Who would have thought that a cozy recording studio was hidden in a bungalow in Saint-Hubert? When we arrived, the magnificent voice of Rafaëlle Roy resonated behind the padded door. At 30, she is refining her first album with passion, surrounded by her ex and the father of her children, the singer Joffrey Charles, and her producer, Jake. Rafaëlle is on a roll: in addition to her album, she is launching her podcast RAF and continues to work as a backing vocalist for Jonathan Roy. Meet an authentic woman.
• Also read: Rafaëlle Roy adopts a shorter cut than ever
• Also read: Rafaëlle Roy shares cute photos of her children
Rafaëlle, you are recording your first album in a studio in your image!
We are at the Gold Labs studio. This is the studio of Jake, who is a multi-talented artist. Do you recognize him? He was one of the candidates for MasterChef Quebec This year. He cooks like a god and he is also a member of the band Ragers. He is 33 years old, and his studio has existed for around twenty years. The heart and soul of this project is not just me. There are three of us: Joffrey Charles, my ex and the father of my children, with whom the musical connection is incredible. Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am today. Jake, whom I met five months ago, was a real discovery. Our connection was instantaneous. We work as a team, but it’s really the three of us who form the core of this project, developed in this studio where I feel at home!
It’s beautiful to see that Joffrey and you are exes, parents of two children, and are so deeply connected.
Not everyone is so lucky! Jake sometimes tells us, “I don’t understand your dynamic! You two are crazy together!” It’s true, our connection is almost supernatural, as if we had known each other in a past life. The stars were aligned when we met. This album, which does not yet have a definitive name, is built on this connection, and it’s great to have finally found the missing pieces of the puzzle to complete a project that has been simmering for years! Joffrey always has his say, and I have immense confidence in his expertise and musical taste. He’s the one who takes care of the musical arrangements!
While you’re recording, are your kids at daycare?
Our children, Maya and Milo, will soon be four and three years old. Little anecdote: they helped me compose one of my favorite songs, which is called Your Favourite Dress. I wrote it about eight months ago, sitting in bed with my guitar and my kids. It was very intuitive! I sang and asked them: “Is it beautiful?” It was a real collaboration. The song is about my ex, the singer Guillaume Fuso, whom I admire and with whom I share a passion for music. It’s an ode to unconditional love! I love Guillaume, whether we are together or not. We still remain very close!
Do you easily stay friends with your exes?
Yes, it is very important to me. I want to honor the love I once had for them. I find it important that it lasts over time!
Your songs talk a lot about what you’re going through. Tell us the essence of another song that we can find on your album.
I wrote the song Crazy in my car. It is more pop and very catchy. I usually write ultra depressing songs! (laughs) This song addresses my tendency to give a lot of importance to those who don’t give it to me, while taking for granted those who give it a lot to me!
You are 30 years old. Do you want to break away from this trend?
Absolutely! At 30, we slowly begin to detach ourselves from the gaze of others. I feel like I’ve gained a lot of tools that help me navigate life better. This is actually a subject that I address in the podcast that I created, RAF. I record it with my friend Florence Belzile, who people discovered at Occupation Double. RAF means Nothing To Give A Fuck. It’s a play on words with our names: Raf And Flo. We must understand, we do not want to give a damn about everything, but rather free ourselves from the gaze of others. We seek to reconnect with our inner child and we invite our guests to do the same. This podcast evokes the idea of letting go and taking off our masks. We have guests like Pier-Luc Funk, Julie Ringuette and Philippe Laprise!
So you aspire to not give a damn?
Exactly! I really aspire to not give a damn. I don’t yet fully embody it, because I am still very, very dependent on the eyes of others. Look, I got my hair cut. This is a big step for me, because my femininity was reflected a lot through my long hair in the eyes of others. There, I cut it!
Your music-loving admirers can listen to a first single from your album online. It’s a rare song that you didn’t write.
This song is called Silence. It was composed by Nelson Minville and Christian Marc Gendron, my great friend whom I met on The Voice in 2019. It addresses a reality that I experienced after the success of The Voice. Being in the spotlight made me lose touch with my truth. I forgot my own voice. This song is a request for silence, a call to find myself and reconnect with myself and my heart.
We understand that your life has been dotted with great joys, but also with great challenges.
Yes, and I do not hesitate to reveal myself during these more difficult periods. I composed my song Alone at 19, during a very dark period in my life, where I was going through a great depression. I was in CEGEP, studying music, and I couldn’t do anything anymore. A few days before my final exams, I sat in the dark in my living room and wrote this song, asking my depression to go away, to leave my body!
You won season 2 of Zenith and even a Zapette d’or on the show It’s just TV for the best performance of the year.
It’s fantastic what’s happening to me! I’m doing very well! I surround myself with beautiful souls who elevate me. I feel privileged by the meetings of the last year. There are several things that line up; life finally allows me to flourish, whereas for so many years, I had the impression of remaining in the shadows.
Would you say that you remained in the shadows by not being in control of your own projects?
I love being a backup singer and I love touring with Jonathan Roy; he is like a second family to me. However, taking my place as an artist, launching my own album in 2025, is a gift I give myself. I have a tour coming up with an initial list of theatrical dates. I also continue with Jonathan Roy. The next year will be completely crazy! It’s going to explode!
