In this Female Creator Spotlight, we sat down with Raquel Lily to discuss her career so far, and what has inspired her as a musician, songwriter, producer, content creator, Twitch streamer and host.
What are your primary professional responsibilities?
I do everything from performing solo or with a band, to creating videos and live streaming. My primary responsibilities include staying consistent with my schedule, putting out videos and content on the daily. I also produce and write music for my own personal projects.
Why did you decide to enter your industry? And can you tell me about that journey?
Graduating in Neurobiology, Physiology and Behavior, I didn’t expect that music was going to be a viable source of income for me. Or rather, I’d been told my whole life by family that being a creative was not a career. After working at a hospital for years and subsequently working as a paralegal to learn how to run a business, I took a leap of faith and decided to pursue music full-time. I started streaming music in 2017 an — unbeknownst to me at the time — I was one of the first music streamers on Twitch and pioneered an entire genre of livestream on the platform.
Check out this article if you are interested in learning how to stream on Twitch.
Who do you consider to be your professional inspirations or role models?
The Beatles are who originally inspired me to write music and pick up a guitar. Amy Winehouse is a huge vocal inspiration. Bruno Mars is my production inspiration.
To learn more about Raquel Lily, check out her interview with Adorama Music:
How do you believe your gender identity has impacted your career?
As a minority and a female, I always found it hard to fit into such a male dominant industry. However, it gives me a chance to prove that I am clearly not defined by my race or my gender. Luckily, I’ve made many opportunities. There are a lot of programs and communities that highlight minority creators such as myself.
What would you consider to be the most challenging part of your job?
The most challenging part of my job is the fact that no one, largely, is telling me what to do. Although freedom is nice, having little direction or a barometer as to how well I’m doing is entirely up to me. Obviously, it has its pros and cons but I do like being my own boss at the end of the day.
What advice would you pass on to other women to help them progress in this industry?
Don’t be afraid to try anything. Knowledge is power and if you’re ever doubting whether you can learn something by yourself, do not hesitate to research things yourself or ask people! There are a ton of tutorials, websites, and videos to consume online.
