Thursday, September 21, 2017

Raghav Meattle: A Rising Star!



After a fantastic performance


One must be either very gifted or very strong-minded, to quit a successful corporate job in pursuit of a dream. Talented young singer, Raghav Meattle, is both. He first made a mark as a semi-finalist on the second season of India’s only English-language reality TV show, “The Stage”. He hasn’t looked back since.

25 year old Raghav is certainly a dreamboat. He’s blessed with oodles of charm, generous good looks and a swoon-worthy voice. He has a special appeal that makes him stand out in a crowd. The celebrity judges on his TV show- Vishal Dadlani, Ehsaan Noorani, Devraj Sanyal and especially Monica Dogra, shared my sentiments.

I saw Raghav perform recently at Fio Cookhouse & Bar, at Epicuria Mall in Nehru Place, New Delhi. The restaurant is ideal for live performances, with its large indoor space and beautiful outdoor setting. Fio has acquired a reputation for the Friday night live gigs, so the place was jam-packed. Most tables were occupied and there was a sizeable crowd standing at the bar.


Photo courtesy: Raghav Meattle/ Facebook.com


Raghav shone that night, supported ably by a crowd cheering him on with each song. He was flooded with song requests, which he readily obliged. He was on the guitar and his musical coterie included two other musicians.

The songs he wrote himself really stood out for their originality and instant appeal. The touching “Since memories remain” moved me. "Back to the known" is a heartfelt tribute to being homesick. While introducing the song he endearingly called himself “’an emo kid!” On a different vein was the uplifting “Better than it all”, which I thoroughly enjoyed. Other self-written numbers included “Bar Talk” and “Boring I love you”. 

He also sang some covers, such as the fun George Ezra numbers, “Budapest” and “Blame it on me”, the catchy “New Shoes” by Paulo Nutini, some interesting mashups of No Diggity, “Thrift shop” by Macklemore and Ryan Lewis, and the ever popular “Sexy and I know it” by LMFAO. He brought a distinct flavor to each one, while maintaining the allure of the originals. When a couple on the floor requested the soulful “You look wonderful tonight” by Eric Clapton, he brought out the romance in spades! People hadn’t had enough when he was ready to pack up.

Photo Courtesy: Fio Cookhouse and Bar/ Facebook.com

The only glitch that night was the sound system at the venue. The speakers were placed next to the bar, severely affecting the sound quality as people crowded round that area. This can be easily rectified. Here’s hoping Fio takes notice in time for its next live gig!

Raghav is experimenting with many platforms as he begins his musical career. Apart from touring the country, singing live at various venues; he often collaborates with filmmakers and other creative media to lend his voice to their work. The best example is the beautiful “Meher Teri” for The Wedding Filmer, which literally gives me goosebumps every time I hear it.

It’s said that a star is born when a talented person receives widespread recognition. Raghav Meattle is definitely a rising star. He has everything going for him with his fresh, expressive vocals and his charismatic personality. Yet a bit of luck goes a long way in achieving renown. I look forward to following his journey, as I wish him all the luck!

Gig rating: 4/5 stars



*Check out his Youtube page here: Raghav Meattle/ Youtube.com.


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