100% Raheaven: the north London heartbreaker

You’ve got to hand it to Raheaven, she’s firmly in control of her dating life. The north London singer’s sultry soul track 7AM was about giving a lingering lover the cold shoulder after a one night stand. Now she’s back with 2Personal, a track about cutting off a second-rate relationship. ​“You made me lose interest /​and I wish you all the best /​but fuck it, you failed the test,” she sings on the unforgettable hook. Ouch.

It’s this unflinching honesty, alongside those seductively smoky vocals, which makes Raheaven truly stand out. And so we’re happy to be hosting the first look of the video for 2Personal, which you can enjoy alongside Raheaven’s 100% questionnaire below.

10%: Where were you born, where were you raised and where are you now based?

Born, raised and based in north London. I feel really privileged to have grown up in a place that has so much going on musically and culturally and is home to a lot of UK artists too from Tottenham – Islington – Hackney. I am definitely influenced by the place I grew up and the people I grew up around.

20%: When did you find your confidence as an artist?

When I felt more confident in who I was as a person, growing up it’s hard because you’re still figuring out who you are and although I was always in and around music, I never wanted anyone to tell me who I am, what I should wear, who I should be and what I should say as an artist. I turned down what some might call great opportunities from a young age, but they just weren’t right for me.

I never wanted to write about things that I’ve never experienced. Being able to sing is one thing, knowing what you want to say is a whole other thing.

Also, a lot of my artist friends consistently encouraged me too, they’d be like ​“sis where is the music?” And I’d be like it’s coming!! let me just get out of this toxic relationship, get my nails done and hit the studio, I’m coming!

30%: What’s a piece of advice that changed your life?

“I put time and energy and effort, every fibre of my being to give people quality, so if I turn up to a photo shoot and you’ve got a $50 clothes budget and some sliced pickles on the side, you know what, I am gonna leave!, is that wrong for me to want more for myself? Wanting people to treat me with respect? But you know what, next time, they KNOW better, but had I accepted the pickle juice, I would be drinking pickle juice right now!” — Nicki Minaj

Ok, this is my favourite quote ever. It’s about knowing your worth and setting standards. You have to be able to say no to things and people. It’s a real reminder that you have to put in the work, I won’t be accepting no pickle juice.

40%: What kind of emotions and experiences influence your work?

Pain, hurt, hope, love, freedom, anything that makes me feel vulnerable.

I don’t turn down experiences, I won’t let the night end sometimes. I like to see things through. I’m a bit hedonistic at times, but my dynamics with people influence me – relationships, situationships, friendships.

I probably make my most emotive music when I’m on the verge of some kind of emotional breakdown and the producer is able to tap into it. It sounds kind of torturous but I’ll try to make my trauma look or sound pretty.

50%: How did you celebrate your last birthday?

I don’t believe in birth DAYS, it’s a national holiday and it’s got to be a whole four days. I would usually party In Leo fashion but due to lockdown I had to keep it cute with back to back boozy lunches, breakfasts and dinners.

60%: What’s the most pointless fact you can share?

October 17^th is national ​“forgive-an-ex day” but for me, once I cut you off, you’re gone. In fact, I don’t have any exes, how about that.

70%: What’s the best pet you’ve ever had, and what is their name?

My cat Playboi (as in Playboi Carti, not the playboy mansion) it’s just me and him. Every witch needs a cat!

80%: Name something you love, something you like, and something you hate?

I love Korean food.

I like ASMR.

I hate pickle juice.

90%: No.1 holiday destination?

Some kind of remote lowkey island like Tuvalu or Saint Kitts and Nevis. Being a city girl is exhausting, I like to be a lady of leisure on holiday.

100%: You rule the world for the day? What went down?

All the bad bitches will rise and roll around in pink Range Rovers, white doves, pull up in pink AK47s and redistribute the wealth to end all karmic cycles of inequality.