Artist description HERE'S HOW THE "STAND OUT" IDEA WOULD WORK:_______________________________________________ She would start off by blending into a crowd on the dance floor. Then suddenly, out of nowhere, live, she would begin singing one of her original, musical techno concepts as it segues itself in by the DJ. Her live performance ability, humorous timing and energy is what will create a sort of "Shock Treatment" for the patrons dancing around her, causing them (hopefully) to watch and enjoy. Equipped with a portable headset mic, transmitter and special effects processor, she will be able to plug into any channel of any club's PA system. Eventually she would like to greatly enhance the show with the addition of back-up dancers/singers (or as Raquela prefers to call them, "Cast Members") who would help perform, dance and sing her original techno-story songs. Raquela plans to introduce this new idea to gay or straight high-energy dance clubs. She also envisions this idea succeeding in the rave club scene on techno nights. This is a great way for new and upcoming techno artists to showcase their music! So wanna collaborate? __________________________SHE NEEDS MORE COMPOSERS!____________________________ She has already become a lyricist for a few Mp3 electronic artists and is looking for more! She wants to collaborate with more writers who can create pieces with more variety to their melody as well as rhythm. Although she is aware how difficult it may be, she encourages writers to ease up on the repetitiveness! She's looking for a good melody that lasts about 4-8 measures, but doesn't repeat over and over with only a few small variations! (Raquela believes this is the reason Electronic music does not receive the respect it so deserves!) Her lyrics are inspired by talented, gifted electronic composers who write in a musical, story-telling style. AB, AB, C, AB or any other elaborate combination with a terrific catchy melody. But no pressure, if you can't find it, vocally, Raquela will. Bank on it! The pieces can be anywhere from 3 to 10 minutes long. The longer, the better! Please! If you think you match the bill, write to her!!! SOON PLEASE! :-) ________________________04/09/2002 1:00 PM_________________________ - Raquela has finished writing 9 songs (and is thinking of adding more). Back in February some people in New York asked Raquela if she would let them produce her "Stand Out" songs as a sudo-musical. She has agreed and has started to write the first draft of the script. For now, the title has been changed to "Memiors of the Disco Diva" to accompany this newer idea. The reading/performance will be presented in NYC sometime towards the end of this year. For a quick description of how Raquela imagines the show might look like, here is her first rough synopsis (follow along with the cd as you read this): Even though we know Raquela as a real person, in this CD you will be introduced to a "Diva, ex-disco, recording-star, has-been" of the past who believes she "still-is". As we take this journey with her, my hopes are that you will agree there is a bit of "Diva" in all of us. My other hope is that you're are one of those few "Diva's" finally finding out who you really are. (To be perfect, one must truly believe they are imperfect.) This is only the first proposed demo being used to help develop a soon to be off-Broadway musical. (Please God?) ... Imagine if you will, the show opening in the darkness. We hear a live radio recording of a vocalist from the past. It's Raquela. (Or the real name of whom ever is playing the "Diva" role.) It's some ol' one-time hit song from the late 70s as we hear the DJ announce. He will act as the narrator through out this show. Constantly, along side Raquela, will be three "Diva-ettes" acting as Raquela's long-time back-up singers or as the greek chorus. Sabrina, Lasandra and Tiffany. (Raquela has a deep connection with these three women and we'll discover this towards the end of the show.) We are forced to catch up with this 30 something year old singer, and like a fly on the wall, we see her picking up boys at a club scene. (2. I knew it) After the song is over, there is a *Diva moment. Latter, the DJ narrates us into the next number telling us how this ol broad can't seem to stop partying. (4. I Will Never Party Like I Partyd Last Night) This will be staged as a self tortured number. (Drugs, whatever...) You'll see what I mean when you hear this. Then, there is a *Diva moment. Next, the narrator (DJ) takes us into a time where Raquela is forced to find a real-life job in order to pay the rent. All of her residual monies has run out. The last thing she hung on to was her driver, but now she can't even afford that, so she buys her first car. Since she hasn't been able to afford the drugs either, driving becomes her newest addiction. (6. Drive) Moving from one town to the other becomes another way to escape her real-life realities. Then there is a *Diva moment. We are then segued into her next obvious number (8. Work) Then there is a *Diva moment. Next, the DJ proceeds to explain the history of Techno but he is soon interrupted by the Diva who feels she can do a better job at this. (10. Disco Never Died) Then there is a *Diva moment. Next the stage is set up for yet another attempt at the club scene but this time a sort of accident occurs. Raquela experiences something new. (12. Finally Found) The Diva discovers love in a new way, and she is rescued away from the club scene once and for all. Then there is a *Diva moment. ? We then find the Diva forced into a situation that makes her break down and travel back in time to when she was a little girl. We discover the Diva's hidden flaw. Or is it a flaw? (14. A.D.D.) This then segues us into the Climax of the show ? (15. Real) Here we see her three Diva-ettes playing something more like Raquela's conscious. They play three different women. Three lives that somehow relate to Raquelas own. Raquela tries to continue her denial and we soon see her true vulnerabilities come out. We now discover the true -Raquela. She's been "sold-out". Then, Raquela tries to begin another Diva moment, but finds there is no need to. Shes tired. Thus, the segue into 16. Guilt and Fear. Which segues into 17. The Dreamer We hear a *Diva moment going into a sort of death. An end. Or is it?... Then we suddenly hear the DJ announcing Raquela's new accidental hit that goes number #1 in the nation. Surpirse, surprise! (19. This Time) END Bows (20. Finale) When Raquela goes out for her bow, she is carrying a gold-record plack. Eventually she tosses it away. As though it never really mattered, and then she takes her bow. ~___________________________________________________ *Each Diva moment is when we see Raquela talking on the phone or yelling, crying, complaining or whatever, at agents and record-label producers, demanding to record just one more song. She just knows she can make another hit. Maybe this one will be the one! These can be very humorous moments!

