RAQUEL

Rapper Sway might be the only one or perhaps a few others who are representing the motherland (Ghana) music-wise in the United Kingdom, but this is about to change pretty soon as UK based Ghanaian songtress Raquel prepares her debut album.

Even though the much anticipated album is still in the offing, Raquel has managed to release two club-banging singles currently playing across radio stations in the country. The singles, “Get Wild” which has one of the hottest and favourite rappers you can find in the country at the moment and Ghana’s definition to American rapper Twist, Sarkodie doing his tongue-twisting raps alongside underground rapper Guru.

This singing juggernaut who was born Raquel Ayorkor Ammah but has chosen Raquel for showbiz purposes started singing at the tender age of five. Coming from musically inclined family of six, Raquel honed her singing abilities at age eight as she was singing both at home and in school. Music has been part of Raquel all her life as she admitted “I have always wanted to become a musician. I love to sing and love to see how people react to it.”

Tagging herself as a “Rhythms and Blues” (R&B) artiste, it therefore comes as no surprise as she grew up listening mainly to American R&B star Brandy Norwood. Her Ghanaian upbringing also allowed her to listen to Tic Tac, good old Pat Thomas, Obrafour and hiplife legend Reggie Rockstone.

Born and bred in the UK, Raquel is a final year student at the University of Roe Hampton where she is studying Drama, Theatre and Performing Studies. These courses have led her to add acting to her repertoire but she was quick to point out that she hasn’t done any professional yet (I am sure the movie producers are taking notice). However, she has couple of stage plays at famous theatres in the UK like Paul Robeson Theatre, Hammer Smith Theatre and Sadlewetts.

Raquel’s singing talent has also landed her on big shows both here in Ghana and the United Kingdom including performances at Exopa, African Regent Hotel, and the Accra Mall with the prominent among them being her performance at Miss Ghana UK 2005 at Stratford Rex when she was 18.