American pop newcomer Ravive has released her debut single “Sahara,” available on all digital platforms NOW. A ghostly pop fusion, “Sahara” was written by Ravive and produced by Okan Kazdal (NEVRLANDS). Ravive, a hypnotic synth-pop vocalist, captures the feeling of being stranded in an unfamiliar place on “Sahara”. The carefully crafted track paints the visual of walking through the desert to try and reach a place of safety.

The release of “Sahara” introduces the hypnotic, pulsing nature of what’s to come for this immersive artist. 

‘Sahara’ was an experience. I wanted to really paint the visual of trudging through the desert, feeling exhausted, but still trying to make it home. 

Pop music has always been a euphoric, but sometimes heartbreaking sonic trip for me, so I wanted to create a song that could be that experience for someone else. 

“‘Sahara’ captures an odd juxtaposition between mental exhaustion and finding sanctuary. Exploring those opposites melded into a synth fusion that I instantly fell for.”

Her father was an “immensely talented classical jazz guitarist, and I wanted nothing more than to be like my daddy.” She reveals

Her name is rooted in the word ‘revive’. 

“Releasing solo music again feels like my own personal resurrection, especially following such a dark year for many. We are all working towards our own revivals. The word ‘revival’ felt like a perfect mantra, so I just toyed with the word a bit, switched the first E with an A, and that name immediately locked into place.”

Who are your all time musical icons?

I was a kid in the late 90’s, so I had the unique experience of growing up in the bubblegum pop/TRL phase of music. That’s when my pop roots were planted. The Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears have always stayed very close to my soul as an adult; I listen to both daily. 

Although my pop history was cemented a long time ago, my icons have expanded through the years as I continued to delve into pop music. The holy trifecta of early 2000’s pop rock – Kelly Clarkson, Avril Lavigne, and Ashlee Simpson – are also still firmly cemented. 

What is your creative process like? Do you prefer writing on your own or do you like collaborating with producers/writers?

Both. While I like to come up with the conceptual ideas for tracks on my own, I believe that collaboration is where you allow growth to take place. Somebody else may hear your idea and offer a brilliant counterpart that you didn’t think of. 

I used to be rather stubborn when it came to collaboration, especially when I last released solo music in 2015. I wanted to write everything myself, and I think that came from a need to complete an idea. But what I wrote on my own wasn’t as strong as it could’ve been with an outside opinion. 

Conceptualizing has always been something I hold quite close, but bringing it to fruition is a process that I now love to work with others on. It truly promotes growth in your craft.  

Is there any specific message behind your lyrics and storytelling?

I’ve always been open-ended about mental health. There needs to be a process of de-stigmatization around discussing mental health. I like delving into those conversations in my lyricism. Mental illness is not taboo. 

How would you describe your music in your own words?

Ghostly, haunting, synth-y alt pop. A phantom for your ears. 

Tell us about “Sahara”. How did it come about?

Songs that fall out quickly are usually the ones I feel more confident about, and “Sahara” was one that I was able to write in a short amount of time. I could hear it. It needed to sound desperate. Laying vocals in the chorus gave it that sense of desperation. I wrote it on an unplugged Fender Strat, the one I’ve been using since I was 10, and it just clicked. 

What are you trying to communicate with “Sahara”?

I wanted “Sahara” to paint a very specific visual. Crawling through the desert on a hot day. Trudging through the sand to reach a safe place. Not being able to see the end of the sand, but continuing to walk, hoping to see pavement. Walking through a hellfire but keeping your feet moving.

What’s the future looking like for you?

With COVID, everything is unpredictable. I think I’m going to ride the singles train for a while; that way, I can give each song I release individual attention and tell their stories one at a time. I will release an EP this year, and have that pretty much mapped out conceptually, but singles are where I’ll be hanging out for a bit.

Who inspires your style and aesthetics?

I have always kind of just created my own stylistic mood board. My style does evolve in certain areas, but the root of it has been the same since elementary school. I gravitate towards certain pieces of clothing, certain colors, textures, etc. 

Something I’ve always loved is piecing together outfits, mismatching items, seeing how I can make them work together. I love a good pair of beat up Converse with a newer, fresher looking item. 

Whatever I visualize in my head, I do what I can to make it come alive. Personal style and aesthetics have always played a large role in my music, and now with Ravive, I have the opportunity to continuously build upon that brand. 

Follow Ravive on

Instagram: @iamravive

Twitter: @iamravive

TikTok: @iamravive

Facebook: @iamravive

Spotify: https://spoti.fi/3azKHJK

Linktree: https://linktr.ee/ravive