RaSh Radio - Makshoof Music Profile

Music News Mon, 27 Sep 2010 Written by Paul Kelly
RaSh Radio - interview with triplew.me

In one of two Makshoof Music interviews this week, we talk to RaSh Radio, a talented solo artist from Cairo about winning awards, being heard on the radio in Cairo and what's next for him.

RaSh Radio has made quite the impact since winning a Nokia Music Festival award in 2008 and the subsequent attention, including radio play, that the award brought with it. Carrying an array of catchy, unique songs and a 'can-do' attitude, RaSh Radio is sure to be a fixture in the regional music scene.

We caught up with RaSh to talk about all that and more ahead of the judging round of triplew.me's Makshoof Music.

Check out RaSh Radio's Makshoof Music submission and please feel free to leave a comment.

Triple W can hear a bit of Dave Matthews and Jack Johnson in your songs, who do you count as your biggest musical influences?

Not really into Jack Johnson, but I'm a huge-HUGE Dave Matthews fan. Let's just say if I put my iPod on shuffle, 9 out of 10 songs are going to come up Dave's.

It is fairly difficult to put a label on your style and sound – what would you call it?

I don't really know if there's a specific genre that I can squeeze everything I like to play in. I just go with the feel of things; Sometimes it's really mellow, other times it feels like rocking out, or even going for a little Latin dance flavor.

Describe how you felt when you first heard your music on the radio?

It's really hard to describe the feeling, but you know how your favorite song always sounds better on the radio? Multiply that by a million and then some.

In 2008 you won the Nokia Music Festival best solo award – explain all the positives that came from that exposure.

The festival really opened doors for me. It was my first time to see how a huge crowd would react to my originals, and I was surprised to say the least. It really gave me that push I needed to believe in my stuff, and start to make things happen for myself.

The kudos you’ve received, and getting air play, suggests bright things for the future; what are your plans for recording and hopefully having you music heard internationally?

Well, I took a step last year and went to NYC to try and pass my demo around, and I actually got a call back from a label that produces for huge artists like Radiohead, John Butler, Lisa Hannigan, David Gray, and many others. It made it all the way to their A&R person, and to my surprise they contacted me and told me they loved it! but nothing came of it after. The recognition was great, but I think the recording and production of the demo was really poor, and failed to show the full potential of what I'm capable of. That's the main reason I joined the Triple W Makshoof competition.

It’s 2 years in the future, you’re playing a big festival in Europe – who else is on the bill?

I'm guessing by then Lady Gaga will be in rehab, and Justin Beiber would've hit puberty and grew out of the whole cute phase. But in all seriousness; I would be the happiest man on the planet if Regina Spektor was on the bill.

What bands are you interested in at the moment? Who impresses you?

I never cease to be amazed by the genius that is The Dave Matthews Band. It doesn't matter if I'm listening to a new song they just released, or a song that I've heard a million times. Other than The DMB I'm really into Regina Spektor, Kings Of Leon, Jason Mraz, Maroon5, CocoRosie, Beirut, Lisa Hannigan, Michael Jackson(never gets old), MosDef,….I can go on forever, really.

If you had unlimited resources ($$$!) name your studio, backing band and producer… think big!

I don't think it's ever about having huge resources, or really big names. It's about having a team who truly believes in you, and most impotently having the right chemistry; and that's something money can't buy.

Check out RaSh Radio's Makshoof Music profile, listen and leave a comment.