Review: Out of the Box by Rahe

Synergy is a ubiquitous element of cosmic interaction; it’s so simple, it’s easy to forget about and displace amidst daily chaos. We each scurry around, carrying on our own routine business with minimal acknowledgment of others in order to save time and focus on the recycled personal tasks of the day. There are few individuals who intrinsically break from the mold, providing natural connections and bridges to those around them with an open heart. Rahe, a novel, female singer/ songwriter, is an archetype of such character and spirit. The 22-year old artist has pipes that are reminiscent of Alicia Keys and guitar strums that rival the veteran Gypsy Kings. If you witness her songs or take into account her personality, the theme of collective union rings true.

Even though she is trilingual, she believes that “music is the universal language that provides a connection of soul.” That channeled relationship is precisely what Rahe lives for and symmetrically achieves with the creation and release of her debut album, Out of the Box, on Outward Visions Music (Outwardvisions.com/outward-visions-music/out-of-the-box/purchase). When asked what language she prefers to write or sing in, she said,“ ... all of them. English is clever and philosophical, where as Spanish and Portuguese are more passionate, poetic, and fluid.” As far as writing the songs and choosing what language’s lyrics are most appropriate, there is “no planning; it comes as it comes.” That statement embodies her well. She is very natural in her approach to music and doesn’t allow too much thought to clutter her truest sentiments.

Rahe, pronounced like the word “ray”, is a beacon incarnate of diversity and multiculturalism. Not unlike the Lighthouse of Alexandria that once stood mighty and called foreign travelers to Egyptian shores, Rahe shines her beam of music to invite and alleviate all who hear her sound. She aspires to utilize her creative energy as a means of “bringing harmony to those with differences.” This altruistic desire is an essence that stems from her cornucopian upbringing.

She previously lived in Japan, Spain, and numerous locations in the United States. Of all the destinations, she sees Tucson as her true haven. “It’s an inspiring, wonderful place to make art. An ideal location for creative, artistic being.” The Old Pueblo, nestled in a desert valley of mountain peaks, has certainly become her home and played an integral role in the specific synergy that helped create her first LP.

With the faculty and guidance of Outward Visions, Rahe has begun her journey to touch the alma and corazon (Spanish for soul & heart respectively) of people all over the world. Outward Visions is a 31-year-old not-for-profit organization whose overall mission is “to increase creative, educational and performance opportunities for innovative Artists.” Concurrently the management company seeks “to increase public awareness and recognition of these artists.” Helene Cann, co-founder along with her husband and partner Marty Khan, expressed the importance that “they tailored the direction and formation of the album around Rahe, so that it lent to the realization of her vision.” Out of the Box is the fruit of directed guidance on Rahe’s imaginative songwriting abilities along with her synergistic supporting cast.

The LP features a plethora of emotions and styles that are not only stressed by Rahe’s guitar strums and lively, lyrical singing, but also through the coloration and timbre of various instruments. For starters, the whole album is organic, meaning there are no amplifiers, computer noises, or synthetic sounds present. Rahe states that they are “looking to create an ‘old school’ thing, something that is not common now.” The raw, non-electronic mantra evokes an alluring, clean ambiance that’s positive and welcoming. “I wanted to go back to the core,” she explains, while altogether being “non-compromising of the original sound.” Collaborating with the other musicians really brought her budding dream to a blossoming reality, as she would frequently meet with them to discuss specific songs and how they would record them. This is where the tangible, ever-present synergy was most apparent and enabled the generation of a polished product.

The joint efforts of Rahe and her crew created something unique within the half-hour plus of music on the album. No song is like the other, moving the listener gracefully through the lighter and darker emotions. “Alma y Corazon,” for example gives the vibe of a flamenco piece direct from Rahe’s upbringing in Andalucía. “Rescue,” the following song sounds like a tune you could hear in Tin Pan Alley during the Roaring 20s. It throws back to a Porgy and Bess-esque composition, only sexier. No offense to George and Ira Gershwin, I’m sure they were considered handsome fellows at the time. Finally, “Dança” (which is Portuguese for dance) celebrates and culminates the full multicultural effulgence of the young lady. She sings in three languages and there are vibrant instrumentals that could sate a musical lion’s appetite for days.

Of all the accompanied instruments recorded in Out of the Box, the saxophone is the one that stands out and is most present. Rahe and the lead saxophonist, Nadar Nihal Singh Khalsa, collaborated frequently and have been actively working on their synergy in order to transpose the CD’s full sound to the stage. She illustrated that they are looking to incorporate a sax-quartet in the near future as a means of representing many of the harmonic intricacies present in each song. She was clearly grateful for the support of all the musicians and excited about the forthcomings with them.

When asked about the possibility of a tour, she said that she and Outward Visions are looking to take the show on the road, but not for a while. She played her CD release at a local, Tucson venue called Rhythm & Roots; she has another performance slated for April 1, don’t worry this is not an introduction for an April Fools’ joke. Congruently with the album, Outward Visions is working on a documentary that will be released in September 2011. Rahe emphasized that she is always working on new ideas and potential songs; it appears she has an undying energy for the art of song and wants nothing more than to heal and enlighten people with her sound. When asked about her personal connection with Japan and their current state of affairs, she stated: “There is a calm respect about them that is humble, and it shows something about their culture when they maintain it during a crisis. I hope I can bring them some music soon.” I firmly believe that The Land of the Rising Sun and the world could benefit with the presence of a little Rahe.

Be sure to preview the album at:

www.outwardvisions.com/outward-visions-music/out-of-the-box/purchase/

www.musicbyrahe.com