With a background in theatre, classical music and performance arts, Sydney-based artist RavxN continues his quest to "create interesting, moody tunes that blend my love of catchy indie pop with classical orchestration".
RavxN's latest creation is sophomore single 'A Fragile Thing', which balances his dark pop, electro-synth sounds with theatrical orchestration and tongue-in-cheek lyrics.Who is RavxN? Good question. I barely know. I grew up in rural North Queensland and at an early age my Mum introduced me to violin lessons. From then on I was always into arts and music, but never had much opportunity to do any performing until I was a teenager and got to perform in some musicals.
Pretty quickly after I dropped everything to move to Sydney so that I could pursue entertainment legitimately. I studied acting for a semester before settling into a music degree which I recently finished.
While studying I did the indie band circuit around Sydney, but through 2020 I've been in a bit of a personal renaissance and discovering more about my own sexuality, gender, identity – all that fun, complicated stuff – and began to work on blending that with my art and so, I guess, that's how RavxN was born.
So now I'm here, queer as f... and trying to create interesting, moody tunes that blend my love of catchy indie pop with classical orchestration.
I sound like... A classical theatre-music kid learned how to make dark-pop synths.
My first gig was... When I was a kid I won an Eisteddfod performing a song from Nightmare Before Christmas. But that was long, long ago. My first gig as RavxN was at Hideaway Bar in Enmore, Sydney.
When did you settle on your artist name, and was it a unanimous decision... I went through a few different names before settling on RavxN.
I started with Matthew Raven, then my band was Matty and the Ravens, but eventually I settled on RavxN as it felt like the best suited to my own weird vibes.
In the studio I usually... Pack healthy snacks like a band mum.
If I could tour with anyone... Montaigne or AJR. They are both huge inspirations for me and to support them would be a dream.
Social media is... So addictive. I waste HOURS on TikTok. Not posting anything, 'cause I'm a Lurker. Just checking out what my celebrity crushes are up to.
My favourite app at the moment is... Among Us (lol). How is such a silly game so much fun.
To date, my most embarrassing moment was the time... I have a bit of a habit of being clumsy.
This one gig I was performing at a small pub in Glebe and I had my keytar and I did this stupid dance move and the keytar strap just. . . broke! Except it didn't just fall on the ground, it fell on the edge of the stage, then hit some poor guy standing at the front of the crowd.
The pub was small enough that literally everyone saw. The guy was cool, but I was mortified. How do you even recover from that?
Life on the road can be... I haven't had the chance to tour yet, but I have a very romanticised image of it so...
If you'll have me on your bill, all I ask is that our rider contains... Strawberries. I'm a strawberry fiend.
The most scary scenario I've found myself in, was... This is going to sound silly but my cat was running around the house the other day and she got one of her claws caught in the fabric and just started screaming.
My housemate and I ran over and she'd twisted her wrist area up; it was facing the wrong way and her body weight was preventing her relieving the pressure. We got her out of it, but for a hot second there I thought she had broken her leg and we'd have to take her to hospital.
Being a parent is stressful, lol. That's definitely not the scariest scenario ever, but it was recent enough to have me on edge.
If you had to live in a city abroad, where would you choose and why? It always used to be New York, but the USA has been a bit crazy lately so at the moment I'd have to say Tokyo. I've been before and fell in love with the rush of it all.
Three people you'd like to invite around for a dinner party... Lady Gaga, Beyonce and Adam Lambert. I'd hope that the dinner party would become a jam and I'd pick up some vocal tricks from them.
If we were coming over to your place, what would you cook us? I'm not much of a cook, but I make an amazing Kangaroo stir fry (it's the only meal I know how to cook).
No matter the expense, send me a case of... Puppies.
The last time I saw the inside of a gym was... Yesterday. I get really anxious when I don't exercise or practice (music) so I try to keep pretty regular.
What's the one chore you dislike the most? Cooking. Honestly, I don't get how people love it so much.
Do you have any phobias? I am petrified of heights. I just, like, clench up and get clammy and scared. My brother is a pilot and thinks it's the funniest thing.
Would you ever partake in a reality show? I feel like I'd be a surprisingly good 'Survivor' candidate as long as I was provided sunscreen.
If you could prank any of your friends, who's your target, and how are you bringing them down? I'm a lover of old-school jump-out of or around random stuff and terrify people. My housemate Lilla, from Jet City Sports Club, and I get each other with it all the time and it's so childish but I just can't help but enjoy it.
