Meet RavO

What’s your name and where are you from?

My name is Raven McGriff, professionally known as RavO, and I am from Chicago, Illinois.

Why do you love what you do?

I love to create, rather it's music production, singing, songwriting, drawing, etc. I love being a creator. You give the listener/viewer a piece of you and allow them to connect with you on a different level, rather that be personal, intimate, fun, intellectual, or however. I love to hear when my music has resonated with someone or helped them get through a tough time or relatable experience. It makes all the difference.

What makes you different?

I'm different because I love being myself and I know no one else can be me better than I can. I think people are scared of being themselves because of the rejection that they may receive or because they may be overlooked, so they try to be someone else instead. I know that as long as I am my authentic self that the right individuals will gravitate toward me and my music and love me for me. There's no point in being a creative if you're just going to pretend you're the next person that's already out.

Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I see myself being and working with some of the best artists and producers in the world. I also see myself teaching and giving back to younger producers, especially young black/brown girls. I know how hard and frustrating it is firsthand not having the tools or knowledge you need to do what you love doing. So for me, it's important to just be a blessing and pass on the knowledge and gems that I have now to those coming up, looking to produce and be a creative.

What do you want to accomplish in life?

I want to be proof that black/brown girls can grow up to do what others would consider to be impossible. I want to show that they can be whatever they want to be and be unstoppable and great at it. There's a lot of male dominating industries, music being one of them. Sometimes, women aren't taken as serious as men. Sometimes, there may be fear or doubt in place because they don't see enough examples to show them that it can be done. As a survivor of Breast Cancer as of this year, I'd also like to start a charity and be a resource helping those with breast cancer get through their journey financially, mentally, and physically. It's hard when you can't work because you're going through treatment and you have no income, or no one that can relate to what you're going through that you can talk to. So it's important to me that I accomplish that.

What do you bring to your industry? - I am self produced and I write, mix and master all of my music. People say that I bring a modern, yet old-school flavor to music. I love creating music with feeling and emotion. I create songs about love, storytelling and ballads, all while remaining current with today's music. I've also been told that my music is timeless and that it could be released at any given time and still be accepted and fresh to the listener. I also like to switch it up when it comes to music and not be limited to just R&B and Pop. I could do Jazz one moment, Rock the next moment, Gospel, etc. I don't just put myself in a box, I go wherever the music takes me.

What do you want to be remembered by?

I want to be remembered by the love and energy that I spread, not just my music. Sure, winning awards is always great. But I want to be part of the memories that people make with their loved ones and families. I want to make a positive impact, especially when there's so much hate and negativity in the world. Love is so important. I want to be remembered as someone who loves love, loves God, loves positivity, loves laughter, and loves great music.