Raquel Cole Explained

Raquel Cole
Background:solo_singer
Birth Date:22 March 1993[1]
Birth Name:Raquel Warchol
Origin:Vernon, British Columbia, Canada
Instrument:Vocals, guitar, mandolin
Occupation:Singer-songwriter
Years Active:2013-present
Associated Acts:Don Amero

Raquel Cole (born March 22, 1993) is a Canadian country singer and songwriter. She is signed to Sakamoto Music.[2] As an independent artist, she released two extended plays, Personal Truth and The Essence of Me.[3] [4] Outside of her solo career, she is also part of the Nashville-based independent music trio The Woods.[5]

Early life

Cole grew up in Vernon, British Columbia and began playing the guitar when she was nine years old.[6] Her parents purchased her the guitar as her father was a drummer and wanted someone to play music with.[7] Her father arranged for her to have her first experience in a recording studio at ten years old as he wanted her to have an understanding of the recording process.[8] At twelve years old, she won the "Best New Artist of the Year" at the B.C. Interior Music Awards.[6] Cole credits the music scene in Vernon for inspiring her to be a songwriter and guitar player.[9] She initially was more interested in the soft pop genre of music and was a large fan of Celine Dion growing up, but later became more interested in country music as she began to write songs, citing Keith Urban and Lady A as artists she listened to.[8]

Career

In 2014, Cole was named one of SiriusXM's "Fresh Female Voices" on The Highway. She opened on nine tour dates that fall for Diamond Rio in the southern United States.[10] In 2015, she was named the Discovery Artist by the Canadian Country Music Association.[11] She released her debut extended play Personal Truth in 2018, having recorded the songs in Winnipeg, Manitoba.[12] Her song "Imogene" finished in second place of the Unsigned Only category of the International Songwriting Competition.[13] She released a three-song extended play The Essence of Me in August 2020, after recording this project in Nashville, Tennessee.[14] [15] She received a nomination for "Female Artist of the Year" at the 2020 British Columbia Country Music Awards.[16]

In 2021, Cole was a finalist at the SiriusXM Top of the Country competition.[17] [18] [19] She released her first country radio single "Think About You" in July 2021.[20] The song would enter the Billboard Canada Country chart and peak at number 44. In March 2022, she featured on fellow Canadian country singer Don Amero's single "Let You", which reached the top 30 at Canadian country radio.[21] [22] In October 2022, Cole signed a record deal with Sakamoto Music and released her second country radio single, "Hate That I Need You".[2] Later that month, she opened for The Washboard Union on several of their tour dates in British Columbia.[11] In July 2023, Cole released the song "All to Yourself".[23] At the 2023 BC Country Music Awards, she won the International Achievement Award.[24]

Discography

Extended plays

TitleDetails
Personal Truth
  • Released: June 1, 2018
  • Label: RHW Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming
The Essence of Me
  • Released: August 14, 2020
  • Label: RHW Music
  • Format: Digital download, streaming

Singles

As lead artist

YearSinglePeak chart positionsAlbum
CAN Country
[25]
2021"Think About You"44rowspan="2"
2022"Hate That I Need You"
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Guest singles

Music videos

YearVideoDirector
2021"Think About You"[27] Zack Knudson
2022"Let You"[28]
Ryan Nolan
"Hate That I Need You"[29] Zack Knudson