Music Style Dance/Trance/Spoken Word/Techno

Musical Influences Madonna, Donna Summers, Bette Midler, Styx, Rush, Supertramp, Earth Wind and Fire, Cher, ELO, Annie Lennox, Duran Duran, The Tompson Twins, The Go-Go's and Tina Turner

Similar Artists DJ Mangoo, The Cynic Project, Oxygenial, DJ Maurice Noah, Lindi Heart, SuPERGRooVe records, Hybrid Stasis, AURA -The source of Trance, Elwood 79

Artist History RAQUELA- Native to Oakland, CA. Her Broadway, National/Intr'l tour credits includes Show Boat and Tommy. Raquela sings with The Broadway Gospel Choir (now known as the 'Broadway Inspirational Voices'). She is a tireless advocate for many organizations and benefits supporting the fight against AIDS. She holds a B.A. in music/drama from UCI. Back in 1998, Raquela was in the process of putting together a concept pop album with the assistance of musical song writer/composer/lyricist and close friend, Brad Howell Houghton. Brad inspired her with his first pop/dance song called "Stand Out" (which is yet to be recorded!). That was the song that unleashed a monster. Then back in November of '99, her younger brother, Jack Burt, encouraged her to bring her project home to Northern California and test it there first. To make a long story short, Jack convinced her, and the pop concept turned. . . TECHNO! She began to collaborate a new idea (musical-techno) with other electronic artists throughout the world. And in July of 2001, she finally premiered a single called "I KNEW IT!" at select clubs around the Sacramento and Bay California areas, and it worked! It was during that time she was latter approached by some new and inspiring young writers and directors in New York City. She was asked to take her project to a different level. Off-Broadway. The script has begun to be written but when it will be done, well, that's another story.

Group Members Lyrics/Vocals/Arrangements- Raquela (Some reconstructions by Brad Howell Houghton and Sabrina Burt) Music: DJ Mangoo, The Cynic Project, Oxygenial, DJ Maurice Noah, Lindi Heart, Supergroove Records and Elwood 79.

Albums Confessions of the Disco Diva

Location New York, NY - USA

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