Raquel Loglisci

Songstress on stage

Local singer Raquel Loglisci performed "Chocolate Rose" at the PNE's Vancouver Star Discovery for adults on Sept.3, during the 95th annual Fair at the PNE which ran through the Labour Day weekend.

Wednesday,September 14, 2005 - Goldstream News

Making music her own way



rick stiebel/goldstream news gazette
Aspiring singer-songwriter Raquel Loglisci is off to Toronto to hone her craft.


By Rick Stiebel

Goldstream News Gazette
Aug 12 2005

WEST SHORE When it comes to rock'n'roll, Raquel Loglisci is primed to carve out her own legend on the Canadian landscape.
After years of gaining attention as an opening act for Canadian rock legends like April Wine and Kim Mitchell, the 23-year-old Langford resident is heading back to Toronto in September to record original songs with a group of musicians she hooked up with in the Big Smoke last summer.
"She's a once in a lifetime talent," said Rain Dogs guitarist Todd Dafoe in a telephone interview from
Toronto, where he co-produces the band's work with guitarist Jay Miller.
Dafoe and his bandmates, all 30-something veterans of the Toronto rock scene, have been searching for a new front person, and he believes they've hit the mother lode with Loglisci. Recalling her audition last year, he said she probably had the job immediately.
"Her voice is so powerful, just a monster voice - a terrific talent and a beautiful person," Dafoe said.
"We're counting the days 'till she gets back and we get back into the studio to record - we're her band," he said, adding that they may even decide on 'Raquel Raquel' as a new name.
Loglisci has been preparing for a career in music since she was a toddler.
"I was singing before I could talk, if you ask my mom," she said with an easy smile bordering on beaming. "I was mimicking Boy George from my high chair. He was my first role model, which is a little scary, looking back."
Loglisci sang in the school choir and performed in talent shows at Spencer middle school and Belmont secondary, where she widened her focus with dance classes, focusing on modern jazz.
That wasn't a difficult adjustment for her. Years of competing with the Juan de Fuca Figure Skating Club made for a smooth transition from the ice to the dance floor for the athletic teenager.
Loglisci credits her parents and her younger brother, Sean, for encouraging her to pursue their goals with unbridled passion.
"They've always been hugely supportive," she said, adding that Sean - selected by the Los Angeles Dodgers in the Major League Baseball draft in May - is a mentor for her. "Sean's been living out of a suitcase for the last two years pursuing his dream of playing baseball," she said, adding that's something she'll have to get used to as well.
Loglisci started playing piano when she was seven, and was soon writing her own songs. Dafoe is impressed with the depth of maturity in Loglisci's songwriting, noting he was blown away by a Christmas song she wrote when she was eight.
When she was 13, Loglisci found her mother's old guitar, as well as some "learn to play" books that she immediately put to use.
"That was a turning point," she recalled. "It was the grunge phase. I was a huge Nirvana fan and started playing in bands."
She started putting some of her poetry to music at the same time, performing for friends and at parties and weddings. "It was mostly about crushes on boys and hanging out with friends," she said through a slightly embarrassed smile. "Some stuff I still love, but some of it makes me whine. Eventually it got more serious."
After winning the Totally Teen Talent contest, an annual Victoria talent show, three years running, Loglisci's dedication began to pay off. At 18 she began securing paying gigs and recorded a couple of independent CDs of mostly original material.
"It was a real learning experience," she said of her first forays into the studio. "I sent the CDs to all the major labels, and got eight or 10 thank-you letters."
Seeing Jann Arden and Sarah McLachlan perform at Lilith Fair a couple of years ago gave Loglisci a new perspective. It taught her what she had to do to follow her dream of becoming a first-rate performer, she recalled.
Loglisci made a six-song demo of her original songs last year with Spirit of the West bassist Hugh McMullin, which caught the Rain Dogs' ear. She spent four months with the band last year, before heading back to her family home beside Florence Lake for a break. She immersed herself in a yoga instructor course and working at the Juan de Fuca Recreation Centre.
She's now ready to take on Toronto again and is anxious to get back to recording with Rain Dogs because, "they're the best musicians I've ever worked with."
Janis Dunning, co-founder of the Canadian College of Performing Arts in Oak Bay, where Loglisci earned a certificate, jumped at the chance to heap praise upon her former student.
"She has a unique, fantastic voice with tremendous appeal," Dunning said. "She's gorgeous, fit, and has a real understanding of feeling good about life." Dunning worked with Loglisci on diversifying her skills and teaching her how to handle an audience with more confidence.
"Raquel's come a long way in developing flair - Rick Stiebel