Interview

PA ~ When did you take up your artistry and how long have you been > involved with it?

I started playing the guitar when I was 12 years old and I've been playing for about 13 years now.

PA ~ Musically, how would you describe your sound/genre?

It’s a mix of feels and sounds from different parts of the world, like Spain, the Middle East, South America, Greece, and the Caribbean. To keep it simple, I usually say Latin, Reggae, and Middle Eastern influenced instrumentals. I’m not doing it the traditional way, though. I’m kind of taking different influences of mine and elements and feels from different parts of the world and putting them together the way I hear and feel it. Also, I was really influenced by Greek and Middle Eastern bouzouki (a Greek instrument) players and the sound of the oud. But when I was writing and playing this music, I wasn’t really thinking about all that stuff. I listen to a lot of music from all over the world, and when I started writing and playing this music, I just let things come out naturally and flowed with whatever I was feeling at the moment. The end result has a lot of different influences from around the world.

PA ~ What gravitated you toward your artistic work ?

At the time I was writing this music, I was just feeling these melodies and was in the mood to blend some of these influences from around the world, that I love so much.

 PA ~ Who are your influenced by?

I’m not sure if you’ll hear this in my music, but I’d have to say the musicians who had the most impact on me and influenced me the most are Grant Green, Ernest Ranglin (“Below the Bass Line”), Bob Marley, The Roots Radics, Sly and Robbie, Jimi Hendrix, Paco De Lucia, and James Brown, just to name a few. There are many more musicians I’d like to give my respects to, but it would probably take a few pages. I listen to many different styles of music from all over the world, but on my CD, “Desert Cruising,” I’m heavily influenced by Middle Eastern music, Spanish guitar, Reggae, and music from South America, the Caribbean, and Greece.

 PA ~ I understand you have a CD called "Desert Cruising in a Dub State of Mind" , what is the listener in store for?

The overall vibe in “Desert Cruising” is a relaxing, mellow, and spacey one with lots of warm, soulful, and exotic melodies. I’m taking you to different moods and places in the world through music. Lots of improvised solos played on guitar, oud, and flute and percussion grooves played on instruments from around the world like the cajon, tablas, udu, and doumbek, all in all creating a positive atmosphere for you.

PA ~ How is the CD being received?

I've been getting a positive response from fans and people who have come across the music. I've had a pretty wide variety of people say they were feeling the music, from ages 18 to 70! And the music has been played on indie radio stations in the U.S, Italy, Romania, Australia, and more. So I'm pretty happy how it's being recieved by people.

PA ~ Do you have a favorite composition on the CD?

I'd say my personal favorite would be "Open your Eyes" and "Zion".

PA ~ Will you be touring to promote "Desert Cruising in a Dub State of Mind" ?

At the moment, I don't have a tour planned out. But I will in the future.

PA ~ Any other projects or follow ups in the works presently?

Yes, I'm actually working on alot of new music and new projects. I'm planning on having my next solo CD finished in the next year or so. The next cd is going to be a different vibe but also instrumental.

PA ~ Do you perform solo or normally with a group?

I have performed solo before, but I prefer to play with a group and that's what I normally do.

PA ~ Any performances coming up you'd like to plug?

I actually don't have any performances coming up in the next 2 months but check out my website (www.DesertCruising.com) for updates.

PA ~ What would someone expect attending one of your shows?

They could expect a positive atmosphere with good people, good music, and normaly good food and drinks!

PA ~ Do you perform outside of your hometown?

Yes I do.

PA ~ Give us your thoughts on the indie music scene good and not so  good.

I think that there is actually alot of good and original music in the indie scene, if you know where to go and where to look.

PA ~ How is the artistic scene in Los Angeles evolving?

There are actually alot of good bands and things happening in the underground scene. But L.A is big so you need to know where and when to find it.

PA ~ What are some goals you hope to accomplish in the future?

My goals is to continue writing and exploring music and growing as a musician for the rest of my life. I want to put out a bunch of CDs in different styles of music, blending different influences from around the world. And to keep things fresh, soulful, and fun for me and my fans. I want to give something positive to my fans and to the world.

 PA ~ What are your other interests outside of Music?

I love going to the beach and traveling and seeing new places and cultures.

PA ~ What was the best piece of advice you ever heard that motivates you in pursuit of your artistry?

The best piece of advice for me was to just do what you love because you live this life once and not worry so much about the future or the past just enjoy the moment.

 PA ~ Where can someone find out more about Rafi Levy ?

at www.DesertCruising.com and www.Rafilevymusic.com