Rothbury, MI- On Saturday, June 22nd, I had the pleasure of getting to attend Iztapalapa DJ, singer-songwriter and producer Rayben’s incredible performance at Electric Forest 2024. I got the chance to sit down with Karla (Rayben) and talk about all things EF, music, and some of the highlights of her career thus far! Take a look below to read our interview and find out more about Rayben!
About RAYBEN :
“Karla Ugarte better known as Rayben is a singer-songwriter, DJ and producer from Iztapalapa, Mexico. Drawing inspiration from artists like Skrillex, BZRP, Tainy, Arca and Grimes, Rayben refuses to limit herself to one genre alone, fusing together a mix of trap, hip-hop and electronic music into a distinctive style.
At 23 years old, she has graced renowned EDM festivals worldwide including Holi Dance Of Color (Queretaro), Vulkano Summit Festival in Italy, Tangamanga Balloon Fest, Aquacolor Fest 2022, EDC Mexico 2022, Tecate Emblema 2023, Tecate Pa’l Norte 2024 , main stage at EDC Mexico 2023 and EDC Las Vegas 2024 among others.
Signed to Wasserman Music and Warner Music Mexico, Rayben is poised to leave a lasting impression on fans with a lineup of exciting performances and new music slated for 2024. With over 1.2M TikTok followers, 216k Instagram followers, 88.6k YouTube subscribers and 180K monthly Spotify listeners, Rayben is quickly making a name for herself in the electronic music scene.”
Thank you to Wasserman Music and Warner Music Mexico for providing this bio!
What it was like getting to catch Rayben live at The Observatory:
This set was an absolute blast. Her mix of house, trap, dubstep, and influences from her Mexican background really had the entire crowd alive and jamming. Her performance was very upbeat and diverse! Rayben would shift between playing popular songs to bouncy blends of house and dubstep, and I don’t think there was a single moment that the crowd wasn’t dancing. Her set truly highlighted and encapsulated the upbeat spirit and energy that resides in Mexican EDM.
Being surrounded by the trees of the Sherwood Forest, this set really felt like a hidden gem. Hosting Rayben in the woods at The Observatory with hundreds of people in the crowd made the set feel really intimate and personal when you’re amongst 50,000+ attendees. It’s performances like these that make the experience truly a magical place on earth full of music and wonder. You can surely count myself as an official BIG-TIME Rayben fan and I cannot wait to see what she does next! I hope to see her again soon to catch a fully immersive experience with her visuals next time!
Read our interview below (edited for written format):
EF: Can you tell me a bit about your musical journey? How did you get your start?
RAYBEN: Ever since I was little I was always involved in my music. I sang in a mariachi band and played instruments but I started my project during the pandemic because I was bored and at the same time I started making videos showing how I made my music.
EF: Who or what are your biggest musical influences?
RAYBEN: One of my biggest inspirations is Skrillex. I grew up listening to his music, then I started listening to different artists like Grimes and Tainy and currently I really love Billie Eilish.
EF: How do you balance staying true to your artistic vision while also trying to innovate and push boundaries?
RAYBEN: I think a lot of this comes from my culture. Being from Mexico, I would love to see more representation at festivals like this. I never limit myself, and I think its about appreciating the ebb and flow of music. Enjoying the journey and working to always create is a process.
EF: What’s the most ridiculous rumor you’ve heard about yourself or your band?
RAYBEN: Well, I try to not look at the negative side of things. But I think it is hard to be a woman in the music industry. It shouldn’t matter what you look like, how beautiful you are, what size you are, or anything like that. It’s about the music at the end of the day and I think we could all use that reminder.
EF: Can you describe a moment on stage where you felt completely connected with the audience? What was that like?
RAYBEN: The moment I have felt the most connected with an audience was when I was performing at EDC Las Vegas. So many people were waving Mexico flags in the crowd and it truly felt like a piece of home was with me. It was very surreal.
EF: What’s one of the weirdest things you’ve ever seen in the audience while performing?
RAYBEN: At one of my sets, there was a guy dressed up as a robot and doing lots of robotic dancing. He was very good, and very fun! I don’t think I’ll ever forget that!
EF: Based on your performance here at Electric Forest, I can only imagine what that would bring to your set! How do you think visuals enhance your performance?
RAYBEN: I think about 50% of my live show is my visuals. I would really like to come back and perform on a stage with a screen. I have these 3D visuals that really pull you into the music.
EF: What has been your favorite part of the Forest so far?
RAYBEN: Definitely all of the nature. The nature is so inspiring. I would love to bring a festival like this to my home in Mexico. To have all of the nature, art and music in one place feels so special- I would love to bring more elements of my culture to festivals like this!
EF: If there were any artists at Electric Forest that you could collaborate with, who would it be?
RAYBEN: There’s so many artists here, but I would love to collaborate with Nelly Fertado! She is a music queen!
EF: What’s next for you after Electric Forest? Are there any upcoming projects or collaborations you’re excited about?
RAYBEN: I am working on a lot of new music. I have found my sound and what I like the most with EDM, Pop and urban sounds.
EF: What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received, and how has it influenced your career?
RAYBEN: No idea is a bad idea. If you have an idea, execute it and little by little everything will work out. And most importantly, discipline beats talent.
Listen to Rayben, find her on Spotify, TikTok, and Instagram
Thank you to Rayben, Electric Forest, and Alive Coverage for this opportunity.