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Daily Discovery: Raquel Cole, "It's For Real This Time". American Songwriter. 2015. November 17, 2022.
  2. Web site: SAKAMOTO MUSIC SIGNS RAQUEL COLE, RELEASING NEW SINGLE "HATE THAT I NEED YOU". October 6, 2022. October 26, 2022. Sakamoto Agency.
  3. Web site: Personal Truth - Album by Raquel Cole. Spotify. June 1, 2018. October 26, 2022.
  4. Web site: The Essence of Me - EP by Raquel Cole. Spotify. August 14, 2020. October 26, 2022.
  5. Makin' Tracks: Indie Trio The Woods 'On Fire' With First Harmony-Rich Single. Tom. Roland. April 26, 2022. November 19, 2022. Billboard.
  6. Web site: FACES TO WATCH: RAQUEL COLE. Alex. Laurence. December 15, 2014. Words & Music. Socan. November 17, 2022.
  7. Web site: This Week's Featured Video – Raquel Cole!. November 17, 2022. Gonzo Okanagan. December 12, 2016 .
  8. Web site: [SPOTLIGHT] Canadian Women Of Country: Raquel Cole]. Jenna. Weishar. Front Porch Music. November 18, 2022. June 1, 2022.
  9. Web site: Raquel Cole – Countdown to Cavendish Beach Music Festival. Jenna. Melanson. June 29, 2022. November 17, 2022. Canadian Beats Media.
  10. Web site: Raquel Cole Dubbed "Fresh Female Voice" on SiriusXM's "The Highway". Dan. Harr. August 13, 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20161012103706/http://www.musicnewsnashville.com/raquel-cole-dubbed-fresh-female-voice-siriusxms-highway/. October 12, 2016. November 17, 2022. Music News Nashville.
  11. Web site: B.C. country musician Raquel Cole living out her dream in Nashville. October 24, 2022. Nicholas. Pescod. November 17, 2022. CHEK.
  12. Web site: Daily Discovery: Raquel Cole, "Personal Truth". 2018. November 17, 2022. American Songwriter.
  13. Web site: Coast 2 Coast Closeup – Raquel Cole. Matt. Ryan. October 27, 2022. November 17, 2022. Meadow Lake Now.
  14. Web site: RAQUEL COLE ANNOUNCES NEW EP 'THE ESSENCE OF ME'. August 13, 2020. November 17, 2022. Music and Tour News.
  15. Web site: Raquel Cole – September Artist of the Month. September 17, 2020. November 17, 2022. British Columbia Country Music Association.
  16. Web site: Raquel Cole talks about the Canadian country scene in Nashville. Stuart. Derdeyn. October 9, 2020. Vancouver Sun. November 19, 2022.
  17. Web site: 'Holy smokes!': B.C. musician reacts after winning $25K 'Top of the Country Contest'. Tom. Zillich. November 27, 2021. Abbotsford News. Black Press.
  18. Web site: Raquel Cole. Sakamoto Agency. November 17, 2022.
  19. Web site: Okanagan singer Raquel Cole in the running to win SiriusXM Top of the Country contest. Darren. Handschuh. June 24, 2021. November 18, 2021. Castanet.
  20. Web site: The Trending Track - Raquel Cole, Think About You. July 26, 2021. Real Country 95.5. November 18, 2022.
  21. Web site: Multi-JUNO Award nominee Don Amero delivers his latest single "Let You" to Canadian country radio. Nanci. Dagg. Canadian Beats Media. March 28, 2022. November 18, 2022.
  22. Web site: Video for "Let You" released by Don Amero ft. Raquel Cole. Nanci. Dagg. Canadian Beats Media. May 6, 2022. November 18, 2022.
  23. Web site: Raquel Cole releases new single, "All To Yourself". Jenna. Melanson. July 21, 2023. Canadian Beats Media. July 30, 2023.
  24. Web site: https://bccountrymusic.wildapricot.org/. 2023 BC Award Winners. June 10, 2024. June 10, 2024. https://web.archive.org/web/20240610173747/https://bccountrymusic.wildapricot.org.
  25. References for Canada Country:
  26. Web site: Raquel Cole - Think About You (Official Video). YouTube. October 26, 2022. video. June 29, 2021.
  27. Web site: Don Amero & Raquel Cole - Let You (Official Music Video). YouTube. October 26, 2022. video. April 21, 2022.
  28. Web site: Raquel Cole - Hate That I Need You (Official Music Video). YouTube. November 16, 2022. video. November 16, 2022.