the-top performances, would create talk amongst audiences. “Remember when you're in a club, everyone is drinking. So if you don’t use "shock", then you don’t create drama. Therefore no one will care to remember.” Only one of her Theatrical Electronica performances was recorded on Sept. 1st, 2001. [6] It took place before a massive outdoor Festival in Sacramento. At first, nobody was sure what to make of her, but before Raquela could finish, the applause was instantaneous. In 2003, Raquela completed a full, two act, Electronic Dance Musical called, “Confession’s of the Disco Diva”. (In collaboration with Author/Writer, M. Saylor Billings) Unfortunately, it was never picked up.

The Confessions of THIS Disco Diva are not dirty, and they aren’t trite. Her music, her message, her talent, is creative, artistic, colorful and full of fresh rambunctious flair. And in the world of today’s Nipple Gate, that’s a big switch; one that’s impressive and empowering. Much like the lady herself.

-Carolina Taylor
Inked Magazine content writer and print magazine Editor