Finding His Way: RC Avenue Charts His Own Path
The Rising Pop R&B Artist Blends Genres and Breaks Boundaries While Staying to His California Roots
Even through the small screen of our video call, RC Avenue's California home studio feels intimate and lived-in – a fitting setting for an artist whose music thrives on authenticity. The 20-year-old pop R&B artist, who splits his time between creating music and exploring his artistic vision, radiates an easy confidence as he settles in for our conversation.
"I'm just ready to have a conversation," he says warmly, and that straightforward sincerity sets the tone for everything that follows.
The story of RC Avenue – a name that combines his legal middle initials with a word he simply thought "looked cool" – begins in the serene beach town of Carmel, California. It's where he "found himself," as he puts it, before an unexpected call at 18 led him to New York City. "I discovered my creative eye out there," he reflects, though he admits with a laugh that he'll "always be a California beach bum."
His latest single "Style" showcases this artistic evolution – a soulful, vocally powerful track that defies easy categorization. "From the surface level, it's just a sweet love song," RC explains, "but I wanted a new way of saying 'I love you.' It could be anything. You can tell a friend that, your mom, your pet..." He trails off, emphasizing how the song's universality was intentional, a departure from what he calls the "on the nose" approach of many contemporary love songs.
This flexibility in meaning mirrors RC's approach to genre itself. His recent releases swing from the K-pop influences of "So What" to the jazz-pop fusion of "Coffee Shop" and the island rhythms of "Emilia" – the latter inspired by a walk in Hawaii. "Tomorrow, I might want to make a '90s R&B smooth downbeat song. The next day, I might want to make a rock song," he says. "But it's all about how you're going to make it cohesive to your artistry."
That artistic cohesion was on full display recently at Santa Ana, where RC performed for his largest crowd yet – 1,200 people. "It felt like a level up," he says, describing the electric moment when the crowd sang along to "The Girl Will Be Okay." His eyes light up as he recalls the scene: "The crowd had their flashlights on... it was almost like an 'I made it' moment, but not quite yet."
Fashion plays a crucial role in RC's performances, with his style drawing inspiration from Tyler, the Creator's barrier-breaking aesthetic. These days, he gravitates toward '70s-inspired looks – silk shirts and flared denim. "You gotta embody what you want to be," he insists, referring to both his fashion choices and his broader artistic vision.
As our conversation winds down, RC reveals he has a "Smooth Soul" song on the horizon and an upcoming show in San Francisco. When asked about his rapid evolution as an artist, he remains characteristically thoughtful: "I think the change in atmosphere adds to my artistry. It's almost as if my artistry is like a linear storyline."
In a music industry that often pressures artists to pick a lane and stick to it, RC Avenue is charting his own course – one that embraces change while staying true to his creative vision. And if our conversation is any indication, that journey is just beginning.
Interview conducted virtually by Bre’on Brennen
Written by David Nathaniel
Beautifully written!