For this genre-hopping singer-songwriter, the best is yet to come. currently writing and recording in his hometown of New Orleans, Felix Rabito’s musical world-building blends influences ranging from early Coldplay to punch brothers and the districts. However, drawing parallels to such groups is limiting in scope. His sonic ideas and themes pull from his early love of classical and world music, injected with an unmistakable New Orleans flair that is both intensely personal and immediately approachable.
the interview
Tell us more about your track "Anna Muse"
Does Anna exist and does she know about your song?
Anna Muse was the first song I ever finished. I was 15-years-old and existential about everything, one such thing was love!
Anna does exist, she’s a really cool person and talented actress! She is the name sake, but the song is not exclusively about her.
I think the song has meant many different things to different people over the years, so i will stay pretty vague in my own interpretations;
each line is about a different person that was important in my life, with lines about my childhood friend, my sister, my grandma amongst others.
In short, the most perfect person you can imagine is still a person.
I love and hate them all at the same time. I am mostly kidding, but it is hard to look at them objectively after spending so much time on them!
Cure, I believe, is the best song I have ever written, in a huge part because it was co-written by Josh and Thom (Saint Dismas)
The goal in songwriting for me is to match the wordless feelings inside to what exists in the world as perfectly as possible.
I haven’t totally encapsulated the internal feelings in a song yet, but cure is pretty close! My favorite recording is petrified because the day I wrote it is the same day I recorded it using only the microphone on my laptop. It felt super authentic! Lastly, I have to say Anna Muse. As much as “play Anna Muse” is becoming a meme amongst my friends, I am grateful for it. Without that song, I for sure would not be doing music today.
I owe a lot to it, and I don’t take it for granted. Some of my most special moments on stage have been playing that song.
Songwriting feels like digging for treasure… 99% of the time there is nothing, but every once in a while an idea is discovered; and it feels like uncovering a whole lost world. Typically the melody comes first. This melody turns into mumbling which leads to phrases, which leads to months or years of over thinking and trying to return to the original feeling (I would not recommend this step).
Who are your favorite artists?
Ibrahim Ferrer (presented by buena vista social club) by Ibrahim Ferrer and either/or by Elliot Smith
Easily my biggest artistic influence is early Coldplay. My first concert experience was seeing Coldplay in New Orleans in 2008 during the Viva la Vida tour, and it completely changed my life. hipsters like to make fun of Coldplay, and I totally agree, but everything before and including Viva la Vida is some of the best music ever. I can’t overstate how important they were/are to me both musically and personally. i have also been heavily influenced by Beirut (Anna Muse), the Districts (Cure), Shakey graves, and Patrick Watson!
I began playing classical piano when i was very young, fell in love with music at 12, and I started writing songs at 15!
I still feel like a beginner everyday though.
Bread was the first song I ever wrote, and I believe writing it was my first form of prayer!
I remember sitting down, closing my eyes and thinking “Help me write something important!”
and Bread just came out. I am still finding meaning in it 6 years later!
To love each other and love yourself!
Richy Mitch and the Coal Miners, a band out in Colorado!
They are one of my favorite bands, and i have the distinct honor of also calling them friends!
There are two pieces of advice ground me the most:
- My good friend and life-long collaborator, Dave Grohl (Foo Fighters, Nirvana, Queens Of The Stone Age).
- Jim Mccormick (a Nashville songwriter, who attended the same high school as I did, Jesuit High School New Orleans!)
Play every show like it is the last one because you never know when the last show will be!
Each opportunity to play music is an insane privilege and gift.
Before I play, I remind myself of how grateful I am to have the opportunity to play music, and i don’t for a second take that for granted.
So much coming soon! ;)
These songs came during my unnecessarily turbulent college years and coincided with my discovering the electric guitar!
I began writing on electric guitar after Thom, our drummer, showed me the districts. the songs are about giving dignity to the hard moments in life, and making as much noise as i could in the overwhelming pressures of college and my early 20s. The project ends with interlude because no matter how grim things may seem, with hope, it is only the beginning of the story.
To be a loving person and to make things that sound and feel like my heart!
It's impossible to say, so I would like to take this moment to shout out the venue legends at Notre Dame for paying me with peanut butter burgers. I dream of them.
Germany;) or Mexico to visit our bassist josh’s friend’s Mauricio in Puebla or Amaranta in Guanajuato; i would love to travel perhaps to France to visit my friend Ikram! alternatively, we are planning on going to Canada to interview Nardwuar.
Nardwuar if you see this we are ready for you.
Just do things!! Don't be so reactionary!! Don’t overthink it! :)
Literally thank you so much for listening.
A 12-year-old, Coldplay hero-worshiping, me would not believe anyone was actually listening to his music,
and he would cry tears of joy!!
That is my little sister Julia Rabito!
She is one of my best friends, the best sister you could ever have, and pretty much my favorite person!
Thank you for the interview, Felix!
Review on the ep "Bread"
Felix Rabito's ep "Bread" spreads a warm and homey feeling. A loving warmth fills the room as soon as his music comes on.
Wonderful songs accompanied by playful melodies.