To call Raphael Batista a musically gifted child would be an understatement. He picked up the violin at age four, received his first scholarship by six, and joined his first professional orchestra by the time he was 14. The young prodigy played in several renowned orchestras in his native Brazil and composed soundtracks for telenovelas before moving to the U.S. to explore pop-infused music styles. Today, Batista composes, DJs, and performs live at private events, on the streets, and at weddings, all with a dream of someday taking the stage at Red Rocks. Here, we asked Batista what he had to share:
“In Brazil, I played in famous bands, but I was always behind the singer. Not the front. But here, I decided to build up my name, and it’s been really good.”
“I stopped playing in orchestras because I was just one of 30 violinists. I wanted to play my own music instead. I get to be a musician in the orchestra, but on my own, I get to create. You need to think like an artist, not a musician. I have a really intense passion when I play and want to convey those emotions to my audience. I want my music to touch people’s hearts.”
“I have 17 violins on my wall in my studio. I feel like I complete myself with the violin. I can’t be without it. It’s my first love, and I love to build songs on it.”
“I have been so surprised by how much money I can make playing on the streets. Every city has a different process—New York even has you audition and then gives you a designated spot. In Santa Monica, the cops liked my music so much that they were the ones who helped me get the right permit. I played on the streets in Aspen for about 40 minutes and made $500. The key is always the kids. Catch their attention, and the parents need to stop too. Anything from Frozen is a go-to.”
“I am also a pianist, and with my keyboard, I can have it play any instrument’s sound I want. I use it to build my DJ set. I start the set playing the piano and DJing, and then when I pull out the electric violin, everyone goes crazy. I really love that feeling.”
“I like Bruno Mars and really most types of music except for jazz. Denver seems to like EDM less than the LA crowds, so I am still dialing in on what the crowds here like. But it’s my ultimate dream to play Red Rocks one day.”
“I’m still waiting to hear back from America’s Got Talent.”
