Check Out Raven Hinchey’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Raven Hinchey

Hi Raven, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I started writing songs when I was about 4 or 5 years old. They obviously weren’t great songs, but that’s when I began crafting different melodies. The first song I ever remember “writing” was when I was about 5, and I wanted to play the card game “Old Maid”, but none of my family was paying attention to me. So I put on my star sunglasses, went to the piano in our living room, and slammed on the piano and sang over and over “do you wanna play Old Maid?”. They didn’t want to.

I took piano lessons for 10 years but never practiced so I remember next to nothing, but I started teaching myself guitar in my freshman year of highschool. That’s when I really started writing songs. I started experimenting in Garage Band in 6th grade, then expanded to using Logic in my Junior year of highschool. I got to shadow some pretty fun producers and get a feel for the studio. I grew up in the studio a bit, hanging around while my Dad was in sessions (he’s a trombone player), but college is when I started getting the most experience actually working in a studio. It’s a lot more difficult to write songs on the spot in front of other people than alone in my room.

Now, I’m a junior in college at MTSU, and I’ve finally started playing shows and singing my songs with my band rvn and the crows. I released my first single called “A Scarecrow’s Defense” under the name rvn on Halloween of 2024, and it was awesome finally having one of my songs out in the world.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It definitely has not been a smooth road, and it still very much isn’t. I honestly never really know what I’m doing, which I feel like is normal for someone in their early 20s, but I also have no idea where I’m going. Which, also normal, but terrifying.
When things feel like they’re not really going my way, I try and just remember the reason that I want to be an artist and make music, and that is to tell stories in a way that people will listen, and get them to feel and reflect.

Some of the struggles that I’ve had have been mostly personal, and it’s affected my music and drive. Without getting into too much detail, I’ve struggled with major depressive disorder for a large portion of my life which has, without a doubt, brought its own issues that have slowed me down musically. I also recently got into a car crash and totaled my car which was actually super terrifying and made me question the meaning of life, but I try my best to channel that into my music, and take it as a sign that it’s even more important that I write and I share my story through songs.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Genre-wise, I’d say the music that I make is difficult to really put into one category. The closest I can think of is probably a mix between Billie Eilish and Ethel Cain. I’ve been told my songs sound “haunting”, and my voice can sound “siren-like”. Which, it makes me very excited when people say my songs are “haunting” or “eerie” and “unsettling”, because that’s exactly what I’m going for! My goal is for my music to make the listener feel uneasy, but not be able to stop listening. I want my music to hit someone where it hurts, but they not understand why, making them do self-reflection and realize something new about themselves. And then. I hope that same song later comforts them.

I think currently I’m most proud of me finally going out and performing some of my originals with my band (rvn and the crows). Being able to see people’s reactions to my songs is such a unique experience. It’s such a special feeling to be able to connect with a stranger with just a song I’ve written. It makes me feel human.

I think something that sets me apart from others is my range (in a few different ways). Although I currently only have one song out (A Scarecrow’s Defense), the songs that I perform and have been working on getting produced all have a different feel to it. They all share a common theme that strings them together, but I love experimenting with different genres and styles. I think I also stand out with my vocal range, which is shown in A Scarecrow’s Defense as well as in some of my other (unreleased) songs.

Apart from singing and songwriting, I am also an aspiring actress. I think that it’s really important to always explore multiple facets of your creative life, and find ways to connect them with each other. The bottom line is that I want to write and share stories, so I’m always trying to find different ways to do that.

Do you have any advice for those just starting out?
I honestly have no idea what I am doing, but I think that’s okay. I am still starting out, and I feel very lost most of the time to be honest, but I have come so far since my freshman year of college (I’m a Junior now).
I remember coming to college and seeing everyone else and thinking that they all have themselves together and they’re so much further ahead. And, you know, I still really do feel that way. BUT, now I have a band, and I have a song out, and I have more songs coming out, and I’ve performed in Murfreesboro and Nashville, and I’ve done awesome cowrites, and so much more.
I guess some advice that I would give that I wish I knew two years ago is that you’re gonna be okay. It seems really big and scary to get started and like you’ll never catch up to other people, but you will get no where by comparing your progress to others. It does you no good to do that. What helped me get started was to just do something. Anything. Make a check list of things you want to achieve, and start on one of them. Even if it’s the smallest step ever, do it and figure out everything else later.
I try and remind myself that music is an art, and there is no “right” way to go about it. That’s the beauty of it. So don’t judge yourself, and let the art guide you.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rvnhinch/
• Other: https://open.spotify.com/artist/62LBFx3YCmUH4ZEDPl2m97?si=KSCL3HqcTM214eBe0QYB_g