Dom catches up with Raven Numan who talks about forging her own musical legacy, working in the studio with Ade Fenton to craft new single, ‘My Reflection’ as well as visual inspirations and more.
Daughter of Synth-Pop legend Gary Numan, Raven Numan’s debut single ‘My Reflection’ is a dark yet cathartic song that tackles themes of unrealistic beauty standards in the modern world. Regarding her feelings towards taking her first step out into the world of musical output she says, “It’s very surreal, and also kind of terrifying because this song especially, it’s very vulnerable. It’s kind of scary but also, this is something that I’ve dreamed of since I was like, nine so it’s exciting as well.”
Raven worked with acclaimed UK-based producer and composer Ade Fenton, who has collaborated with her father countless times. On the topic of whether this experience of creating and collaborating was a challenge or not, she says, “It was quite simple. I just loved everything, like all the ideas that he had. I didn’t really have any notes, everything just went exactly the way I kind of wanted it to go. We have the same vision for the music and everything, and it’s also very nice to work with someone that I’ve known pretty much my whole life.”
Going deeper into the songwriting process and which artists have influenced her music, Raven says, “Definitely Nine Inch Nails, always. I grew up listening to them and they’re incredible. I think for now, Lana Del Rey. I think those two artists have had a major impact on me and have definitely shaped how I write music. I think the pop side of it definitely comes from me being completely obsessed with your normal pop stuff like Katy Perry. I loved her for years and years and years, so I definitely think that plays a part in it, a small part though. I think the artists I will definitely look up to and carry with me for the rest of my life are Nine Inch Nails and Lana Del Rey.”
Regarding the themes of unrealistic beauty standards that are explored in ‘My Reflection’, the artist says, “I think when I wrote it, it was directly tied to me and my experience with that but this is what loads and loads of people, not just girls as well, go through so it was very difficult because I was 17, and it was peak COVID so felt like we were just trapped inside. You couldn’t do anything and the only thing you had was social media pretty much, to keep yourself entertained, and I just got stuck in this hole where I would look at all these girls and these Instagram models, and I had nothing else to do so I would compare myself to them. This was about three years ago so I was very young. I felt like very insecure with myself and how I looked. I didn’t like my body or my face or like, tiny details that no one else could see but I noticed them, so I sat down, and I was feeling very frustrated, and I just wrote everything down and then I turned it into a song.” When asked if the song was able to help her achieve what she set out to do, Raven says “Yes, absolutely. Absolutely.”
On the topic of the importance of visuals in not only her own work but also in other artists work as inspiration, she says “When I watch music videos, for example, Nine Inch Nails or something like that, sometimes it inspires me to write more songs because it’s like ‘Oh this is such a great video, I really want something like this’, and then it motivates me to get down and write.”
To conclude the conversation, the topic of quantifying and defining success was discussed with Raven saying, “I think if you’re happy with yourself and happy with everything you’re doing then, you’re already successful. Like right now, I’m very happy with everything, and I’m really happy with how everything’s going and that feels, it just feels great.”
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