The next big thing is here. Period. And her name is Raistalla! Let’s get the categorization out of the way. She does techno music, or perhaps you could call it dance music. True. Okay, now let’s get the disclaimers out of the way. I’ve checked out what the other reviewers are saying about Raistalla, and the consensus usually goes something like this: “This is not the usual genre of music I play on my show, but…” And that’s true of my show, too.
So then why is Raistalla the Featured Artist on Twirl this month? Because she ROCKS! And she has a great singing voice. And because I can’t stop playing her infectious music on my radio show. It’s too addictive. I had the pleasure of interviewing Raistalla on Twirl on Saturday, December 9, 2006.
Raistalla is an L.A.-based singer-songwriter and dancer (she’s worked with Madonna and Outkast, among others) who released her self-titled debut album, Raistalla, this year. The album is divided into three parts, “Act I”, “Act II”, and “Epilogue”. Many of the songs within each part blend seamlessly into the next, which is an effect not seen much in rock.
Her music generally sounds like what would happen if you took a voice that swims in the same vocal waters as Dionne Warwick’s, add Beck’s sound effects and production, and made the songs more driving and danceable. This is a true hybrid of rock and techno. We rock DJs usually don’t see liner notes like these, where some of the songs are “produced and programmed”. But there is enough guitar and bass, along with really driving percussion moving the songs forward, to satisfy the rock fans among us.
So rock fans, rejoice. Raistalla has just introduced you to a new genre of music!
Twirl Radio 