Los Angeles singer Raquel Rodriguez and her band, The Big Guys, play soul how it was always meant to be played. Their 2013 full-length debut Miss Me boasts a collection of impassioned, invigorating, and irresistible songs that are as fresh as they are fiery. Raquel discovered music very early on and became driven to sing and perform. Despite all of her formal training, she charismatically taps into an utterly effusive energy that borders on punk panache. “We want to play loud music with a groove that people can dance and drink to,” she declares. “You’ve got to physically feel it when we’re on stage or in your speakers. It has to be loud, dirty and gritty. Meeting her six-piece band “The Big Guys” while still attending class, they collectively began pursuing their own “party” in 2011, gigging tirelessly everywhere they could. A year later, the group hit the studio to record what would eventually become Miss Me. With drummer Sam Brawner producing, and engineering/mixing from Keith Armstrong at Chris Lord-Algae’s studio Mix LA, they injected raw power into the music. You can hear it loud and clear on the first single and title track, “Miss Me”. Blending intricate instrumentation and Raquel’s infectious delivery, the song is something of a call-to-arms. “It’s an anthem,” she admits. “It’s a girl singing about a guy who took advantage of her and didn’t do anything for her. Now, because she’s successful and he’s not, he wants her back. She always warned him like, ‘One day, you’re going to miss me’. She was right.” Elsewhere on the album, “Tell Me It’s Fine” paints a poignant picture via her vivid lyrics and the music’s sultry swing. “It’s about a relationship where both people are really stubborn,” she goes on. “Neither side wants to end it so they stick it out, stay together, and hope it’s fine.”
Raquel Rodriguez – Tell Me It’s Fine
Raquel Rodriguez – Tell Me It’s Fine Lyrics:
Baby, oh my baby, I’ve been trying
Trying hard not to hurt you.
But darlin’, oh darlin’, I’m not sorry
that it’s all I do.
If you don’t give your all then you ain’t gon’ fall like I fell.
And if you ain’t gon’ try then I’m not gonna lie to myself
And say that it’s fine
Say that it’s fine
You know it ain’t right
Make up your mind
And tell me it’s fine
Tell me it’s fine
You know it ain’t right
Make up your mind
I can’t listen to your shit when
I know you ain’t gon’ give in and swallow your pride.
If you’re pushin’, I’ll keep pullin’,
Don’t know who you think you’re foolin,
You’re losin’ this fight.
If you don’t give your all then you ain’t gon’ fall like I fell.
And if you ain’t gon’ try then I’m not gonna lie to myself
And say that it’s fine
Say that it’s fine
You know it ain’t right
Make up your mind
And tell me it’s fine
Tell me it’s fine
You know it ain’t right
Make up your mind.
