There is more to Raphaella's music than a pretty face and powerful vocal chords. The 23-year-old singer/songwriter studied protest music as well as being classically trained in piano and violin. She's also the daughter of a master craftsman and Persian rug maker, who gifted her a rug on each of her birthdays. She used a portion of her rugs as barter items to get her Start A Fire EP made.
The EP's first single, "Parallel Lines" is a power ballad with a capital P.
Big and belting, the original song was still a bit drab to my ears. Fortunately that's where Zed Bias comes in. The English electronic producer takes the ballad and gives it a fantastic house treatment. Raphaella's vocals are matched by deep pulsating kicks, a more fitting context as a dance floor power ballad.