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]

Raquel Cole
Birth nameRaquel Warchol
Born (1993-03-22) March 22, 1993 (age 31)[1]
OriginVernon, British Columbia, Canada
Genres
Occupation(s)Singer-songwriter
Instrument(s)Vocals, guitar, mandolin
Years active2013-present
Labels
  • Sakamoto
  • RHW
WebsiteOfficial website

Early life edit

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 edit

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.[21] 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.[22][23][24] 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".[25]

Discography edit

Extended plays edit

Title Details
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 edit

As lead artist edit

Year Single Peak chart positions Album
CAN Country
[21]
2021 "Think About You" 44 Non-album singles
2022 "Hate That I Need You"[2]
"—" denotes releases that did not chart.

Guest singles edit

Year Single Artist Peak positions Album
CAN Country
[23]
2022 "Let You" Don Amero 28 Nothing is Meaningless

Music videos edit

Year Video Director
2021 "Think About You"[26] Zack Knudson
2022 "Let You"[27]
(with Don Amero)
Ryan Nolan
"Hate That I Need You"[28] Zack Knudson

References edit

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