Rivkah Reyes
Bold, beautiful and badass Rivkah Reyes stepped into our brooklyn studio ready to rock with a few vintage t-shirts, a flannel shirt and a fresh leather biker jacket. She is a multi talented actor, artist, musician, with an incredible voice that will sweep you away to the dreamiest of places. Check out her latest single “Sick” out now and the next one coming October 21st….can. not. wait. Scroll down for our chat on sexuality, music, style and photo diary capturing Rivkah with one of her bare essentials…a flavored tooth pick.
The Bare Magazine: How would you describe your music?
Rivkah Reyes: Sad girl rock. Sapphic yearning bangers. Sultry emo. I’m still figuring it out. Ideally my album doesn’t fit into just one box. I’d love to do a couple of whiny pop punk songs mixed in with some neo soul bedroom tunes. I’m a bit of a genre slut.
Bare: What have you learned about yourself and in what way have you evolved through making music?
RR: I've learned that while it's a literal dream come true to be a solo artist, it still takes a village to make one song come to life. I was scared, I think, for a long time to pursue a solo project because I am so used to being in bands and I’m a big fan of group conscience, but it’s still a group effort in which I just happen to be the leader. It’s been really fun to pull from my ever growing playlist of inspiration songs to figure out with my team of collaborators what I want my music to sound like.
Bare: Who are some of your biggest influences? Do you have a great support group of artists that inspire you as well?
RR: This project particularly is inspired by Fleetwood Mac, boygenius, Neil Young, and a splash of Avril Lavigne. I have been going through a pretty… chaotic year to say the least (wedding fell through, moved from LA to NYC, breaking into the music world as a solo artist for the first time) but my bandmates and fellow sapphic singer songwriter sisters have been really helping me keep my shit together.
Bare: Have you always been very open and free with your self expression and sexuality?
RR: My parents were always really encouraging for me and my siblings to be creative and expressive, but I was quite shy around other kids until my first acting gig. I think being on a film set around a bunch of other creative kids really cracked my world open in this beautiful way because I was always too afraid to let my inner freak show out. And as far as the sexuality thing goes, it’s a process. I’ve been out as “not straight” since I was in high school and to this day I’m still not entirely sure how I identify but I don’t think it matters. I think people of all genders are beautiful but it takes a lot of work for me to love someone.
Bare: Describe your current personal style and favorite shopping destinations or vintage spots....
RR: I have a civilian uniform for daytime. Little shirt, big pants. Big hater blocker sunglasses & baseball cap, do not perceive me. And then at night, anything goes. Sometimes it’s giving cowgirl, sometimes it’s giving soft goth, sometimes it’s giving haunted doll. Really just depends on the mood. I’m always looking for vintage and thrift store recs, but most of my staple wardrobe is from Aritzia. Don’t hate me.
Bare: You love creating looks with makeup. Do you enjoy creating and expressing different moods? You're like a chameleon!
RR: Oh thank you, yeah, I just think my face is so versatile and muppet-coded so it’s fun to play with different looks. My go-to makeup look is literally just tinted moisturizer and mascara but I’m always down to fuck around and find out.
Bare: What are you loving about living in NYC? Do you have some favorite hangs and venues to see music?
RR: I practically live at the Hotel Chelsea. I love going line dancing at Brooklyn Bowl. Veselka. Russ & Daughters. Long aimless walks. But I think my favorite thing about being back in the city has been the chance encounters with friends. Also I saw David Byrne riding a Citi Bike the other day, that was so cool.
Bare: Please list your top 5 Bare essentials (they can be anyone and anything)
RR:
- a 20 minute midday nap
- flavored toothpicks
- my unhinged bestie group text
- this archetype deck: The Wild Unknown Architypes Deck and Guidebook
- belief in a power greater than myself
Founder & Editor in Chief - The Bare Magazine
